Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Gayle Desmeules to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Gayle joins us and shares her insights into how restorative practices rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing are transforming communities and workplaces in Canada. She highlights the significance of acknowledging traditional lands and celebrates National Indigenous History Month by reflecting on the resilience and heritage of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people. She delves into the power of restorative justice as a mechanism for truth and reconciliation, emphasizing its intersections with Indigenous legal systems and their relational worldviews. Gayle walks us through stories of impactful change at the local and government level. Gayle played a significant part on the expert restorative engagement panel initiated by the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada. From this work, as well as collaboration from True Dialogue, and other mediation and restorative justice services, changes are being implemented in Canada. Gayle, a Métis Canadian citizen, has more than 30 years of experience training and facilitating community engagement and restorative resolution processes in child intervention services, justice, education, recreation, sport, and the energy sector. Raised traditionally, she discovered through her background and research that the roots of restorative justice originate from Indigenous legal systems. Gayle engaged in a participatory action research project to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children and families involved with child intervention services. Her work has been published by the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, Putting a human face on child welfare: Voices from the Prairies (2007), Chapter 8, "A Sacred Family Circle: Family Group Conferencing." Gayle's company, True Dialogue, Inc., works to support a community's capacity to be restorative. Tune in to learn more about Gayle's work and her vision for the future, one where all cultural perspectives are valued equally, fostering inclusive and connected communities.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Jose Molina to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Jose joins us and shares his journey from volunteering with the Peace Corps in Costa Rica to implementing restorative practices in corporate America. He provides firsthand accounts of building bridges within communities, creating inclusive environments, and empowering voices through restorative practices. From using restorative circles and talking pieces to fostering proactive and preventative conversations, Jose reveals practical insights that can be applied in various workplace settings. Through a blend of culture and corporate development, Jose helps us explore the essence of navigating the corporate experience through a restorative lens. He shares how we can use these methods not just as tools for healing, but also as a means to foster connection and celebrate diversity. Jose is the Learning and Development Program Manager at the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). He manages the coordination, planning, and execution of two learning and development programs and supports the vice president of Strategic Engagement & Initiatives with ad hoc research and presentations. Some of Jose's passions relate to community engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, intersectionality, and holistic wellness. Tune in to learn more about the HACR and their mission to promote Latino inclusion in corporate America and the impactful programs they offer, including the Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers program and the Advancing Latino Leadership initiative.

Claire de Mézerville López and co-host, IIRP instructor and implementation coach, Kiyaana Cox-Jones, welcome Lauryn Whitney to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Lauryn dives deep into the transformative power of storytelling, explaining how personal narratives can drive collective healing and societal change. She explains what it means to live with audacity and to tell your story with authenticity. Hear her poignant stories, including the viral video response to George Floyd's murder that touched even the most unlikely hearts, proving that our voices can indeed shift perspectives and inspire action. Lauryn shares the incredible work of Redemption Scholars, a documentary project following three men of color who began their higher education journey while incarcerated. Through this she reveals the profound impact of education and storytelling in their paths to redemption. Lauryn is the founder of Authentic Voices Global, a platform highlighting the audacity of real people daring to make a change, no matter how big or small. Her life is dedicated to bringing change today to shape a better, brighter tomorrow through the stories, the hearts, the voice of the people, and the thirst for healing worldwide. Lauryn spent years exploring the stories of people whose lives inspire others and found that true inspiration comes from the stories of everyday people who are constantly trying to find a way to make this world a better place. These stories are often overlooked, but Lauryn created AVG as a space for connecting people and purpose to share the stories that are often hidden. She is a mother, wife, creator, art activist, producer, and Howard University graduate. Tune in to learn more about Lauryn and Authentic Voices Global's work to uplift often untold or overlooked stories.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Nicholas Steffner, M.A., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Nicholas shares his personal path with restorative practices, from his beginnings as a teacher and counselor to becoming a leading advocate and trainer in restorative practices approaches. With insights from his ongoing doctoral research, he discusses the profound impact of proactive community-building and effective communication in fostering a sense of belonging and accountability among students. Learn how Nicholas and his team have integrated restorative practices into their school culture, creating an environment where students and staff alike feel valued and heard. Discover the innovative strategies they've employed to address behavioral threats and reintegrate students, ensuring a safe and supportive community for all. Nicholas is the Principal of Ridgedale Middle School in Florham Park, New Jersey. He is currently obtaining his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Saint Elizabeth University. His dissertation, which focuses on the impact of restorative practices, is titled, "Building Restorative School Communities: A Study on the Impact of Restorative Practices," and will be released in Spring 2026. He has earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in addition to postgraduate credits earned in the field of Educational Leadership. During his 16-year career in education, he spent 8 of those years in service as a building-level administrator. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Restorative Leadership Consulting, LLC, which specializes in training administrators and staff members in restorative practices, implementing behavioral interventions, best practices for Behavioral Threat Assessment Management Teams, master scheduling, mentoring, and mediation. Tune in to learn more about Nicholas' perspective as an educator and how his work with restorative practices is making a sustainable difference in his school community.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Cameron K. Ramirez, M.Ed., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Cameron joins us as we discuss her recent op-ed, "When it Comes to DEI, Principals Must Be More Than Performative," discussing the urgent need to turn words into actions when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She shares her personal journey of realizing the gap between talk and action. This led her to champion restorative practices methods and processes in her school that issues both reactively and proactively, helping to build a culture of understanding and support. Throughout the conversation, Cameron emphasizes the importance of using proactive restorative practices proactively, gaining community buy-in, and the critical role of relationships in creating a safe and supportive school environment. From her firsthand experiences, she shares compelling examples of how her school has embraced these practices, leading to a notable improvement in student achievement and well-being. Cameron has 17 years of experience as an educator. She has served as an elementary school principal in Euless, Texas, for the past eight years. Currently, she is a doctoral student in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is focusing her Ph.D. studies on Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Cameron received her master's in Educational Administration with Technology, Educational Leadership, and Administration from Lamar University and her bachelor's in Journalism from the University of Kansas. Tune in to hear Cameron's heartfelt anecdotes, the challenges of integrating restorative practices into policy, and her vision for a more compassionate and engaged school community.

Join us for an exciting collaboration between the Restorative Works! Podcast and Alternatives Youth podcast, Broken Office Chair! Claire de Mézerville López sits down with BOC's host and Alternatives' Executive Director, Bessie Alcantara, to chat about their experiences with their respective podcasts and the growth and opportunities to connect that have come with it. They also explore the complexities of self-regulation, having challenging conversations, and holding space for multiple truths to exist simultaneously. Listen as Claire and Bessie relay stories that reveal the power of using our words in times of deep polarization and violence. Broken Office Chair delves deep into the heart of social justice, aiming to amplify the voices often drowned out by the noise of inequality. Through insightful conversations and personal stories, they navigate the complexities of the modern world, shining a light on the broken systems that need fixing. In each episode, they tackle various topics, from racial injustice and gender inequality to the nonprofit industrial complex and the impacts of white supremacy. Their goal is not just to expose societal fractures but to collaboratively explore solutions and inspire actionable change. Bessie has over 10 years of experience serving economically disadvantaged families and communities. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in designing and evaluating evidenced-based program models, many of which have been taken to scale both locally and nationally. She has spearheaded evaluation efforts that have led to various designations and awards. Bessie remains ahead of the trends to diversify funding streams, build internal development capacity, and build financially sustainable programs. Most recently, she has expanded her work to provide capacity-building services to international businesses and nonprofits. Tune in to hear more from Claire and Bessie on their perspectives around storytelling for the good of our youth and global community.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes ʻIhilani Lasconia and Noenoe K. Silva, to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Noenoe and ʻIhilani join us to share their passionate insight on the imperative nature of preserving, restoring, and honoring Hawaiian culture and language.

Noenoe shares her journey of reclaiming Native Hawaiian history through the lens of ʻOlelo Hawaii, the Hawaiian language. Her work dismantles long-standing myths and stereotypes, revealing the rich intellectual and cultural legacy of the Hawaiian people. ʻIhilani delves into their advocacy for gender justice within the Hawaiian community. As a transnational feminist and doctoral student, ʻIhilani discusses the need to confront heteropatriarchy, drawing from their acclaimed paper, cowritten with Noenoe, that has resonated deeply within their community. Together, Noenoe and ʻIhilani discuss the broader implications of restorative justice, emphasizing the need for communities to reclaim their stories and identities.

Noenoe K. Silva is Kanaka Hawaiʻi from Kailua, Oʻahu. She is a professor of Hawaiian and Indigenous Politics in the Department of Political Science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and Cooperating Faculty at the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language. She is the author of Aloha Betrayed: Native Hawaiian Resistance to American Colonialism and The Power of the Steel-Tipped Pen: Reconstructing Native Hawaiian Intellectual History, both published by Duke University Press, and numerous journal articles. Her research interests include the reclamation of ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge) through the furtherance of understanding of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, mele Hawaiʻi, and moʻolelo Hawaiʻi, (Hawaiian language, poetic genres, literature, and history) and the reconstruction of histories of Hawaiʻi through the archives written in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi by kūpuna Hawaiʻi (ancestors).

ʻIhilani Lasconia is a Kanaka ʻŌiwi student, artist, and organizer from Waimānalo, Oʻahu. As an activist and transnational feminist, 'Ihilani is a member of Af3irm Hawai'i – a wāhine-led organization centered on ending patriarchal violence through decolonization and anti-imperialism. They are currently a doctoral student at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa studying political science with the hopes of bringing Indigenous knowledge to the forefront of our education system. In the spring of 2021, ʻIhilani graduated with their Bachelor of Arts in ethnic studies, and in the summer of 2022, they graduated with their master's degree in education. As an artist, 'Ihilani's work is rooted in the geopolitical landscape of Hawai'i and their experience being queer and Native in the 21st century.

Tune in to learn more about Noenoe and ʻIhilani's perspective on a future where Indigenous knowledge and restorative practices guide the path toward true sovereignty and justice.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes back Justin Mui to the Restorative Works! Podcast.

Justin joins us again to follow up on the conversation started in episode 42 where he took us through an exploration of the benefits of utilizing a relational mindset in the workplace. Justin shares the journey of LCCS's Restorative Employment Hub initiative which focuses on restoring dignity and providing equitable employment opportunities for formally incarcerated individuals. He discusses how restorative practices foster meaningful connections between these individuals and potential employers, positively reshaping workplace cultures. He also highlights the pivotal role of peer supporters in prisons, the unexpected positive responses from employers, and the personal triumphs of individuals who have embraced and championed restorative practices both during and after incarceration.

Justin is the Executive Director at Lutheran Community Care Services Ltd (LCCS), a social service agency located in Singapore that focuses on driving a restorative movement to break the cycle of hurt and build connected communities of empowered individuals, for the people, public and private sectors. He has facilitated proactive relationship-building and responsive peacemaking circles for management, staff of government agencies, professional associations, and social service agencies. As an advocate for the importance of positive relationships in the workplace and the impact on well-being and productivity, Justin has designed and facilitated experiences such as "Conversations that Matter" for companies to foster a space for leaders to adopt a relational mindset and strengthen workplace relationships. He also designed Restorative Leadership learning experiences for middle managers and senior management from the Youth Residential Service Ministry of Social and Family Development.

Justin has a master's in Tri-Sector Collaboration from the Singapore Management University and is a registered social worker with the Singapore Association of Social Workers. He is also a Master Solution-Focused Brief Therapist with the International Alliance of Solution-Focused Teaching Institutes.

Tune in to learn more about LCCS's Restorative Employment Hub and read Dr. John Bailey's Presidential Paper A science of human dignity: Belonging, voice and agency as universal human needs, as mentioned in this episode.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Candace Okello and Tera Monroe of Carnegie Mellon University to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Claire is joined again by co-host Associate Director for the Collaborative Center for Restorative Practices in Higher Education Kaleigh Mrowka, Ph.D. In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere. Tera and Candace join us to share their experiences implementing restorative practices, particularly focusing on the impactful use of listening circles as a method to engage with challenging topics. They emphasize how these circles provide a safe space for students, faculty, and staff to enter open dialogue, share experiences, and foster understanding amid polarizing world events. Tera and Candace offer insights into the preparation, facilitation, and post-circle reflections, focusing on the importance of community building and creating inclusive environments. They discuss how Carnegie Mellon's commitment to restorative practices is shaping campus culture and empowering individuals to embrace difference and discourse. Candace serves as the assistant dean of Student Affairs for Civility Initiatives at Carnegie Mellon University. In her role, she is responsible for designing and leading initiatives geared toward proactive community building and engagement with an emphasis on civility. These efforts are intended to increase opportunities for civil discourse, enhance students' capacity to resolve conflicts and assist in cultivating a deep sense of self-awareness and belonging through dialogue and restorative practices. Candace is an alumna of Westminster College and Duquesne University, and she is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh. Tera is the associate dean of Student Affairs at Carnegie Mellon University, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the student experience. Her responsibilities include overseeing residential education, serving as a college liaison for Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and supporting exchange students between CMU's campuses in Pittsburgh and Doha, Qatar. Tera's passion lies in creating vibrant and inclusive communities where students can thrive academically, socially, and personally. She collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to enhance the overall well-being of the campus community. Tune in to hear more from Tera and Candace as they provide practical advice for implementing listening circles on other campuses, highlighting the potential for building relational communities and navigating complex issues with empathy and understanding.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Debra Dean Murphy, Ph.D. and Jess Scott, Ph.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Claire is joined again by co-host Associate Director for the Collaborative Center for Restorative Practices in Higher Education Kaleigh Mrowka, Ph.D. In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere.

Dr. Murphy and Dr. Scott join us to discuss their work as professors and co-directors of the Center for Restorative Justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College. They share insights into the center's mission and its focus on community building, both on campus and in the larger region. Highlighting the diverse topics explored, including climate collapse, racial justice, and overconsumption, they foster open dialogue and learning outside traditional classroom settings.

Dr. Murphy and Dr. Scott provide insights into the center's partnerships with local organizations that address homelessness, food insecurity, and addiction through meal services and circle conversations. They emphasize the pivotal role of students in driving initiatives, citing examples of student-led interventions that challenge punitive systems and promote restorative justice.

Dr. Murphy is a professor of Religious Studies and the co-director of the Center for Restorative Justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She is the author of two books and numerous scholarly articles, and is currently working on a monograph tentatively titled "Grieving the End of the World: Climate Collapse and Other Breakdowns."

Dr. Scott is an associate professor of Gender Studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College and the co-director of the Center for Restorative Justice. Her research is primarily concerned with the spatial politics of sexuality in South Africa and the US South. Her first monograph, "Home Is Where Your Politics Are," will be published in June of 2024.

Tune in to learn more about their work and gain insight into how students' grassroots initiatives are creating actionable hope and fostering change, not just within campus walls, but across entire communities.