Claire de Mézerville López welcomes entrepreneur and Presbyterian minister, Jonathan Shenk, to the Restorative Works! Podcast.

 

Jonathan speaks to us about how he incorporates restorative practices in his business in order to build stronger relationships with his team. He focuses on proactively addressing conflict amidst language and cultural barriers by utilizing different restorative methods and activities. He has found ways with his congregation to uplift members of their community through microloans, mentorship, and providing spaces for all voices to be heard, through faith, financial support, and listening.

 

Working and living in New Jersey, Jonathan incorporates restorative practices into Greenleaf Painters LLC, his company of 15 employees. As part of his community ministry involvements, he is a founding member of the Trenton Microloan Collaborative, which offers zero interest loans and pro bono business services to formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs. The TMC is a joint effort between two congregations. Rev. Shenk was born in Somalia and lived in Kenya as the child of Mennonite missionaries. He and his wife, Cynthia, enjoy being entertained by their Maltipoo and attending concerts by Sonoa, their son, Gabriel's, indie rock band.

 

Tune in to learn more about Jonathan's work and approaches to restorative practices in the workplace and check out the Trenton Microloan Collaborative and Greenleaf Painters LLC to see his work in action