# Event Details - **Event Name**: Reimagining Justice in West Virginia - **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 19 Nov, 2021 at 06:00 pm – Sat, 20 Nov, 2021 at 02:30 pm - **Event Description**: We're building a culture of restorative justice in West Virginia so that together we can create more safe, just, and equitable communities.About this EventAt the Reimagining Justice in West Virginia virtual conference, you'll hear from seasoned practitioners and restorative justice newcomers alike as we consider what justice is and what it requires of us. You'll be inspired and better prepared to apply the values and concepts of restorative justice, and you'll make new and lasting connections so that, together, we can create more safe, just, and equitable communities across West Virginia.The conference is hosted by The Center for Restorative Justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College, American Friends Service Committee, and Laotong Yoga.Virtual Conference AgendaFriday, November 196pm–7:30pm EST Welcome and Introduction by Dr. Shanequa SmithKeynote Conversation and Q&A with Howard Zehr, facilitated by Reverend Ronald EnglishSaturday, November 20 8:30am–9am EST Qi Gong with Shaka Wilkerson9:00am–10:30am EST Keynote Conversation with Kay Pranis: “What is accountability?”10:45am–12pm EST Breakout SessionsRestorative Practices in K-12 Schools with Rose Hefner, Dr. Shanequa Smith, Misti Southern, Cathy Grewe, Dr. Alyssa Mick, and Meg SquierRestorative Practices in Higher Education and Beyond with Dr. Debra Murphy, Dr. Jess Scott, Jakob Spruce, Dr. Dedriell Taylor, Malaika Kimmons, and Rayna HeckmanRestorative Justice and the WV Legal System: “Where are the Opportunities? Where are the Roadblocks?” with Brenda Waugh and Stephanne Cline ThorntonAbolition 101 with Ashir Coillberg and Lauren WadsworthAnti-Racism Circles with Youth Leaders with Shanene HerbertCommunity Conversation about Restorative Justice and the Various Applications with Fatimeh Khan1pm–2pm EST Afternoon Keynote with Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson 2pm–2:30pm EST Closing Reflections and Upcoming OpportunitiesBreakout Session DescriptionsRestorative Practices in K-12 SchoolsRestorative Practices can help build community in schools and increase student and staff morale. Schools using Restorative Practices have increased academic scores and decreased school suspensions. This panel will share ways of initiating and providing Restorative Practices in schools in various settings. Presenters: Rose Hefner, Dr. Shanequa Smith, Cathy Grewe, Misti Southern, Alyssa Mick, and Meg SquierRestorative Practices in Higher Education and BeyondThis session will briefly tell the story of the new Center for Restorative Justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College, share experiences of our joys, failures, and dreams for the future, and invite participants to reflect on their own efforts and aspirations to make real the vision of restorative justice in their particular settings.Presenters: Dr. Debra Murphy, Dr. Jess Scott, Dr. Dr. Dedriell Taylor, Rayna Heckman, Malaika Kimmons, Jakob SpruceRestorative Justice and the WV Legal System: “Where are the Opportunities? Where are the Roadblocks?“This workshop will help participants know the types of cases within the West Virginia judicial system that may be able to include restorative justice processes, to understand the benefits of these processes, and anticipate where obstacles may arise. Presenters: Brenda Waugh and Stephanne Cline ThorntonAbolition 101 This interactive workshop will explore the role prisons play in our communities, and challenge deeply held assumptions of their necessity. We will briefly introduce the core concepts behind the abolitionist framework, and invite participants to begin the process of envisioning what a world without prisons might look like.Presenters: Ashir Coillberg and Lauren WadsworthAnti-Racism Circles with Youth Leaders Presenter: Shanene HerbertCommunity Conversation about Restorative Justice and the Various Applications In this session we will take a look at the various applications of Restorative Justice and different communities have put the healing modality to practice. We will spend the latter half of the session sitting in virtual space together to fully live and practice the concept of restorative justice while we answer some questions together. Presenter: Fatimeh KhanSpeakersHoward ZehrWidely known as "the grandfather of restorative justice," Zehr began as a practitioner and theorist in restorative justice in the late 1970s at the foundational stage of the field. He has led hundreds of events in more than 25 countries and 35 states, including trainings and consultations on restorative justice, victim-offender conferencing, judicial reform, and other criminal justice matters. His impact has been especially significant in the United States, Brazil, Japan, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, Britain, the Ukraine, and New Zealand, a country that has restructured its juvenile justice system into a family-focused, restorative approach.A prolific writer and editor, speaker, educator, and photojournalist, Zehr actively mentors other leaders in the field. More than 1,000 people have taken Zehr-taught courses and intensive workshops in restorative justice, many of whom lead their own restorative justice-focused organizations. Zehr was an early advocate of making the needs of victims central to the practice of restorative justice. A core theme in his work is respect for the dignity of all peoples.In 2013, Zehr retired from active classroom teaching but continues to be involved in the field through the Zehr Institute of Restorative Justice at the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacebuilding, Eastern Mennonite University.Kay PranisKay Pranis teaches and writes about the dialogue process known as 'peacemaking circles.' Kay learned about peacemaking circles in her work in restorative justice in the mid-90s. From 1994–2003 Kay held the position of Restorative Justice Planner at the Minnesota Department of Corrections.Her initial teachers in the circle work were Barry Stuart, a judge in Yukon, Canada, and Mark Wedge, Tagish/Klingkut First Nations. Since that initial exposure to the use of peacemaking circles in the justice system Kay has been involved in developing the use of peacemaking circles in schools, social services, churches, families, museums, universities, municipal planning and workplaces. An important on-going teacher is Tahnahga Yako.Kay has authored or co-authored several books about circles: Peacemaking Circles - From Conflict to Community; The Little Book of Circle Processes – A New/Old Approach to Peacemaking; Doing Democracy with Circles – Engaging Communities in Public Planning; Heart of Hope – A Guide for Using Peacemaking Circles to Develop Emotional Literacy, Promote Healing & Build Healthy Relationships; Circle Forward – Building a Restorative School Community.Kay works primarily as a trainer in the peacemaking circle process. She is also an adjunct professor at Eastern Mennonite University.Kay has a particular interest in the use of circles to support social justice efforts addressing racial, economic, class and gender inequities. That interest includes the use of peacemaking circles to understand and respond to historical harms to groups of people. The peacemaking circle process has been a source of energy, inspiration and continuous learning for Kay for the past 25 years.Ash-Lee Woodard HendersonAsh-Lee Woodard Henderson is an Affrilachian (Black Appalachian) woman from the working class, born and raised in southeast Tennessee. She is the first Black woman to serve as co-executive director of the Highlander Research & Education Center in New Market, TN. As a member of multiple leadership teams in the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), Ash-Lee has thrown down on the Vision for Black Lives and the BREATHE Act. Ash-Lee has served on the governance council of the Southern Movement Assembly, the advisory committee of the National Bailout Collective, and is an active leader of The Frontline. She is a long-time activist who has done work in movements fighting for workers, for reproductive justice, for LGBTQUIA+ folks, for environmental justice, and more.Cathy GreweCathy Grewe currently serves as Coordinator of Assessments and Student Services in Wood County Schools, West Virginia. She has worked in education in both public and private settings and at various age levels for 50 years, and she spent the last twenty-five years as a school counselor. Cathy is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and a certified trainer in Restorative Practices. Realizing the challenges facing students and schools in today’s world, her vision is to bring needed reform in the school setting to keep struggling students in school and prepare them for brighter futures.Rose Ann HefnerRose Ann Hefner, CSJ, is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Social Worker and a spiritual director at WV Institute for Spirituality. She completed the Restorative Justice Circle Process training with Kay Pranis, and Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resiliency (STAR I) program at Eastern Mennonite University. She is currently working for the American Friends Service Committee as a Restorative Justice Practitioner.Dr. Alyssa MickDr. Alyssa Mick, Principal of Oak Glen Middle School in Hancock County, West Virginia, possesses a B.S. in English education; a M.A. in educational leadership; a M.S. in industrial & labor relations; a M.A. in education; and a Ph.D. in instructional management & leadership. Dr. Mick is a certified trainer of trainers through the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP).Dr. Shanequa SmithDr. Shanequa Smith is a Restorative Practitioner with a focus on assisting in the process of healing the well-being of individuals who have been systematically oppressed. Dr. Smith uses transformative techniques to assist in creating liberation within individuals, through relational and listening practices that redistribute power back within the people. Currently, Dr. Smith resides in Charleston, West Virginia where she engages with individuals and institutions to acknowledge, address, and dismantle systematic oppressions through the bridging of relationships and synergizing collaborative opportunities.Misti SouthernMisti Southern earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and criminal justice from Fairmont State University and went on to receive her master’s degree in school counseling from West Virginia University. Misti is currently a Restorative Practice Coach and Facilitator in the school system in Wake County, North Carolina. Prior to this position, she was a middle school counselor for sixteen years with the last three years in the alternative setting. She also earned her National Board Certification for School Counseling and has worked as a Counselor Mentor. She believes in Restorative Practices and the positive impact that they can create in the school environment. Misti is a lover of people and has a passion for the students, families, and schools that she serves.Stephanne Cline ThorntonStephanne Cline Thornton is the Criminal Justice Specialist for Public Defender Services’ Public Defender Corporation Resource Center, where she assists public defenders across the state with research and mitigation. Ms. Thornton also conducts mitigation trainings and writes grants on behalf of Public Defender Corporations to further the holistic mission of indigent criminal defense. Through her grant writing efforts, Ms. Thornton was able to create recovery coach positions embedded within Public Defender Corporations to assess and link pretrial criminal defendants to substance use treatment to reduce overdose risk and recidivism. Ms. Thornton provides training and guidance to the recovery coach project and analyzes data collected from the project.Ms. Thornton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University; a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University; and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Georgia. She began work as a mitigation specialist for death penalty and aggravated felony cases in Georgia and has managed an outpatient dual diagnosis clinic in Denver, Colorado, and a felony drug court program in Athens, Georgia. Ms. Thornton has been clinically licensed as a social worker and addictions counselor since 2004 and currently holds a Master Addiction Counselor certificate, is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Addiction Counselor Level III, Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Ms. Thornton is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and somatic treatment for trauma. Ms. Thornton sits on the National Association for Public Defense Steering Committee and serves on the Boards of Laotong Yoga (a nonprofit Pr*son yoga project in West Virginia), the West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, and the REACH Initiative. She serves as an appointee to the West Virginia State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.Dr. Debra Dean MurphyDr. Debra Dean Murphy (she/her) is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College and Co-Director of the Center for Restorative Justice. She teaches a wide range of courses, including Women and Religion, Environmental Theology, and God and Globalization. Dr. Murphy has written two books, numerous articles, essays, and book reviews, and currently writes a regular column for the national publication The Christian Century. She likes to refinish furniture, listen to podcasts when she runs, cook for family, friends, and students, and incorporate meditation practices and restorative circle processes in her classrooms.Dr. Jess ScottDr. Jess Scott (she/they) is Associate Professor of Gender Studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College and Co-Director of the Center for Restorative Justice. She is also organist at First United Methodist Church in Clarksburg, WV. Dr. Scott has degrees in music performance (University of Illinois), social science, and gender studies (University of Cape Town). She writes and publishes about gender, sexuality, intersectionality, spatial politics, and racial justice. Her pet pigs are the subject of her first children’s book, Miss Penelope Thundertoes Changes her Mind. Her fiercest desire is to love her country into a less punitive way of engaging with the entire world.Dr. Dedriell TaylorDedriell Taylor is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education, state government and the nonprofit sector, and offers a powerful combination of wisdom, strength, and grace in her work with students, faculty, and staff. Dedriell also serves as a consultant with the Center for Restorative Justice.Rayna HeckmanRayna Heckman (she/her) is a senior at West Virginia Wesleyan College, pursuing a degree in psychology and criminal justice with an honors minor. Outside of the classroom, she is on the track team and a member of the Honors Program Student Advisory Committee. Rayna hopes her involvement with the Center for Restorative Justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College will help the healing, inclusive practices of restorative justice extend beyond textbooks and branch out into the everyday life of each person on campus in even the smallest of ways.Malaika KimmonsMalaika Kimmons (she/her) is a senior biochemistry major at West Virginia Wesleyan College from Apex, North Carolina. She plays on the women’s basketball team and is involved with a variety of organizations, including the Black Student Union, where she currently serves as president, and the Benzene Ring Chemistry Club. She is also the WE LEAD Team Coordinator for the gender equality team. Malaika is excited to be an inaugural fellow of the Center for Restorative Justice, and looks forward to the great work we hope to accomplish now and in the future.Jakob SpruceJakob Spruce (he/him) is a senior Theatre Tech major from Charleston, West Virginia. He is part of the original student group that helped to launch the Center for Restorative Justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College and has participated in certified training for leading restorative circles. He is a student leader in many contexts on campus and serves as an intern with the CRJ.Ashir CoillbergAshir is a queer and trans, white, neurodivergent, temporarily able-bodied person. They are an abolitionist organizer and activist, and are passionate about taking a radical intersectional approach to social justice work. They have a background in social work with formerly incarcerated persons, and a Masters degree in Public Policy with a focus on racial (in)equity in the criminal justice system. Originally from North Carolina, Ashir is a West Virginian by choice. They live in Charleston with their wife and toddler, and are expecting their second child in early 2022.Lauren WadsworthLauren Wadsworth is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher, a Somatic Movement Educator, and is board certified in massage therapy and bodywork. Lauren has had the great privilege of studying with Kay Pranis in Restorative Practices and with Fleet Maull in the way of council, another circle process.Meg SquierMeg has lived and worked in Greenbrier County, West Virginia for 37 years. She began her professional career working as an advocate for individuals with disabilities. After obtaining a Masters degree in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding from Eastern Mennonite University in 2004, Meg taught social/emotional literacy skills, conflict resolution and peer mediation to middle school students, and currently facilitates Restorative Practices with students attending the Achievement Center in Lewisburg. Meg enjoys running, sewing, gardening, baking, and traveling, as well as spending time with her large family.Shanene HerbertShanene is Healing Justice Program Director with the American Friends Service Committee Twin Cities office. Shanene is an organizer and educator helping to dismantle the cradle-to-Pr*son pipeline in the Twin Cities. In her work, she brings Restorative Practices to St. Paul Public Schools, trains students and educators in circle-keeping, helps youth build an analysis of race and organizing through bi-annual Freedom School training, and digs deeper in conversations with people participating in Youth Undoing Institutional Racism.Fatimeh KhanFatimeh Khan is Co-Director of the AFSC’s California Healing Justice Program in Oakland, CA. She holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a M.A. in Education with a concentration in equity and social justice. Fatimeh has successfully held Restorative Justice diversion circles for pre-adjudicated youth in Alameda and San Francisco Counties in an effort to keep youth out of the carceral system. She has advocated for RJ legislation at the state level in California, served as a consultant in designing new RJ programs and continues to advocate for healing practices as an alternative to our current punitive, harmful carceral systems. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/online/reimagining-justice-in-west-virginia/10000182860349227 - **Event Categories**: workshops, health-wellness, business, sports, conferences, art, nonprofit, virtual, literary-art, meditation, theatre - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Online - **state**: 0 - **country**: 0 - **location**: Online - **lat**: 0 - **long**: 0 - **full address**: Online ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Reimagining Justice in West Virginia - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/18989d28168db2be013a2bfcc18aaf30857212a76a7406d24ad49bbe71695b7b-rimg-w1200-h600-gmir.jpg?v=1637199756 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Reimagining Justice in West Virginia being held? - **A:** Reimagining Justice in West Virginia takes place on Fri, 19 Nov, 2021 at 06:00 pm to Sat, 20 Nov, 2021 at 02:30 pm at Online. - **Q**: Who is organizing Reimagining Justice in West Virginia? - **A:** Reimagining Justice in West Virginia is organized by American Friends Service Committee. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Reimagining Justice in West Virginia is ideal for curious learners, students, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Online, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Reimagining Justice in West Virginia sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.