May 8 Transformative Practices Restorative Justice Conference
@ Lehman College, CUNY
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
Music & Speech/Theater Building
Bronx, New York 10468
Explore the incorporation of transformative practices and restorative justice into educator preparation and continuation programs, K12 schools, community organizations and community agencies. Includes building positive peer culture, supporting student academic, artistic, social and emotional development, replacing punishment models with restorative models of intervention to address harm and conflict, supporting educators’ emotional and social asset development andbuilding positive relationships with families and communities.
May 8 Transformative Practices & Restorative Justice Conference
Registration by April 24, 2015
PROGRAM
7:45 to 8:45 / Breakfast & Registration*East Dining Room – Music & Speech/Theatre Building
8:45 to 9:50 / Welcome
Prof. Serigne Gningue, Chair, Department of Middle & High School Education
Harriet Fayne, PhD., Dean, School of Education at Lehman College
Keynote
Jamaal Bowman, The Heart of Restorative Justice
Founding Principal, Cornerstone Academy for Social Action
Middle School(see page 10)
10:00 to 10:50 / Workshop Sessions I
11:00 to 11:50 / Workshop Sessions II
12:00 to 12:50 / Lunch & Jazz Combo
1:00 to 1:50 / Workshop Sessions III
2:00 to 4:00 / Open Space Forum –to generate ideas and share information about incorporating Transformative Practices and Restorative Justice and into mainstream institutions in a coordinate and cooperative manner (see page 8)
*East Dining Room – Speech /Music (SP) Building
Goals of the Conference
Questions to consider:
1) What does it takes to make TransformativePractices and Restorative Justice effective?
2) What are the different whole-school approaches and community-connected approaches to implementing TransformativePractices and Restorative Justice?
3) How can the effectiveness of your classroom, school-based and communityTransformativePractices and Restorative Justice programs be measured?
Participating in a Network of Restorative practitioners:
Meet Teachers and Principals and Community Organizations and Agencies who have implementedTransformative Practices and Restorative Justice in their schools and programs.
A Call to Action
We are Launching a NEW Working Group of NYC College Educators - Calling All Schools of Education Faculty: how can weprepare future and current educators to incorporate Transformative Practices and Restorative Justice in their classrooms and schools?
SP - Speech/Theatre Bldg and CA - Carman Hall
Workshop Sessions I – 10:00 to 10:50am / Bldg/Rm
Session 1: Pushing Back Against School Pushout:Building a Movement for Restorative Justice in Schools – Teachers Unite / SP 202
Presenter:
Anna Bean, Campaign Coordinator, Teachers Unite
Teachers Unite members from schools across NYC will share about our model of implementing restorative justice from the ground up at school sites in collaboration with educators, students, and families. Our workshop will consider what it will take to prepare current and future educators to implement and sustain restorative practices incollaboration with students, families, and larger community.We will share Dignity in Schools’ demands for policy change and supports for schools and encourage educators and other participants to join this movement.
Session 2: School Climate Improvement and Restorative Practices: Research, Policy, Measurement and School Improvement Guidelines / SP 203
Presenter:
Jonathan Cohen, Ph.D., President, National School Climate Center: Educating Minds and Hearts Because the Three Rs are Not Enough
Workshop will outline how school climate and restorative practices are similar, different and complimentary. We then focus on school climate research, policy, measurement and “road maps” that support the tasks that shape an effective “whole school” effort to create even safer, more supportive, engaging and healthy classrooms and schools.
Session 3:Trauma Informed Care: Building Self-Confidence & Caring & Compassionate Teams / SP 204
Presenters:
Francigna Rodriguez, M.Ed, Starting @ Home ™, and Hasshan Batts, MSW, Practitioners Research and Scholarship Institute, Director of Training and Education and Neighborhood Health Centers of the Leigh Valley and
Workshop will provide an overview of the Starting @ Home™ team-care and compassion model; increase awareness and understanding of the prevalence and impact of trauma in educational, healthcare and restorative justice settings and provide practical coping skills for preventing and addressing vicarious, team and organizational trauma and compassion fatigue.
Session 4: Safe Zone for LGBTQ Youth: Creating a Safe and Supportive School / CA 326
Presenter:
Lucinda Bratini, PhD. Lehman College. Office of Counseling Services
Experiential workshop to develop Safe Zone programs guiding identified students, staff, and faculty who support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, (LGBTQ) and gender-nonconforming people and who are willing to act as allies by learning more about the issues facing LGBTQ communities.
Session 5: Keeping Conflict in Perspective: Teaching Kids Nonviolent Ways to Handle Conflicts / CA 328
Presenter:
Marie Roker-Jones, Founder of Raising Great Men
Workshop will provide tools to teach young people self regulatory skills to address strong feelings such as anger. We will cover strategies for nonviolent responses and cooperative ways to address conflict. Workshop will also teach caregivers and educators how to build a supportive and compassionate environment for conflict resolution.
Session 6: Circles, Tiers 1 & 2: Building Your Community through Games & Get-to-Know-You's / CA 334
Presenter:
Nicholas Merchant-Bleiberg, Principal, Voyages Preparatory High School, Queens, New York
In this workshop, participants will learn how and why we use low-pressure protocols to build trust and to access "deeper" content and interactions with our students
Session 7: Whose Voices Matter: Creating a Transformative Educational Community / CA 331
Presenter:
Nina Mehta, Participatory Action Research Center for Education Organizing, Co-Coordinator
This session provides an overview of Participatory Action Research (PAR) and how it can be used to create a just and inclusive school community and an education system centered around students, parents and educators, particularly those marginalized in our current system.
Session 8: Using Morning Meeting and Student Names to Create Community, Make Students Feel Welcome at School, and Boost Vital Early Literacy Skills / CA 332
Presenter:
Casey Yannella, Classroom Teacher, PS 446, The Riverdale Avenue Community School and Teachers College Inclusive Classrooms Project
This workshop will share how a primary grade teacher created and maintained a positive classroom culture. Students were welcomed at school through a study of their names, and continue to be welcomed each day through a morning meeting.The result has been a positive classroom culture, along with a great boost to students' early literacy skills.
Session 9: Aesthetic Education-Supporting Communities to See What Could be Otherwise / CA 333
Presenters:
Holly C. Fairbank, Executive Director, MGC, Inc. and Professor Ruth Zealand, College of New Rochelle
How might a work of art provoke conversation, inspire empathy, invite discussion with a diversity of points of view, and address bullying behaviors? Through an interactive, inquiry-based workshop focused on one work of art- a photograph by photographer Gordon Parks taken in NYC in 1934. We will introduce an approach to aesthetic education based upon the philosophy of Dr. Maxine Greene
Session 10: Difficult Conversations on Race & Racism" Using the Circle Method(10 participants) / SP 205
Presenter:
Jose Alfaro, LCSW, Fannie Lou Hamer, Founding Team, Teachers Unite
This is an interactive workshop about the conversation on race and racism that we often avoid. Using the circle approach participants will be asked a series of questions about their thoughts, emotions and experiences with the issues of race and racism. The circle facilitator will make every effort to create a space in which participants will feel safe enough to be be emotionally present while perhaps feeling a level of uncomfortableness.
Workshop Sessions II - 11:00 to 11:50 am
SP - Speech/Theatre Bldg and CA - Carman Hall
Bldg/Rm
Session 1: The Power of Intergeneration Engagement in Restorative Practice / SP 202
Presenter:
Maxine Nodel, Lehman College, Adjunct Professor of Educational Leadership
Intergenerational engagement has proven to be an effective restorative practice aligned with all components of Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) and the Common Core Learning Standards. Intergenerational engagement is truly interdisciplinary; students participate in empathy-building activities via oral history exchange, research, developmental writing, art and presentation. A highly successful model that can be modified for grades P-12 will be presented.
Session 2: Safer Saner Schools: Whole School Change Through Restorative Practices / SP 203
Presenter:
Keith Hickman, Assistant Director of Continuing Education, International Institute for Restorative Practices
The Safer Saner Schools is a cost-effective evidence-based program of the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP), a graduate school based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Since 1999 the IIRP Continuing Education Division has helped even the most challenging schools across the country improve their teaching and learning environment through practice and proficiency development in the Eleven Essential Elements of “restorative practices.
Session 3: Centering Race and Racism in Classroom Conversations / SP 304
Presenters:
Willie Tolliver, MSW, DSW, Associate Professor, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and Bernadette Hadden, MSW, PhD,Assistant Professor, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
The academic frame of diversity mutes the role of race in classroom discussions about recent national tragedies like the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Tamir Rice. Despite what the frame promises, the diversity framework equates race with other social identities such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, and immigration status. In this workshop, the presenters/facilitators will share key lessons learned over the years from creating race/racism dialogues in CUNY classrooms. The workshop will be presented in an experiential format.
Session 4:Belonging: Urban Youth Gangs and Social Attachment / CA 326
Presenter:
Michael Avila, MSW, Red Hook Initiative
To be a gang member is to belong to a group that accepts and supports the member. All too often urban youth feel alienated and isolated, and this sense of social isolation opens up the doors very wide for gang membership. In partnership with community adults, we nurture young people in Red Hook to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co-creators of their lives, community and society.
Session 5: The Possibilities of Multimodal Identity Work to Foster Restorative Justice Practices / CA 328
Presenters:
Emily Bailin and Jennifer Ammenti, Teachers College, Columbia University
In this workshop, participants will explore multimodal storytelling as a restorative justice practice. Participants will reflect on their identities by creating mixed-media texts and tiling their pieces into a mosaic to illustrate the potential of storying lives as a way to foster positive peer culture and community in educational spaces.
Session 6: The Write to Teach Project: Uncommon Stories by Uncommon Teachers for Uncommon Kids / CA 331
Presenter:
Andrew Ratner, Assistant Professor of Secondary Education, The City College of New York, CUNY
What happens when secondary English teachers write stories targeting the particular needs and interests of historically marginalized students in their classrooms? This session examines how these stories compare to literature typically used in urban classrooms, and explores questions they raise regarding representation, authenticity, and the function of literature in urban education.
A Radical Approach to Discipline that Starts with Listening to Students
Session 7: Zero Tolerance Ends where Restorative Practices are Embraced; A Presentation from an Urban School Perspective / CA 332
Presenter:
Brenda Lee, Special Assistant, Newark Public Schools
Zero Tolerance has long been the pathway for addressing students displaying challenging behavior which resulted in exclusion from educational settings. We began our work around restorative practices with the explicit intent to transform school culture by building positive relationships and decreasing suspension rates. That work catapulted an adaptive change around social discipline and organizational management.
Session 8: Listening to Teens: Youth Voice, Community, and Social and Emotional Learning / CA 333
Presenter:
Elizabeth Johnson, Youth Communication, Education Director
Youth Communication’s story-based approach brings teen voice into the center of learning. Integrating the restorative practice of Circle, a group read aloud, and strategies for social and emotional learning, this workshop will model for participants how adults listening to teens, and teens listening to themselves and each other, can contribute to a an inclusive and positive community.
Session 9: Don’t Go It Alone: Finding and Growing Partnerships that Work / CA 334
Presenters:Jackie Davis, LMSW, Coordinator of Student Affairs, The Marie Curie School for Medicine, and Nursing and Health Professions and Community Partners
Too much to do? Too little time and money to make things happen? True for everyone, everywhere! Our panel will discuss the best practices we have found in eleven years of developing partnerships with a broad range of organizations and individuals, to support our students and our school’s mission to prepare students for careers in medicine and related health fields.Session 10: Best Practices in School-Based Implementation of Restorative Practices / SP 205
Presenters:
Panel: Manassah, Deputy Executive Director, Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility and Morningside Center Staff Developer, 2 NYC Principals, and OSYD Senior Team Member
Over the past four years, in partnership with the NYC DOE’s Office of Safety and Youth Development, Morningside Center has undertaken the largest expansion of school-based restorative practices implementation in the country. Our innovative approach blends social and emotional learning skills building with restorative approaches in a way that can create and support more equitable, joyful, productive schools.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
SP - Speech/Theatre Bldg and CA - Carman Hall
Workshop Sessions III: 1:00 to 1:50 pm
Bldg/Rm
Session 1: “It Takes the Hood to Save the Hood” - Grassroots Partnerships with Public Schools
Presenters:
Amelia Frank,Executive Director, United Playaz of New York, Youth Development Specialist, CCFY; Khalid McKenzie, Intervention Specialist United Playaz of New York, and community panelists / SP 202
It is relatively uncommon for schools to partner meaningfully with grassroots organizations in their own communities. Come listen to young people, school representatives, and community members share their strengths-based, restorative approach to suspension reduction
Session 2: Using Technology to Provide and Implement Restorative Justice in Schools / SP 203
Presenters:
Diana Nikkhah-Harfouche, Bridg-it LLC. Dr. Ruth Zealand, PhD., Professor of Education and Chair of Education Department at the College of New Rochelle
Bridg-it School is a proactive platform that engages the entire community - students, educators and parents - in the effort to reduce bullying and improve school climate. The platform incorporates restorative approaches and best practices regarding social-emotional learning to focus on both prevention and effective responses and interventions to harmful behavior, both in school and online.
Session 3: An Alternative View of Classroom Management in Primary Grades: Elements of a Participatory Democratic Classroom / SP 204
Presenter:
Mindi Reich-Shapiro. Lecturer, Elementary and Early Childhood Education Department, Queens College, CUNY
The public school classroom is the first opportunity for young children to develop a sense of how to participate in a diverse community organized to address the needs of many. Every classroom has its own unique culture. In this presentation, I explore the development of civic participation in children in primary grade (K-2) classrooms
Session 4: The Crossover Between Youth Work and Restorative Practices / SP 305
Presenters:
Susan Matloff-Nieves, LMSW, Queens Community House, Associate Executive Director for Youth Services, Dr. Dana Fusco, York College, Department Chair, Department of Teacher Education, School of Health Sciences and Professional Programs, and Patrick Pinchinat, Queens Community House, QCH Beacon Director
Restorative Practices and Youth Work practices align closely in a common approach to community-building and disciplinary practices that foster relationships among community members and an ability of individual youth to reflect upon and own their actions. Through an interactive discussion, we will explore the commonalities and what can be learned by all who work with young people, in schools and other settings.
Session 5:The Impact of Relational Trust on Building Positive Learning Environments / CA 326
Presenters:
Dr. Barbara McKeon, Head of School, Namrata Awasthi, Dean of Culture, Victoria Shervington, Director of Social Services - Broome Street Academy Charter High School
Restorative practices are now being introduced in many schools as a method of reducing suspension rates and increasing engagement. This panel will seek to explore and explain the importance of building relationships as a means to creating positive school environments and using restorative practices to increase student and staff engagement
Session 6:Turn My Swag On:” Identity and Academic Success among Black and Latino Males / CA 328
Presenter:
Jermaine Monk, Lecturer, Lehman College, CUNY, Department of Social Work
Workshop will introduce participant to the current discourse on identity formation among Black and Latino males and its impact on academic outcome. Audience will be able to identify positive identity characteristics that help motivate and persist to graduation and that may be negatively affecting their academic performance. Participants will be introduced to practical educational techniques to engage Black and Latino male students who are disengaged in K-12 settings.
Session 7:Healing, Restoration and Liberation of the Oppressed / CA 331
Presenters:
Panel: Onaje Muid, MSW; SY Bowland, JD; Francigna Rodriguez, Ed.; Kerry McCann, MA; Hasshan Batts, MSW,
Practitioners Research and Scholarship Institute
The voices of the oppressed are often ignored. We give voices to the voiceless and will share tools to facilitate healing and discovery, including circles, boards and conferences depending on the needs of the individual and the community.Individuals, families and communities address the harm and injury that has occurred within the relationships and identify and committee to approaches to healing
Session 8: Building Capacity for School Based Restorative Justice from the Ground Up; Barriers and Strengths to Consider / CA 332
Presenter:
William Romney, Teach For America, Manager of Teacher Leadership and Development. (LSW)
Restorative Justice can have long term positive impacts on the life trajectories of students and families. However, real barriers exist in implementing RJ effectively. Some barriers include staff/student mindset and culture, and duration and quality of training for staff. This session seeks to uncover barriers and collaboratively pose potential solutions
Session 9: Black Girls Matter! Using Restorative Practices with Girls of Color / CA 333
Presenters:
S.O.U.L. Sisters Leadership Collective: Tanisha Douglas, MSW, Co-founder/Executive Director-Miami
and Caitlin Gibb, MA., MSW, Co-founder/Executive Director-NYC/Oakland, CA
This workshop will provide participants with factual information about the unique ways that girls of color are uniquely impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline. Participants will also have an opportunity to experience a unity circle and hear youth testimony about what works.
Session 10: New York City School Gardens: Integration into Curriculum and School Culture / CA 334
Presenters:
Kate Gardner, MS, RD, Doctoral Fellow, Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy, Teachers College, Columbia University and Pam Koch, EdD,, Executive Director, Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy, Teachers College, Columbia University
Many NYC schools have established gardens with the goal of creating meaningful learning experiences for students, yet struggle with garden maintenance and making connections to core curriculum. This session explores how school gardens become well-integrated, according to the new School Garden Integration Framework and discusses strategies for successful gardening through collaborative problem solving, and positive peer interactions that support restorative community building.
Session 11: Pursuing Social Justice Through Civic Literacy Projects / CA 325
Presenter:
Shira Eve Epstein, Ed.D., Professor, Department of Secondary Education, City College of NY, CUNY
Participants will explore the enactment of civic literacy projects in schools and out-of-school settings. Civic literacy projects provide opportunities for youth to (1) name, (2) study, and (3) take action on pressing social problems while developing essential literacy skills. The projects foster student empowerment and position youth as change makers.
Open SpaceGathering