Restorative Justice Training
Foundations In Restorative Justice
Meet your teachers.
Explore the application of circles in our community, family, schools & workplace
Learn about talking pieces, the phases of a circle, and the use of prompts
How to use storytelling to develop empathy and share vulnerability
Develop skills in communications and circle keeping
The Restorative Center's foundational training provides an experience-based understanding of TRC’s community based model of Restorative Justice. Our trainings are engaging, lively and ever-evolving. We utilize theory-based lectures, the interactive circle experience, skill development, mock circles, as well as small and large group discussions.
TRC was honored to conduct online training this summer with Southern University Law Center. The ability to continue our work virtually was inspiring and the gathering fostered a connection that we were happy to see successfully translated from our in-person trainings. The fall trainings will be held on the Zoom platform for webinars and to facilitate breakout rooms for experiential practice. Information with access links will be emailed to participants prior to the start of training and TRC's Newburgh Model Workbook will be accessible via download.
This course is open to newcomers to TRC, as well as to trained Circle Keepers who would like to deepen their foundations in the work.
The course fee is $650. Sliding scale fees may be available for those in need.
Small group interactive online learning. Each training will be limited to 12 participants.
“even online I felt connected”
"It connected us on the most basic human level. I love that even though we could not physically be together, even online I still felt connected to everyone there. This is was very therapeutic and eye-opening." - Tamara, summer 2020 online trainee
"It has been amazing being able to watch people learn the process of creating a circle. They really got to learn what TRC is truly about." -Yanil, TRC teen leader & trainer
"This was an incredible, life changing experience. I was able to really see how circle keepers guide the energy and allow the community to navigate the conversations. It was also great to get experience having real individual responses, and see how and why your agenda needs to be left at the door." - Jonnae, summer 2020 online trainee
"I just wanted to say thank you so much for the transformative experience that was this weekend for me. It coalesced so many things I have been thinking about and provided such a wonderful framework for moving forward in a world that feels overwhelming and often painfully unjust.” - Fall 2021 online trainee
"It was a very powerful experience. How the facilitators helped everyone open up with stories that were universal and also specific. Everything built on each other and was so organic." - Jennifer, summer 2020 online trainee
Foundations Online Course Overview
Day 1
The Journey of a Circle Keeper
The Circle Experience
Day 2
Theory & Practice
Elements of Restorative Justice Circles
The Phases of Circles
The Art of Circle Keeping
Day 3
Radical Self-care
Mock Circles
Circle Keeper Code/Closing Circle
An email with instructions on joining us online will be sent to all registrants a few days prior to the start of training.
Is this training for you?
In these challenging times where our anger and hurt is easily available to us, and our desire to do something is paramount, the yin model of restorative justice that TRC teaches is harder to access. Most of us need restorative yoga more than a restorative justice training workshop!
During the training, we ask you to leave your personal agenda at the door and to surrender results. And to be trained in a model where we hold space for everyone. One can see how counter intuitive this can feel in these times that already require so much of us. We are confident that TRC’s model is a path forward but as with most journeys the work begins within.
We want to ensure our method is something you want to spend time learning. Training groups will be kept small. And if you have trained with us before: please join us again. We have a lot to share.