Building compassionate communities

We are fortunate here in the Bay Area for many reasons. Here’s one more. Every year we host Dominic Barter, an innovator in restorative systems, where groups come together to establish connection, recover their power, and connect empathically by understanding their differences and reach agreements that support personal and societal safety and well-being. In the 1990s Dominic began developing restorative justice systems in the shanty towns, schools, courts and prisons in Brazil. Dominic travels to the Bay Area from Rio de Janiero to share the process he has developed.

The Restorative Circle process – whether it be in families, in schools, in businesses, in neighborhoods - is rooted in local communities forming partnerships of cooperation to work through individual and systemic conflict. The process can be used in diverse contexts and cultures. Its simple, clear guiding principles and practice allows it adaptability to different groups and settings. Because of these characteristics, there has been an increasing demand for training in Restorative Circles.

Dominic speaks to the growth of Restorative Circle. “Being able to measure has increased our visibility: we have been nationally recognized for effective innovation in both the areas of Justice and of Education. Restorative Systems have been adopted by diverse local communities. The Circles have been statistically shown to reduce in up to 50% the number of cases in which youth come before a judge. Independent research has found over 90% of cases have been resolved to the satisfaction of those polled.”

Dominic will be here at BayNVC this weekend offering Building a Compassionate Justice System: An Introduction to Restorative Circles. Starting on Monday, November 2nd, he will be offering 9-day in-depth Facilitator Practice organized in a series of 3-day modules.

Even more than avoidance of punishment, the restorative paradigm is now proven as a consistent basis for strengthening the ability of people to live together and deal with conflict in peace.