Why Restorative Justice Practices Matter in a Youth Development Space (video)
A restorative climate focuses on building a strong sense of community and positive relationships among all stakeholders, while also providing a framework for addressing conflict and harm. In a restorative educational community, all members feel safe and welcomed, and adults support students and other staff in developing social and emotional skills.
In this Insights Vlog, Daina Estime, Senior Research & Evaluation Analyst, and Jenny Fernandez, Senior Director of Student & Community Experience, shared how applying the restorative justice approach supports students of color from under-resourced communities and strengthens their relationships with peers and adults. They highlight how The Possible Zone:
-Evaluates youth support needs through mixed-methods studies
-Designs programs, workshops, and individual support informed by the study findings
-Builds community, strengthens relationships, repairs harm, and promotes healing.
This 30-minute webinar builds off a roundtable presentation at the American Educational Research Association’s Annual Meeting in Denver, CO, in April 2025. Data included in this presentation was current at the time of the May 2025 recording.
Copyright 2025 Daina Estime, Jenny Fernandez, The Possible Zone