Celebrating a Year of Community-Based Restorative Justice
By Finda Kofuma, Senior Policy Associate, and Nathalie Lebrón, Senior Policy Associate
To celebrate the past year of work being done in neighborhoods, schools, courts, and more, we convened the 16 Community-Based Restorative Justice initiative grantees to discuss and uplift their progress , as well as network with training and technical assistance experts who’ve provided support along the way and the funders who can keep the work going.
Often, when talking about restorative justice, it’s in the context of the criminal legal system – maybe a misdemeanor diversion program, or court-ordered mediation. But its core principles such as repairing harm, healing & transformation, accountability, centering community voices and self-determination, can be applied across diverse settings, communities, and populations.
Community-based organizations have increasingly adopted restorative justice practices in their programs. This can include anything from conflict resolution to holding circles in times of crisis. But implementing these into organizational practices needs to be done intentionally, which can require resources and capacity that many grassroots service providers do not have.
Last summer, ISLG and the New York City Mayor’s Office for Criminal Justice (MOCJ) selected 16 unique community-based organizations to be a part of the Community-Based Restorative Justice Program (CBRJ). With $6.5 million committed for both the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, the CBRJ invested in these organizations to build their operational, strategic, and programmatic capacity as well as restorative justice practices. This is done through ISLG’s expertise in training and technical assistance (TTA), grant management, performance measurement, and nonprofit leadership.
ISLG convened these grantees along with other field experts, leaders, and philanthropists for a celebration of the past 12 months of work.
The event brought together the people doing the work on the ground alongside the training and technical assistance experts who’ve provided support along the way, as well as the funders who can keep the work going.
This week, a year after that first launch, ISLG convened these grantees along with other field experts, leaders, and philanthropists for a celebration of the past 12 months of work. The event brought together the people doing the work on the ground alongside the training and technical assistance experts who’ve provided support along the way, as well as the funders who can keep the work going. Through meeting together, discussing the state of the field, and breaking bread, the event marked a milestone for CBRJ while preparing for the road ahead.
The First Year: In Pictures
Programming Focus
Design and implement community-based, culturally responsive restorative justice programs in one or multiple contexts.
Grantees in the Programming Focus strive to integrate or expand restorative justice (RJ) services. Their programs range from youth services in Bronx and Brooklyn schools to supporting community members who are impacted by substance use. In the past year, several organizations have seen young people become peer mediators and RJ trainers. At the same time, community members have engaged in wellness and healing practices rooted in ancestral and Indigenous traditions. Restorative approaches have also helped individuals and their support networks, such as young people with gun charges shifting their perspectives, rebuilding trust, and working towards solutions with loved ones.
Training and Technical Assistance Focus
Offer training and/or technical assistance on restorative justice principles and practices to organizations or individuals for the purpose of designing and/or implementing restorative justice activities in the community.
Grantees in the Training and Technical Assistance Focus train service providers or community members on restorative justice principles and practice. These programs include training community violence interrupters and school staff to implement restorative justice (RJ) practices. A grantee hosted City Roundtables where community members discussed RJ's importance, solidarity among crisis, and reimagining safety. While another grantee effectively taught community-based organizations how to incorporate RJ into their existing programs.
Fellowship Focus
Design and implement a restorative justice paid fellowship for individuals interested in doing restorative justice work within their communities.
Grantees in the Fellowship Focus are cultivating the next generation of restorative justice (RJ) leaders by developing fellowship programs for individuals dedicated to supporting their communities. In the past year, youth fellows have trained their peers in restorative justice principles and practices, while others have led RJ-based activities within community-based organizations (CBOs). Community members have used their fellowships to guide others in navigating the healthcare system through a restorative justice lens. Additionally, credible messengers have facilitated various types of restorative justice circles, creating safe spaces for dialogue and connection. Together, these efforts are building a stronger foundation for community-led justice and long-term healing.
Pictures of the event by ISLG staff; photos from the Focus areas provided by the grantees.