Restorative Works

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Nikki Fynn, Ed.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  We are joined by Dr. Nikki Fynn, a restorative education and leadership consultant whose journey through guilt, grief, and shame has reshaped her approach to healing, leadership, and human-centered systems. She shares with us a pivotal moment from 2018, when a mentor's story about a monkey trapped by its own grip opened a new path for self-examination. That metaphor sparked a deep exploration into the "pulp" she was holding, false beliefs about worthiness, over-functioning, hyper-independence, and the emotional labor she thought she owed the world. Her narrative invites us to reflect on the stories that keep us stuck and to imagine what becomes possible when we finally let go.  She explains how expressive arts, attunement, and holding space became essential tools in her healing and now shape her consulting work with nonprofits, leaders, and communities. Dr. Fynn reminds us that transformation doesn't happen through correction, but through connection, presence, and being truly seen.  With 20 years of trauma-informed education experience, Dr. Fynn taught inclusion to pre-service teachers, supported neurodiverse students through transitions, and secured funding for education and enrichment programs that serve youth of all ages. Equipped with a doctorate in education leadership, a certification in expressive arts, and a master's in public health, she hosts "Words of Heart" sessions for adults to help them with relational issues that influence their professional success. Dr. Fynn's personal restorative work has shaped her leadership approach as a compassionate disruptor in dysfunctional systems. She applies her expertise to grant writing, capacity building, and burnout prevention in nonprofit organizations.  Tune in to hear Dr. Fynn's message: when we reclaim our nervous systems, embrace our differences, and examine our patterns with compassion, we build healthier teams, stronger communities, and more humane organizations.  View "Words of Heart" sessions:  https://restorativeducation.carrd.co/  View art from restorative sessions: https://www.redbubble.com/people/GrowthUP/shop?asc=u Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GrowthUpEducation  Email: growthuped@gmail.com LinkedIn @ Nicole Penelope Fynn

In this special collaborative episode, Claire de Mézerville López is joined by cohost Bridget Johnson, current IIRP graduate student and founder of the Deans' Roundtable, an organization that supports student life professionals. Together, they dive into this collaborative episode on Restorative Practices That Move the Needle. Through the power of storytelling and the exchange of in-depth experience, they engage leaders to talk about the implementation of restorative practices, focusing on what it looks like to experience a significant collective transformation that centers community and group empowerment. They are joined by leaders in education: Javaid Khan, Erin Dunlevy, and IIRP Vice President for Partnerships, Keith Hickman. The panel names a truth many schools and workplaces struggle to confront—hierarchy and efficiency often overshadow relationships. Guests explore why slowing down feels risky, why vulnerability can unsettle leaders, and why communities still default to punitive systems even when they aspire to healing. Erin highlights how true restorative work demands time and trust-building, emphasizing that you cannot restore what has not yet been built. Keith moves the discussion toward the deeper paradigm shift required, urging leaders to move from "fixing to facilitating" and from "power over to power with." He shares how structures of belonging, thoughtful preparation, and shared norms transform spaces into communities capable of meaningful change. Javaid brings a practical lens, illustrating how schedules, routines, and institutional habits, though inanimate, behave like living barriers unless leaders approach them with curiosity and intention. He shares the transformative power of modeling vulnerability and staying present with staff as they navigate new ways of working. Bridget and Claire guide the dialogue toward the heart of the issue: restorative practices are not quick solutions. They are long-term commitments to culture change, shared language, and humanizing one another in everyday moments, not only in times of harm. Tune in to find inspiration and clear direction for educators, leaders, and communities seeking sustainable transformation.

This week we're revisiting our conversation with Marlee Liss from January 18, 2024! Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Marlee Liss to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Marlee speaks with us about her experiences as a survivor of sexual assault. Her case made history as the first in North America to conclude with restorative justice processes through the courts. She describes her experience in the traditional court system as one where her voice, needs, and ability to make decisions in her best interest were dismissed. Concerning the use of restorative justice processes, Marlee emphasizes how imperative it is to engage with fully prepared, skillful, humane, trauma-informed, and attentive individuals who are striving to meet the needs of survivors. She provides examples of centering and identifying survivor's needs and making space to hear directly from them. Marlee Liss is a somatic educator, award-winning speaker, author, restorative justice advocate and lesbian Jewish feminist. She has supported thousands of women and non-binary folk in healing shame, transforming trauma, and bridging healing with justice. Marlee's work has been featured in Forbes, Huff Post, Buzzfeed, the Mel Robbins Show, and more. As an award-winning speaker, she's delivered talks for: The US Military SAPRO, Vanderbilt University, Fordham University, Trauma & Recovery Conference, Women's Mental Health Conference at Yale, National Sexual Assault Conference, and more. Marlee was 1 of 25 survivors on an elite panel for the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence informing federal policy, and her story was made into a documentary directed by Kelsey Darragh, The Limits of Forgiveness, which premiered on December 17, 2025! Tune in to learn more about Marlee's perspective on the future of restorative justice and the potential of continued healing for survivors and offenders of violent crimes.

This week we're revisiting our podcast episode from November 23, 2023! Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Shelley Jones-Holt, Ed.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast, World Conference series. This series of conversations were held during the 2023 IIRP World Conference, Building Thriving Communities: A Radical Approach Through Restorative Practices, held in Detroit, MI, October 2-4, 2023. Dr. Shelley shares with us how to have courageous conversations around race and other complex topics by first creating a safe space for those conversations to occur. She emphasizes the importance of preparation by establishing norms and agreements before opening a dialogue and defining terms so that participants can share a common language. Dr. Shelley addresses the natural feeling of shame that can arise when we are faced with things we lack, may they be knowledge, experience, or depth of understanding. She also speaks about how to navigate the emotions that follow a shame response, emphasizing that they should never be barriers to creating and coming to a place of understanding. Dr. Shelley currently serves as a Courageous Leadership Consultant providing training, facilitation, coaching, and support to equity driven teams and organizational, legislative, educational, and family leaders across the nation. She is the founder of Leadership Legacy Consulting, LLC, and the visionary behind the non-profit Family Legacy 5, which focuses on providing structural, adaptive and technical support to educational, corporate, and family leaders. Her emphasis on a restorative approach is foundational to engaging in uncomfortable conversations about controversial topics, such as race and identity oppression. The expansion to empower families through family leadership training for all was birthed through the realization that the mental models that drive systemic change originate not at school or work, but at home. Tune in to learn more about Dr. Shelley's approach to addressing hard conversations with care and humility, and check out Family Legacy 5 and Leadership Legacy Consulting.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Blair Kirby and Professor Mark Osler to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Blair and Mark join us to illuminate how restorative practices intersect with clemency work, storytelling, and systemic reform. Their conversation opens a window into the human impact of policies that often feel remote, revealing how small acts of recognition and repair can shift entire systems toward healing. Mark tells us about his commutation clinic at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where he guides students as they uncover untold stories, meet directly with clients inside federal prisons, and learn how authentic narrative reshapes justice. Blair, a third-year law student and senior editor of the Journal of Law and Public Policy, brings her own lens as a former data analyst turned advocate. Her retelling of a first-degree murder clemency case, where three heartfelt apology letters were lost inside the corrections system, reveals how transparency and communication influence a victim's family's capacity to heal. Together, Mark and Blair describe how the commutation clinic operates at both the individual and systemic level, helping incarcerated people tell the fuller stories of their lives while also proposing legislative reforms that expand access to second chances. They highlight clients whose transformations demonstrate the power of rehabilitation, the role of narrative in restorative justice, and the responsibility of legal advocates to restore humanity, not simply file petitions. Blair grew up in South Korea and came to the US on her own at 15. After graduating from Macalester College with degrees in Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Economics, she worked with government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on epidemiology studies during the COVID-19 pandemic as a data and policy analyst in the Bay Area of California. She is currently a student at the University of St. Thomas School of Law (MN). Mark is the Robert and Marion Short Professor of Law at the University of St. Thomas, where he was chosen as Professor of the Year in 2016, 2019, and 2022. He also holds the Ruthie Mattox Preaching Chair at First Covenant Church, Minneapolis. His writing on clemency, sentencing, and narcotics policy has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Atlantic and in law journals at Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, Georgetown, the University of Texas, Ohio State, UNC, William and Mary, and Rutgers. A former federal prosecutor, he won the case of Spears v. United States in the U.S. Supreme Court, with the Court ruling that judges could categorically reject the 100-to-1 ratio between crack and powder cocaine in the federal sentencing guidelines. Mark is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and Yale Law School. Tune in to discover how storytelling, advocacy, and courageous leadership move restorative justice from theory into action.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Officer Warren Edmondson to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Officer Edmondson joins us to share how he first embraced restorative practices when transitioning from street policing to middle school hallways. He describes the emotional landscapes of sixth to eighth graders and explains why relationship-building became the cornerstone of his approach. Rather than centering on discipline alone, he focuses on connection, modeling integrity and empathy through everyday interactions. His first-year goal was simple yet powerful: greet and interact with all 800+ students daily. High fives and fist bumps became tools for trust, opening doors to deeper conversations and early interventions. Officer Edmondson breaks down the components of real school safety, physical, emotional, and social, and highlights how a shared sense of responsibility transforms a building into a true community. He also discusses the school's conflict resolution practices, where disagreements become structured conversations facilitated by administrators and guided by restorative questions. The results speak for themselves: Tippecanoe Middle School has not had a fight break out in three years. Officer Warren Edmondson serves as the School Resource Officer (SRO) for Tipp City Schools, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to fostering a safe and supportive environment for students, staff, and families. With years of law enforcement experience, Officer Edmondson is committed to building strong relationships within the school community, promoting safety awareness, and providing guidance to students on making positive choices. In addition to his role in school safety, Officer Edmondson actively collaborates with counselors, administrators, and educators to deliver engaging lessons on topics such as personal safety, anti-bullying strategies, and the importance of community responsibility. He has been awarded the 2025 Regional School SRO Excellence Award through the National SRO Organization. He was also awarded "The Student Voice" award for the district. Officer Edmondson also collaborates and presents with his colleagues at national conferences about restorative practices and building a culture of respect and responsibility at Tippecanoe Middle School. Tune in to discover what's possible when we treat students not just as learners, but as valued contributors to the well-being of their school.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Devanshi Patel to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Devanshi joins us to explore how youth leadership, community trust, and restorative practices intersect to build what she calls "the beloved community"— a vision rooted in justice, dignity, and belonging. She shares the groundbreaking work of the Youth Peer Court Ambassador Academy, a hands-on training program that empowers young people to lead restorative justice efforts in their schools and communities. Learn about how Devanshi's organization's Youth Restorative Diversion Initiative is shifting the system in Arlington County, Virginia: diverting youth away from the court system and toward healing-centered, community-based approaches. Since its launch, the program has processed over 150 cases with a 0% recidivism rate, proving that trust, prevention, and youth leadership can transform outcomes.  Devanshi is the co-founder and CEO of the Center for Youth and Family Advocacy (CYFA), where she leads efforts to transform systems through collective impact, restorative practices, education, and advocacy. Her work centers on creating conditions where children, youth, and families can thrive in safe, healthy, and inclusive communities. Under her leadership, CYFA delivers research-based, community-driven strategies that disrupt cycles of harm and address systemic inequities. In addition to her work with CYFA, Devanshi is an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law where she teaches juvenile justice and adoption law, and a substitute judge presiding over juvenile and domestic relations matters. Her research focuses on the intersections of race, gender, and justice. Devanshi holds a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law, a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University, and an Equitable Community Change Certificate from Cornell University.  Tune in to learn more about how youth advocacy can transform lives and change trajectories for the better. 

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Kevin Jones to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Kevin joins us to explore how vulnerability and authenticity transform leadership, build stronger teams, and repair workplace divides, especially in times of conflict. Through real stories, Kevin illustrates how restorative circles and authentic conversations can turn tension into trust. From school districts integrating restorative practices-based language into policy to juvenile justice departments adopting restorative practices frameworks, Kevin shows what happens when organizations lean into the heart of this work. He reminds us that restorative practices belong everywhere — from boardrooms to sports teams to family Zoom calls, emphasizing how this framework helps communities move from reacting to crises toward proactively creating cultures of care and belonging.  Kevin is a lecturer at the IIRP and has spent more than 40 years working in the fields of social services, mental health, and education philosophy, with particular emphasis on working with youth and their families. He honed his practice through direct care and as an administrator in residential treatment programs, group homes, mental health organizations, and alternative schools. As a retired administrator, Kevin continues to work with Central Illinois at the Regional Office of Education #17 to support the development of restorative leadership teams. He has explicit experience training law enforcement, school resource officers, government officials, community leaders, security officers, and educators throughout Central Illinois, the United States, and internationally. He designs and implements professional development opportunities as well as coursework in the areas of applied restorative practice that include topics such as social-emotional learning, trauma-informed, social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, connecting communities, classroom transformation, leadership, and more. Kevin earned a Master of Science in Restorative Practices from the IIRP and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, Organizational Policy/Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the University of Illinois.   Tune in to hear practical wisdom and heartfelt insight on what it means to show up proactively and authentically, at work, at home, and with yourself.  

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Amanda Carrasco to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Amanda is a family survivor of homicide and sexual assault who has turned profound personal tragedy into a mission for healing and accountability. She uses her story to illuminate how truth, empathy, and connection can break cycles of harm and bring repair to individuals and communities alike.  Amanda shares how her search for justice led her beyond the limitations of the legal system. She describes sitting face-to-face with those who caused her harm, not for retribution, but for understanding and potential healing. Amanda's insights challenge conventional ideas about punishment and forgiveness. She explains why facing those responsible for harm can be more difficult, and more transformative, than serving time behind bars. Her reflections on empathy, guilt versus shame, and the possibility of human transformation remind us that accountability is not weakness — it's the foundation of real justice.  Amanda is a successful global business owner, dynamic speaker, consultant, and leader who values community and justice, and is the author of Becoming the Brave One: My Journey to Justice. She brings an opportunity to break the cycle of harm and restore our sense of belonging. Restorative justice is the core of her practice, and she is a certified facilitator through the Restorative Justice Council. She holds four master's degrees from multiple nations, two of them in law. She is a powerful advocate, survivor, and storyteller who believes in the power of truth, healing, and transformation.  Tune in to hear how restorative justice places victims and communities at the center of the process, asking not only what law was broken but who was harmed and how do we make it right. 

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Marin Broadbent-Bell, alumni coordinator at Community Matters, to the Restorative Works! Podcast for this special series titled Matters that Restore Community in partnership with Community Matters. Community Matters is an internationally recognized, innovative, and thought-leading organization committed to improving the social-emotional climate of schools and communities. Founded in 1996, Community Matters has evolved from its roots in youth development and bullying prevention to become a respected provider of training, consulting, and programs delivered through its whole school climate framework. Community Matters has empowered more than 170,000 students and served over 2,100 schools across 42 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Guam, Paraguay, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Marin shares his story, beginning in sixth grade when he joined the Safe School Ambassadors (SSA) program, a student-led initiative that empowers young people to prevent mistreatment and promote belonging. Nearly a decade later, Marin walks us through how the skills he learned as a middle schooler continue to guide his life and leadership today. Through personal stories and reflection, Marin explores what it means to "start with ourselves" when creating safer communities. He recalls transformative moments from the SSA training that reveal the shared humanity behind every story. With over nine years of experience with Community Matters, Marin began his journey as a Safe School Ambassador in 6th grade, demonstrating a deep commitment to fostering positive school climates from a young age. Following high school, he completed two internships with the organization, gaining hands-on experience in program development before stepping into his current role. Driven by a passion for community building and meaningful connection. Marin continues to dedicate his work to creating safer, more inclusive environments in schools and beyond. Tune in to learn more about Community Matters and consider that the seeds we plant in youth grow into the roots of resilient, compassionate communities. After the interview, stay tuned to hear from current and former Safe School Ambassadors as they reflect on their experience!

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Erica Vogel, CEO of Community Matters, to the Restorative Works! Podcast for this special series titled Matters that Restore Community in partnership with Community Matters. Community Matters is an internationally recognized, innovative, and thought-leading organization committed to improving the social-emotional climate of schools and communities. Founded in 1996, Community Matters has evolved from its roots in youth development and bullying prevention to become a respected provider of training, consulting, and programs delivered through its whole school climate framework. Community Matters has empowered more than 170,000 students and served over 2,100 schools across 42 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Guam, Paraguay, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Erica reflects on decades of youth empowerment work, sharing moving stories that show how small acts of courage ripple across entire communities. From a student in Wyoming who used humor to defuse a fight, shouting "I love rainbows and unicorns!" to Erica's own son, whose quiet leadership as a Safe School Ambassador shaped his path toward a career in mental health, these moments illustrate the heart of restorative practices culture: connection, belonging, and empowerment. Erica is the CEO of Community Matters whose mission is to engage, equip and empower youth and adults to create schools and communities that are safe, welcoming and inclusive for all. Erica has extensive experience in youth development and programming with a specialization in developing and implementing youth empowerment programs for disadvantaged and culturally diverse young people. Erica has over 25 years of experience in the non-profit management, education, and youth development field, holding executive and senior level positions with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the American Heart Association, and the YMCA prior to joining Community Matters in 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University (Michigan).  Tune in to explore how shifting adult mindsets, fostering youth-adult partnerships, and supporting students year-round cultivates not just safety, but deep, lasting community. After the interview with Erica, stay tuned to hear from Safe School Ambassador Elli who shared more about her experience as a student leading her community.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Edwin Freeman to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  What happens when hip hop culture meets restorative practices in the classroom? Edwin Freeman, actor, filmmaker, educator, and founder of the Hip Hop Harmony Program, helps us explore how art, culture, and restorative circles are transforming urban schools. Through the Freeman Foundation for the Arts, he developed Hip Hop Harmony, a groundbreaking social-emotional learning program rooted in hip hop's four elements: rap, dance, art, and self-knowledge. By blending restorative practices with hip hop culture, Edwin creates spaces where students feel seen, heard, respected, and accepted. Instead of punishment, students address conflict through rap battles, dance, art, and dialogue, strengthening their sense of belonging and leadership skills. Edwin Freeman is a professional actor, filmmaker, and educator who serves as Program Director of the Hip-Hop Harmony Program. The program operates in New York City high schools and will expand to elementary and middle schools next year, with endorsements from the New York City Offices of the Mayor, State Senator, and City Council Speaker.  Edwin's entertainment credits include the blockbuster film Notorious and Netflix's Marvel's Luke Cage. As an independent filmmaker, he has produced and directed the critically acclaimed documentaries Modern Day Slavery: From Plantations to Prisons and Beats & Lyrics: The Essence of Rap. He currently serves as President of The Freeman Foundation for the Arts, a charitable organization focused on arts education and youth development. Through his work, Freeman demonstrates how hip-hop culture and restorative practices circles can effectively address social-emotional learning in urban educational settings.   Tune in to hear more as Edwin shares how his curriculum helps students carry restorative skills beyond the circle, into hallways, friendships, and their communities. 

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Ruth Ifakemi Efungbemi Jeannoel to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Ruth joins us and shares her powerful journey of weaving ancestral wisdom, social justice organizing, and restorative justice into practices that transform communities from within. As founder and director of Fanm Saj, Inc., Ruth describes her work as "catching communities," a practice rooted in healing, accountability, and reclaiming cultural traditions. She explains how monthly sacred healing circles, youth leadership programs, and justice clinics are creating space for Black and Brown communities to pause, listen, and lead with joy. "Circle keeping," Ruth says, "is both an indigenous practice and an invitation to slow down, understand who we are, and remember the medicine each of us brings into this world." Ruth is a Haitian American cultural organizer, holistic healer, author, and dedicated advocate for social justice. She is the author of Restorative Justice Practices Circle Keeping for Community Healing, an invitation to reimagine community accountability and healing. She invites readers to the transformative practice of circle keeping, an ancient method reimagined for modern communities seeking healing, connection, and accountability. As the founder and director of Fanm Saj, Inc., a for-impact organization, Ruth is committed to empowering families across the African diaspora by providing them with essential cultural and wellness tools, as well as social and political resources to nurture themselves and their communities. Additionally, she is a co-owner of Dandelion Medicine Liberation Co-op, furthering her dedication to community wellness and healing.  Tune in to share Ruth's vision of restorative justice not as a rigid framework tied to institutions, but as a living, breathing practice of accountability, cultural memory, and collective care. 

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Dr. Ellen Skilton to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Dr. Skilton joins us as we explore how creative expression and restorative pedagogy open new pathways for repair, resilience, and transformation. She shares moving selections from her poetry manuscript Collateral Repair, weaving together themes of grief, love, and unexpected healing. She reflects on her personal journey of "unexpected repair," finding possibility for restoration in spaces shaped by loss. With honesty and depth, she invites listeners to consider how grief can be not only endured but transformed into an opening for connection and creativity. Dr. Skilton also discusses her work on restorative pedagogy. She emphasizes the importance of disrupting hierarchies in education, fostering "with" rather than "for" orientations, and cultivating classrooms where risk-taking and mistakes become essential parts of learning. Highlighting programs like Student Pedagogical Consultants, she demonstrates how shifting power dynamics in higher education empowers both faculty and students to thrive. Dr. Skilton is a professor at Arcadia University in the Department of Education and the faculty director of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring.  She is an educational anthropologist, applied linguist, teacher educator, and poet. She first encountered restorative practices embedded in Quaker decision-making processes as a student at Earlham College more than 35 years ago. Supported by her continued education with the IIRP, she now engages in restorative practices pedagogies in more thoroughly embedded ways and sees restorative processes and practices as a crucial element of addressing harm on campus. She and her students were past presenters at the IIRP's Restorative Practices in Higher Education Forum in December 2024, and she will be presenting her session at the IIRP World Conference, Artful Integration: The Art and Science of Restorative Practices, in October 2025 in Tennessee entitled "Poetry-writing, Online exhibit-building, and Image/Forum Theater-making as Restorative Pedagogical Tools for Addressing Individual and Structural Harm."   Tune in to hear about poetry as a tool, teaching as a collaborative practice, and the courage it takes to lean into vulnerability. 

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes back Dr. Nicholas Steffner to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Dr. Steffner shares compelling findings from his dissertation, Building Restorative School Communities: A Study on the Impact of Restorative Practices, including data from the five-year implementation of restorative practices at Ridgedale Middle School in Florham Park, New Jersey. His research documents measurable shifts in student behavior, relational trust, and the overall learning environment. The conversation highlights the importance of student voice, ongoing professional development, and embedding restorative approaches into daily routines. Dr. Steffner's vision extends beyond school walls, imagining communities where parents, coaches, and local organizations reinforce community values, creating a consistent culture of empathy and accountability. Principal of Ridgedale Middle School in Florham Park, New Jersey, Dr. Steffner has over 17 years of experience in education and nearly a decade in school leadership. He brings a deep commitment to relationship-centered practice, equitable access, and systems-level change.  Dr. Steffner is the Founder and Chief Training Officer of Restorative Leadership Consulting LLC, where he specializes in restorative practices, behavioral interventions, behavioral threat assessment, master scheduling, mentoring, and mediation. With training through the International Institute for Restorative Practices (the IIRP), he facilitates professional development for educators and administrators across the country and has presented at state and national conferences on a range of topics. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Elizabeth University. Tune in for practical recommendations and a bold vision of restorative schools as restorative communities.

On this special episode of the Restorative Works! Podcast, host Claire de Mézerville López welcomes three leaders transforming school culture in Worcester County, Maryland: Dr. Jenifer Rayne, Principal of Pocomoke High School; Carlton Cartwright, Community School Liaison and Restorative Practices Coach; and Lauren Williams, Coordinator of School Health and Mental Health. Together, they share a decade-long journey of embedding restorative practices into daily school life—creating spaces where trust, connection, and accountability thrive.  From early district-wide training sessions to the creation of "Restorative Practice Champions," Worcester County Public Schools has built a living, evolving framework for fostering belonging. The team explains how conscious discipline, culturally responsive teaching, and adult-first self-regulation are equipping both educators and students with the skills to repair harm, navigate conflict, and sustain healthy relationships.  Jenifer Rayne is entering her eighth year as Principal of Pocomoke High School in Worcester County, Maryland. A dedicated and visionary educator, Dr. Rayne has led this small, diverse high school to national recognition, earning distinctions such as National School of Character, Gold School of Opportunity, and Apple Distinguished School under her leadership. Dr. Rayne holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Stevenson University, a K–12 Special Education certification from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, a master's degree in School Administration from Wilmington University, and a Doctor of Education in Supervisory Leadership from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  Carlton Cartwright is a restorative leader and educator with over 26 years of experience supporting student success, access, and belonging on Maryland's Eastern Shore. In his current role he leads initiatives that embed restorative practices frameworks into daily practice and strengthen school-community partnerships. Having received training from the IIRP, Carlton facilitates professional learning and student support systems across Worcester County Public Schools. He believes transformation happens when we lead with rather than to others—building trust, connection, and shared responsibility. His leadership extends beyond the classroom through service in his church, mentoring, and community engagement.  Lauren Williams is a seasoned educational leader and licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience advancing student mental health, family engagement, and restorative practices. As the Coordinator of School Health and Mental Health for Worcester County Public Schools, she leads district-wide initiatives that prioritize student well-being, inclusive leadership, and trauma-informed care. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in principle-centered values, collaboration, and the belief that lasting change happens with people, not to them. Currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Lauren is a driving force behind restorative implementation, behavior reform, adult-first self-regulation practices, and community school transformation in Worcester County.  Tune in to hear practical strategies—like revising the district's code of conduct to reflect community-building values, integrating goals aligned with restorative practices into school improvement plans, and partnering with law enforcement for shared training.  

In this special episode Claire de Mézerville López welcomes recent IIRP alumni, Matthew Leaf and Victoria Torres, to the Restorative Works! Podcast.   Matthew and Victoria are experienced professionals in education. They join us to share practical strategies and personal stories that highlight how restorative practices transform school culture. From greeting students at the door by name to creating intentional spaces for connection, Matt and Victoria reveal that fostering a sense of belonging isn't about one single action—it's "a restorative way of being." They discuss how mutual respect, authenticity, and empathy help both students and educators thrive, and why separating "the deed from the doer" is essential in addressing mistakes without shame.  The episode also explores how educators can become "the greatest cheerleaders" for their students, invite families into the process, and model lifelong learning. Both guests share advice for graduate students and education leaders: listen to understand, remain curious, and never underestimate your power to make a lasting impact.  Matthew is the assistant principal of Crew and Culture at Four Rivers Charter Public School in Greenfield, Massachusetts, where he is also a founding faculty member. He received his Master of Science in Restorative Practices with a specialization in Education from the IIRP this July. Matthew and his wife are recently empty nesters who enjoy time with their dog and spending time outdoors.    Victoria is a dedicated school counselor practicing in Pennsylvania and also maintains a private therapy practice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cedar Crest College and a Master of Education in School Counseling from Lehigh University. She recently completed her coursework for a Master of Science in Restorative Practices with a specialization in Education, along with a graduate certification in facilitation for healing trauma from the IIRP. She and her husband recently celebrated their 12-year wedding anniversary and have two children; they enjoy spending time outdoors and exploring the world around them.   Tune in to hear how proactive and responsive circles deepen relationships, how consistent processes build trust, and why curiosity can be the key to understanding behavior rather than reacting to it. 

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes seasoned restorative justice practitioner and educator, Erin Dunlevy, to the Restorative Works! Podcast. In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere.  We are joined by Erin as she delves into the power of culturally responsive pedagogy and restorative justice practices. Erin shares insightful stories from her work in secondary and higher education, illustrating how restorative circles and relationship-centered approaches foster inclusive, equitable learning environments. She discusses how these practices can address critical issues like student engagement, literacy, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Erin also discusses innovative methods for evaluating restorative practices, emphasizing group dynamics and community-building over punitive measures.  Erin is a New York City-based restorative justice practitioner and educator with nearly two decades of professional experience in schools and universities throughout the US, and she currently works on projects around the world training stakeholders from schools, districts, community organizations and for-profit companies who influence education. Her areas of focus include developing restorative justice models for peacemaking across lines of difference, truth and reconciliation, and critical consciousness. Her work has also focused on developing and implementing restorative justice models for addressing equity issues within secondary and higher education classrooms, specifically as an advocate for Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Native Language Arts Education, and in-class restorative circles. Erin has written and presented extensively about evaluative measures for restorative practices in institutions cited for disproportionality and high incidences of violence. In addition to fieldwork, Erin is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, a visiting professor of restorative justice at the United Nations University for Peace, and serves as Vice President at the True North Center for Organizational Health. Erin is also the co-author of "Wisdom of the Circle: A Restorative Practitioner's Deck".  Tune in to hear more inspiring and relatable stories from the classroom with Erin and gain practical insights that you can apply in your classroom today.  

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Dr. Jasmine A. Lee and Dr. Ciara R. Christian to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Claire is joined again by co-host and IIRP Lecturer Kiyaana Cox Jones. In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere. Dr. Christian and Dr. Lee share insights from their roles as co-directors of the Center for Social Justice Dialogue at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in the Division of Institutional Equity, highlighting the intersection of restorative practices and social justice education. They delve into the critical considerations for dignified intercultural and intergroup experiences, emphasizing the importance of identity, systemic awareness, and creating spaces for authentic dialogue across differences. As Dr. Lee eloquently states, "The goal is to widen the crack where we refuse to see each other as fundamentally opposed, fostering spaces for transformation and collective growth." Dr. Lee is a diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice scholar, practitioner, trainer, and coach. She has spent over 15 years in higher education, working with students, staff, and faculty to create inclusive campus environments through direct programming and strategic campus-wide leadership, and currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Community and Culture at UMBC. Beyond higher ed, Dr. Lee works with K-12 institutions, non-profit organizations, and faith-based communities to provide training, consulting, coaching, and organizational change services, partnering with clients to curate unique, engaging solutions that lead to sustainable, measurable change. Dr. Lee is a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI), a certified diversity trainer with the National Coalition Building Institute, a Restorative Practices trainer, and a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor, and uses these skills to ensure human dignity, love, truth, honesty, and empathy are a part of all approaches to organizational change. Dr. Christian has been professionally engaged in diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice work for over a decade. Dr. Christian discovered her passion for this work as a result of her experiences in the Peace Corps, where she both noticed and experienced gaps in cultural competency within the organization. This experience served as a catalyst for her return to higher education, allowing her to more deeply explore identity development, social inequality, and social change. Ultimately, this led her to intergroup dialogue as a vehicle for helping others to engage deeply about and across differences. Her practice is rooted in an ethic of radical, revolutionary love and a commitment to helping others see and center our shared humanity.  Tune in to explore how restorative practices embody revolutionary love, inviting us to wonder deeply about each other's humanity and to navigate conflict and grief with empathy and accountability.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Robin Riley-Casey to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Claire is joined again by co-host and IIRP Lecturer Kiyaana Cox Jones. In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere. Join us as Robin shares insights on the power of face-to-face connection and its role in community building. She discusses how restorative practices reshape adult culture on college campuses, emphasizing the importance of seeing each person beyond their titles or roles. Discover Robin's journey through restorative practices, from creating transformative listening circles to fostering genuine connections among students and colleagues. Her wisdom on slowing down, embracing wonder, and accepting personal growth resonates deeply as she navigates the complexities of leadership and community engagement. Robin is the Associate Dean of Students and Director of College Life Community and Belonging at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Her work is the hub of cultural exchange, supporting 18 affinity groups, including community advocacy groups and ethnic/racial, gender/sexuality, and alternative arts communities. In her role, Robin utilizes dialogue, collaboration, and action to promote and facilitate cross-cultural learning communities. Robin serves on several Muhlenberg College committees: the President's Diversity Advisory Council, Health and Wellness, and the Athletic Diversity Council. Robin currently serves on two local boards, New Bethany Ministries and Allentown West End Alliance.  Tune in to hear more about Robin's personal evolution and the soulful journey of restorative practices, as she inspires us all to listen deeply and build meaningful connections.