A Quote

This week, wheew, what a week. Many more words to come about the interviews and experiences of this past week, but for now I would like to share a few quotes I read today from Peacemaking Circles and Urban Youth. These words are from Carolyn Boyes-Watson, and are an eloquent summary of why we so need restorative justice.

"Today we are waging war on our youth, and most concertedly, on poor youth of color. Policies of zero tolerance and a youth justice system modeled after the adult punitive system attack young people, as if they are the cause of the problem rather than the bearers of its most disturbing symptoms. As a result, we do not respond to troubled behavior with connection, support, listening, responsiveness, caring, compassion, or love. Instead, we increasingly rely on surveillance, detention, suspension, expulsion, and incarceration. In the name of discipline, security, or safety, we intentionally destroy young people's futures."

"...walking the talk of peacemaking Circles is about learning to live in a better relationship with oneself and others. It is about learning to "be in a good way" - to develop respectful, mutually supportive relationships - within families, organizations, communities, and governments. Ultimately, Circles are about justice and the profoundly hopeful possibility that we can - together- create better, more just ways to live with each other. At the end of the day, sitting in Circle is about learning a different "way to be" in the world."

"...Circles could help us learn how to be "good relatives" to each other. Certainly the gift of Circles reflects the deep wisdom that we are all in this together."

" With the gift of Circles comes a growing awareness that, despite all of our profound differences, we are also - as human beings - one and the same."

Tomorrow I leave the Twin Cities, with regret to leave the lovely people who I have met and stayed with this week, and head westward towards Seattle. How long is the train ride you ask?...37 hours. I look forward to taking this time to write about the events of the last week, the people who shared them, and the inspiration and ideas that have bloomed in the process.

All my best,
Becky