Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Eric S. Lee to the Restorative Works! Podcast.

Eric S. Lee, Executive Director of Full Circle Restorative Justice, joins us to explore a visionary model for transforming how communities guide young people toward healthier, more connected futures. He shares the three-pronged framework that drives Full Circle Restorative Justice: a youth diversion program that offers accountability without lifelong consequences, a restorative schools initiative designed to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, and a community services program that builds restorative literacy across organizations, families, and neighborhoods. He explains how each program plays a vital role—but how the real transformation emerges when they work in harmony, creating a system that replaces punishment with connection and isolation with belonging.

Eric S. Lee leads Full Circle Restorative Justice in Colorado. After building a successful career as a chef and restaurant owner of five restaurants in Boulder County, he felt called to something deeper: helping people heal. He pivoted into youth mentorship, holistic life coaching, and restorative justice work, blending compassion, accountability, and spiritual growth. Today, Eric leads one of Colorado's most innovative restorative justice initiatives, transforming school cultures, supporting at-risk youth, and teaching communities how to replace punishment with connection. He also serves as the host of The Spiritual Justice Podcast. He's also the author of 29 Degrees: How to Live a Life of Inner Peace, Joy, and Purpose Regardless of Circumstances, as well as two other books, all rooted in the belief that peace isn't found in comfort, but in purpose, passion, love, and service.

Tune in to hear more from Eric and consider this: when we orient young people toward their highest selves and give them tools to navigate conflict, they can lead us toward a more compassionate society.