Returning guests, Dr. Lindsey Pointer and Deron Bell, two inspiring voices at the intersection of education, creativity, and healing, are featured presenters for the upcoming 2025 IIRP World Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee—Artful Integration: Exploring the Art and Science of Restorative Practices. Lindsey, Assistant Professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School and Principal Investigator at the National Center on Restorative Justice, brings deep insight into how storytelling, literature, and visual arts expand public understanding of restorative justice. She discusses her passion for introducing restorative concepts through fiction—especially children's books—and the critical role of emotion and imagination in transformative learning. Deron, a restorative practitioner and visionary behind the MyMusicEd app, dives into his hands-on work integrating arts and circle practices across K–12 and higher education. From kindergarten-to-college mentorship pipelines to healing circles on campus, Deron shares powerful stories and data-driven results from schools and communities embracing relationally derived arts. His work is deeply rooted in equity, cultural connection, and consistent implementation. Together Lindsey and Deron explore how art—whether visual, literary, or musical—activates restorative practices in classrooms, counseling centers, and community spaces. They emphasize the importance of inclusivity, different learning styles, and the role of affective experiences in building empathy and understanding. This episode offers a sneak peek at the 2025 IIRP World Conference themes: social systems, relationships, and personal well-being. Whether you're an educator, practitioner, or advocate, you’ll leave this conversation with fresh ideas and practical tools for integrating art and evidence into your restorative work. Tune in to get inspired to reimagine how creativity can transform justice, relationships, and community healing.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes back Kendall Hughes, D.Min., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Join us as Dr. Hughes shares moving stories—from a group of teens who made amends after a traumatic act of vandalism, to incarcerated men working through shame and accountability in a high-security penitentiary. These stories highlight the power of restoring dignity and finding healing through meaningful change.  Reflecting on his rich learning journey, Dr. Hughes draws from Indigenous teachings, global traditions, and interfaith wisdom. His commitment to continued education and cultural responsiveness showcases why lifelong learning is essential for restorative facilitators. Whether it’s through role-playing in training sessions or learning from Ojibwe, Navajo, Somali, and Liberian communities, Hughes emphasizes the importance of humility and curiosity in this work. Dr. Hughes has extensive experience starting and leading restorative programs in the Federal Bureau of Prisons and for the state of Minnesota Office of Restorative Practices. He began his career in a nonprofit, learning from leaders in lower income communities as they built affordable housing, places of worship, and schools. He spent two decades as a chaplain in federal prisons. Working with incarcerated men, he developed an18-month residential program offering skill building, encouraging relationships, and opportunities for transformative dialogues with survivors of violent crimes and men who had caused deep harm. In 2019, Dr. Hughes co-founded Three Rivers Restorative Justice, focusing on pre-charge restorative conferences and training facilitators. He has served on the Third Judicial District's Committee on Equity and Justice as well as the Dodge and Olmsted County Corrections Taskforce. While earning his Doctorate of Ministry, he wrote a thesis on how chaplains in the Bureau of Prisons can reduce recidivism.  Tune in to learn more from Dr. Hughes and to explore how dignity-centered approaches create space for social and personal transformation.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Emanuela Biffi from the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ) to the Restorative Works! Podcast. 

Join us as Emanuela shares how the EFRJ is fostering a vibrant global restorative justice community through international events, training programs, and innovative initiatives like the REstART Art Festival. 

EFRJ's events go beyond traditional conferences to create spaces for meaningful dialogue, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and artistic expression. From biannual conferences and thematic seminars to workshops and public art events, Emanuela discusses the intentionality behind gathering restorative practitioners, scholars, policymakers, and artists to strengthen the global movement. 

Emanuela is the program coordinator at the EFRJ, an international network organization that brings together about 300 members dedicated to research, policy, and practice of restorative justice in the criminal justice system and beyond.  She joined the EFRJ team in September 2013, working as a project officer in different EU-funded projects on access to restorative justice, justice and security in intercultural settings, restorative justice training, child victims, and arts. Among other responsibilities at the EFRJ, she organizes its main international events (conferences, seminars, webinars, and art festival), coordinates proposals for EU-funded and other projects, and guides the overall management of working groups and committees within the EFRJ membership. Originally from Italy, Emanuela studied Liberal Arts at the University College Maastricht (The Netherlands) and University of Gaborone (Botswana) with a focus on social psychology and criminal law and the Master program in Criminology at KU Leuven (Belgium). 

Tune in to hear how restorative justice continues to evolve, respond to societal challenges, and bring communities together. Learn more about their Call for Proposals and submit your proposal by June 1, 2025!

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Michael Washington, Ph.D., and Doug Judge, Ph.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Dr. Washington and Dr. Judge share their insights on how leaders can step into complex, high-stakes environments and commit to change using relational-based approaches.  Dr. Washington, an expert in leadership development and operational excellence, shares his journey of shifting organizational culture from a command-and-control mindset to a collaborative, human-centered approach. He reflects on his work in supply chain management and how leveraging diverse perspectives transformed team engagement and efficiency. Dr. Judge, a seasoned educator and social worker, takes us through his eye-opening experiences in the juvenile justice system and public education. He recounts moments that propelled him to advocate for systemic change—particularly addressing disproportionality in discipline and centering prevention over punishment. His stories highlight the power of restorative practices in fostering equity and disrupting exclusionary systems. Together, they explore the intersection of leadership, social and emotional learning, and restorative practices frameworks in transforming both corporate and educational landscapes. Whether in a boardroom or a classroom, their insights reveal how intentional, relationship-driven approaches create sustainable change. Dr. Washington has more than 30 years of experience across various business sectors, including oil and gas, consumer products, nonprofits, education, and food services. He has served as an adjunct professor at both Loyola University of Chicago in the Quinlan School of Business and Union Institute and University. Michael has extensive experience in large-scale implementation, change management, and a strong belief in human-centered and conscious-driven decision-making. Dr. Judge has more than 25 years of experience in education, administration, large-scale implementation in schools, social work, and youth services. His career has focused on addressing systemic inequities in influential public institutions. He served as a special education teacher in a variety of public and institutional school settings, and as a school administrator at a large public alternative high school in Seattle, focused on providing restorative and healing-centered wraparound supports. As the Director of Social and Emotional Learning for Highline Public Schools, Doug led the districtwide implementation of restorative practices, positive behavior supports, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).  Tune in to learn more about reimagining leadership through a relational lens and how Dr. Washington’s and Dr. Judge’s graduate certificate courses for the Graduate Certificate in Change Implementation in Organizations and Social Systems can support your work. 

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Fernanda Fonseca Rosenblatt, D.Phil., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Join us as Dr. Rosenblatt discusses the critical shortcomings of the conventional criminal justice system in addressing gendered violence and explores how restorative justice offers a survivor-centered alternative. Survivors often face secondary victimization, navigating a system that can be dismissive, retraumatizing, or focused solely on punitive measures. Dr. Rosenblatt highlights research from around the world demonstrating how restorative practices—when done properly—can empower survivors, offer meaningful accountability, and provide justice that prioritizes safety and agency. She also dispels common myths about restorative justice, including misconceptions about mandatory face-to-face encounters. Dr. Fernanda Fonseca Rosenblatt is an Associate Professor at the IIRP. She also serves as the book review editor for the International Journal of Restorative Justice. She is also a member of the Research Committee of the European Forum for Restorative Justice. Dr. Rosenblatt has contributed to United Nations initiatives on multiple occasions, including serving as an expert reviewer for the latest edition of the United Nations Handbook on Restorative Programmes and as a Portuguese-speaking expert for the translation of the Restorative Justice Module of the Education for Justice project by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Fernanda earned her doctoral degree in Criminology from the University of Oxford in 2014 and a master's in Criminology from the Catholic University of Leuven in 2005. Tune in to learn more about Dr. Rosenblatt’s research and perspective, and check out her Presidential Paper Gendered violence and restorative justice: giving survivors voice and choice.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Mark R. Warren to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Join us as Mark shares insights from his latest book, Willful Defiance, shedding light on how exclusionary discipline policies, such as suspensions and expulsions for minor infractions, have been instrumental in pushing children from the classroom to the criminal justice system. As the conversation unfolds, Mark delves into the broader implications of these policies, connecting the school-to-prison pipeline with the rise of mass incarceration and systemic racial control. Through inspiring stories of resistance, Mark focuses on the role of parents and community organizers—particularly from Black and Latinx communities—who have been leading the charge against these policies. From grassroots campaigns to transform disciplinary practices to the adoption of restorative justice and practices, Mark emphasizes how community-driven efforts are creating alternative pathways for students to stay engaged in learning and avoid the prison system. Mark is a professor of public policy and public affairs at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is a sociologist and community-engaged scholar who studies and works with community, parent, and youth organizing groups seeking to promote racial equity, educational justice, and community liberation. Mark is the author of six books, most recently Willful Defiance: The Movement to Dismantle the School-to-Prison Pipeline. Mark has co-founded several networks promoting activist scholarship, community organizing, and education justice, including the People’s Think Tank on Educational Justice, the Urban Research-Based Action Network, and the Special Interest Group on Community and Youth Organizing in the American Educational Research Association.  Tune in to learn more about the profound impact of systemic racism in schools, the urgent need for policy change, and the power of restorative practices to foster healing and community connection. For more information on Mark Warren’s work, visit www.Mark-Warren.org.

Welcome to Season 3! Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Frida Rundell Ph.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Join us as Dr. Rundell unpacks the intersection of storytelling, trauma, and restorative practices, offering a deeply personal and professional perspective on fostering healing. Drawing from her childhood experiences in South Africa, Dr. Rundell shares how the philosophy of ubuntu—"I am because you are,"—has influenced her life's work. She emphasizes the power of compassionate witnessing, highlighting how being truly heard and seen can be transformative for individuals, particularly those navigating trauma and adversity.  Discussing practical strategies for integrating restorative practices into educational and counseling settings, Dr. Rundell reinforces how storytelling and active listening can bridge gaps between individuals and communities. She also touches on the significance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence for practitioners working with vulnerable populations. Dr. Rundell is a founding IIRP faculty member and professor. A committed teacher and practitioner, she brings extensive experience of Narrative and Solution-Focused Therapies to the understanding of restorative practices. Dr. Rundell supports her students in mastering competencies related to life-space crisis intervention, adversity, and trauma. She works directly with youth and families in her private practice as a counselor and consultant, and mentors and presents workshops for teachers, counselors, and parents. Her current work involves using somatic experiences to help traumatized children and families heal.   Frida has more than 55 years of experience working with children and families facing a range of adversity and learning difficulties. She initiated and developed an undergraduate program for child-and-youth care professionals at Durban University of Technology in South Africa. She earned her master’s in educational psychology from the University of Natal, South Africa, and her Ph.D. in Community Psychology from the University of Zululand, South Africa. She is a licensed professional counselor in the USA. 

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Nicole Garcia Diaz and Robert Gordon to this special episode of the Restorative Works! Podcast, recorded live during the IIRP Collaborative Center for Restorative Practices in Higher Education’s virtual forum on December 5-6, 2024! Robert and Nicole share their personal journeys with restorative practices, highlighting how they’ve integrated restorative justice and community-building principles into their respective campuses. From fostering inclusive, intersectional spaces at Hampshire College to reshaping student conduct processes at the University of Maryland, both guests emphasize the importance of embracing values rooted in restorative practices as a holistic approach to community engagement and institutional change. Throughout the discussion, the guests reflect on the recent sessions at the forum that resonated most with their work. Nicole focuses on the importance of honoring restorative practices’ indigenous roots and the ethical responsibility practitioners have in upholding its traditions. Meanwhile, Robert underscores the necessity of community-building across cultural lines and the role of restorative principles in transforming campus cultures. Both emphasize that restorative practices are not just tools or methodologies but a way of being that shapes how we interact and move through the world. Nicole Garcia Diaz is the restorative justice specialist and manager for Rights and Responsibilities at the University of Maryland, College Park where she has led the integration of restorative practices and restorative justice within the university. Passionate about intentional philosophical alignment and practicing restorative justice with respect to its indigenous roots, Nicole has focused on slowly shifting the University’s culture in the direction of these values. Nicole also serves on the University’s Hate Bias Response Team, facilitates the Latina/x/es in Higher Education Affinity Group, is a yoga instructor, and volunteers with the Smithsonian Museum of the American Latino. Originally from Miami, Florida, Nicole graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Miami, a Master of Education in Student Affairs from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership from the University of San Diego. Robert Gordon is a restorative practitioner and implementor at Hampshire College. He has worked with several offices and departments throughout the college to deepen institutional awareness and utilization of a restorative practices-based mindset. Particularly, his work with campus identity centers has brought together staff and students of different social identities using intersectional forms of community building. In terms of restorative practices, Robert has received professional development from the IIRP, as well as the American Association of Colleges and Universities Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation framework. Tune in to hear about the challenges and rewards of implementing restorative justice in colleges and universities and learn how these practices can pave the way for more inclusive, supportive, and collaborative academic environments.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Gemma Varona, Ph.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Dr. Varona joins us and discusses her decades of experience researching the evolving boundaries of restorative justice, challenging the traditional limits imposed by legal frameworks. She shares her journey from academia to hands-on work with survivors of terrorism, sexual abuse, and large-scale corporate and environmental harm. She explains why punitive measures often fail to address the root causes of harm and how restorative justice offers an individualized, relational approach that centers victims' needs while fostering true accountability. Listen as Dr. Varona delves into the role of dialogue in breaking cycles of violence, the importance of institutional courage, and the urgent need for a shift in global justice systems. As countries move toward more punitive approaches, this conversation serves as a powerful reminder that restorative justice is both an act of resistance and a path to transformation. Dr. Varona is a professor of Victimology and Criminal Policy at the University of the Basque Country and a senior researcher at the Basque Institute of Criminology (Donostia/San Sebastian, Spain). In 1998 she was honored with the Junior Scholar Competition Award of the International Society of Criminology for her research on restorative justice. From 2014-17 she worked as co-director of the Master in Victimology at that University. She served as a member of the executive committee of the World Society of Victimology and now holds the position of president. She has authored books on migration and human rights, restorative justice, juries and the construction of juridical truth, women’s local safety audits, victims of terrorism, victims of sexual abuse, and evaluation of public policies.   Tune in to learn more about Dr. Varona’s work and perspective on the importance of restorative justice across contexts. Hear more from Dr. Varona at the 2025 World Conference!

Join Claire de Mézerville López as we celebrate 100 episodes of Restorative Works! Listen along as we journey through some of the many inspiring moments where we have listened to people from across the globe describing their work of restoring dignity and building relationships and community. From the classroom, to the workplace, to city streets around the world, we reflect on the wisdom of our many guests and look toward the future with hope and inspiration.  

Thank you for your support over these past 100 episodes; here’s to looking forward to the next 100!