One of the most common challenges that organizations face when implementing Restorative Practices is what is perceived as resistance to the restorative approach. They ask questions such as “How do we increase staff buy-in?” and “What do we do with ‘negative’ people who are … [Read more...]
How are the Children Doing?
“In youth we learn, in age we understand.” -Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach Over the summer, I had the pleasure of attending the Advanced Training of Champions’ seminar as an intern for Akoben. In my first encounter with this work, I participated in one of the communication … [Read more...]
The Talking Piece: Strategies for Helping Our Students Honor It
Here’s the Good News You’re not crazy. Children of all ages (and adults too) sometimes have trouble honoring the talking piece. Even when they’ve agreed to its principles and deeply appreciate the permission it gives them to speak and to be listened to, they call out … [Read more...]
We Owe Black Girls Their Innocence: Four Ways We Can Give It Back- Part 2
In Part 1, we discussed the process by which Black girl innocence is stolen. Here are some personal and practical ways to give it back: Crown Them Children Black children are children. Black girl children are children. And if that concept strikes you as strange, if it … [Read more...]
We Owe Black Girls Their Innocence: Four Ways We Can Give It Back- Part 1
By Andria Nacina Cole In June of 2017, the Center on Poverty and Inequality at Georgetown Law published the first study focused on the “adultification” of Black girls. The study, “Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood” reveals data indicating … [Read more...]