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Restorative practices provide greater balance and strength to the youth-adult partnerships in learning, greater opportunity for building empathy, bridging differences, and strengthening more just, joyful, and sustainable communities. Restorative practices are truly a form of participatory democracy in that they build and heal communities, and serve as a means to work through, resolve, and transform conflicts.
Restorative practices are a paradigm shift, not a program or initiative.
The central goal of Transforming School Culture Through Restorative Practices is a culture shift to one of equity and shared responsibility. For this shift to occur, youth and adults must be at the table together in authentic partnership.
Often restorative practices are implemented by adults on behalf of students; however, in this program students will sit side-by-side as full partners with adults as they craft, implement and assess their restorative practices action plan over the course of the year.
This year-long professional learning supports middle and high school teams at all phases of implementation and growth. Teams typically consist of 2-4 adults and up to 8 youth partners.
Every member of a school community has a sphere of influence. This sphere contains an interwoven network of relationships which can influence decisions, policy and practices. The outcomes ultimately depend on the strength of the relationships between students, teachers, administrators, families, and community members.
Restorative practices provide greater balance and strength to the youth-adult partnerships in learning, greater opportunity for building empathy, bridging differences, and strengthening more just, joyful, and sustainable communities. Restorative practices are truly a form of participatory democracy in that they build and heal communities, and serve as a means to work through, resolve, and transform conflicts.
Restorative practices is a philosophy, a way of being, not a program or initiative.
Every time I attend or facilitate an UP for Learning event, I am reminded why I am a part of all this. I feel like I have never been in a place where I can listen, learn, share and have conversations that matter so much to me.
This group, YATST, can make a big change. And if you stay with it, it can make a change in you
I have learned that youth voices are an essential role in future school adjustments...I have personally learned new skills for observation that include taking in all opinions from different sides, and creating a middle ground...taking a leadership role, and considering all opinions on a matter, helps to open my eyes to a bigger picture and step outside of my own mindset. I will remember that all voices do matter.
Participating on this team was the BEST part of my school year. I began the year, quite literally, in August, during our first few days of inservice thinking - I don't want to be a teacher any more, this system is too broken - I think I need to quit my job. I thought this a lot as the year continued. I am ending the year knowing that I want to keep working with youth, largely because of this team and seeing a new way to do it, and I want to explore changing my teaching role and explore special education or alternative education as a new career pathway.
I’m a lot more confident now because of it. And there are other factors that play into that confidence. But I think it sort of stemmed from being a part of that group. I had never had anything like that before in my life really.
Restorative justice practices changed my school experience for the better. Seeing the model for this practice, I believe that it could greatly decrease the amount of repeat offenses in students. I am wholeheartedly behind this project, and am excited to see it through.
Being a youth and working alongside UP adults and other youth from around the state has been transformative. I’ve gotten countless opportunities for facilitation, experience, and growth. I’ve been given so many chances of connection with other students, teachers, and other adults. I can say confidently that I’m a much more comfortable facilitator and I’ve gotten so many tools to help along the way. Most importantly for me, I’ve learned how to reach towards things that I am passionate and care deeply about and that I am proud of.
It is exciting to know that I am a part of a group that is going to improve the PLP for so many students.
I used to be more of a strong leader, telling people what to do. Now that I’ve learned to facilitate, I help other people to work together.
My experiences with UP have been transformative, to say the least. I’ve gotten to learn in so many different ways and have become more confident in my facilitation abilities and speaking in front of other people. I’ve also had the chance to meet a lot of different people, both youth and adults and make connections that I wouldn’t have before.
I love being a member of the program because the people and the older leaders are so nice and were welcoming and helpful... I was so scared that the program would be hard for me but they made sure that I got all the help I needed and now I am one of the facilitators in the program.
UP for Learning has provided me an unparalleled opportunity to work on growth both in myself and within my community. I have developed as a leader and facilitator during a global pandemic, and I was able to do so through the support and kindness of those at UP for Learning. I would say that one major lesson I have taken from working with UP for Learning is that leadership is often mistaken for authority, while true leadership looks like uniting your community for the benefit of everyone.
Cultivating Pathways to Sustainability has given me the opportunity to expand my skills as a leader and share my passions about climate change with youth from Vermont and around the world. Facilitating and leading with other youth and adults has opened my eyes to the infinite ideas that come from this partnership and has made me want to create a similar relationship in my own school. In today’s world, the youth voice is becoming increasingly powerful and I think it’s important for youth to see people their age leading discussions or taking a role in projects alongside adults.
Every time I attend or facilitate an UP for Learning event, I am reminded why I am a part of all this. I feel like I have never been in a place where I can listen, learn, share and have conversations that matter so much to me.
It is exciting to know that I am a part of a group that is going to improve the PLP for so many students.
I’m a lot more confident now because of it. And there are other factors that play into that confidence. But I think it sort of stemmed from being a part of that group. I had never had anything like that before in my life really.
This group, YATST, can make a big change. And if you stay with it, it can make a change in you
I used to be more of a strong leader, telling people what to do. Now that I’ve learned to facilitate, I help other people to work together.
My experiences with UP have been transformative, to say the least. I’ve gotten to learn in so many different ways and have become more confident in my facilitation abilities and speaking in front of other people. I’ve also had the chance to meet a lot of different people, both youth and adults and make connections that I wouldn’t have before.
I love being a member of the program because the people and the older leaders are so nice and were welcoming and helpful... I was so scared that the program would be hard for me but they made sure that I got all the help I needed and now I am one of the facilitators in the program.
Restorative justice practices changed my school experience for the better. Seeing the model for this practice, I believe that it could greatly decrease the amount of repeat offenses in students. I am wholeheartedly behind this project, and am excited to see it through.
At UP for Learning, we believe we all must play our part in uprooting and rebuilding the systems behind inequities.
For our part, we commit to continuing our work to become an inclusive, anti-racist organization and community. We commit to continuing to listen, change and grow.
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