Description: The Power The Difference: Integrating Restorative Justice and Wellness for Youth Empowerment seminar aims to delve deeply into the interconnectedness of restorative justice and wellness as essential frameworks for empowering youth and fostering sustainable, resilient communities. Today, youth are often faced with systemic challenges, such as punitive disciplinary practices, lack of access to mental health support, and environments that fail to nurture their overall well-being. These issues disproportionately impact marginalized communities, reinforcing cycles of inequality and diminishing opportunities for youth to thrive. 
Restorative justice, with its emphasis on healing, accountability, and community building, offers an alternative approach to traditional punitive systems. It provides young people with opportunities for growth, understanding, and reparation rather than punishment. Wellness, on the other hand, encompasses the physical, emotional, and mental health of youth, recognizing that empowerment is impossible without nurturing the holistic well-being of individuals. Together, these frameworks not only address the root causes of conflict and harm but also create spaces where youth feel supported, understood, and valued.
This seminar seeks to explore how restorative justice, and wellness can be strategically integrated to create transformative solutions that disrupt harmful systems, particularly in education and juvenile justice, where many youths are funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline. Through collaborative dialogue, expert insights, and hands-on workshops, the seminar will equip educators, community leaders, youth advocates, and program developers with the knowledge and tools necessary to implement restorative practices and wellness initiatives. These actionable strategies will provide participants with the skills to cultivate environments where youth can flourish, build positive relationships, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
By focusing on youth development, the seminar will also emphasize the importance of cultivating community resilience. When restorative justice is combined with a solid foundation of wellness, communities become more adept at responding to challenges, supporting their youth, and fostering inclusive, healing spaces. Participants will learn how to create programs that not only address immediate issues but also empower youth to become future leaders and advocates for justice and wellness in their own lives. Power The Difference” is about creating a shift in how society supports and uplifts young people—centering their voices, providing holistic care, and implementing restorative approaches that offer transformative justice and long-term well-being.
Date: Friday, September 27, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: IIT 1 F6-1, Michael Paul Galvin Tower, 10 W. 35th St.