This list shares organizations working towards healing forms of justice and respect for human integrity. A group’s presence on this list does not reflect an endorsement of Justice Conversation by that group, or vice versa. They are here because, to the best of our knowledge, we see them as justice resources and contributors towards the collective shift in awareness of the importance of our interconnectedness in achieving just communities and nations.
Please help us grow this list! Send us your recommendations, and tell us why you suggest them. Please see the bottom of this page for more information and a useful form for contacting us.
INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International : Investigates and exposes human rights abuses, lobbies governments and companies to respect international laws concerning human rights. https://www.amnesty.org/en
Metta Center for Nonviolence : Through special consultive status with the United Nations, provides resources on how to safely and effectively use nonviolent strategies, and promote a more peaceful society. https://mettacenter.org/
Nonviolence News : Shares 30-50 stories per week of “nonviolence in action” with readers, illuminating the scale and scope of how nonviolence is actively shaping our world. Includes environmental, racial, economic, and social justice, working models of nonviolent alternatives, and individual acts of bravery and kindness. https://nonviolencenews.org/
Pax Christi : International Catholic peace movement promoting peace, respect of human rights, justice, and reconciliation, grounded in the belief that peace is possible, and that cycles of violence and injustice can be broken. Addresses the root causes & destructive consequences of violent conflict and war. https://paxchristi.net/ In U.S. see also: https://paxchristiusa.org/
Prison Fellowship International : Engaging the Christian community to pursue justice and healing in response to crime to the end that offenders are transformed, relationships are reconciled, and communities are restored. https://pfi.org
Project for Integrating Spirituality Law, and Politics (PISLAP) : A nationwide network of lawyers, law professors, law students, legal workers, and others who are seeking to develop a new spiritually-informed approach to law and social change. PISLAP embraces the spirituality of all faiths in the service of justice through relationship and connection. spiritlawpolitics.org
Restorative Justice on the Rise : Restorative justice podcasts and webinars that teaches individuals and communities on how to proactively improve relationships and community structures. https://restorativejusticeontherise.org/
AFRICA
African Prisons Project : Through their Justice Changemaker Programme, provides training and services for prisoners and prisoner staff, developing their legal and human rights awareness and ability to support others with free legal advice. https://africanprisons.org/our-work/
UNITED KINGDOM
Art/Law Network : Artists, lawyers, activists, & academics collaborating for change. http://artlawnetwork.org
Centre for Justice Innovation : Shares innovative practices , discovered through research or experimentation, with practitioners and policy makers to create a justice system which all of its citizens believe is fair and effective. https://justiceinnovation.org/
Legal Education Research Network (LERN) – University of London : A national resource for legal researchers supporting and facilitating research students at universities across the UK and in the University of London. http://ials.sas.ac.uk
UNITED STATES
NATIONAL
Art for Justice Fund : Connecting art and advocacy illuminates injustice, agitates for change, and empowers communities.https://artforjusticefund.org
Alternatives to Violence Project : AVP does much of its work with the incarcerated who deal with violence both in the “inside” and “outside” worlds. https://avpusa.org
Avielle Foundation : Aims to prevent violence and build compassion through supporting neuroscience research that bridges biochemical and behavioral sciences, as well as utilizing community engagement and education initiatives for youth, parents, teachers, health care providers, and law enforcement officers. https://aviellefoundation.org/
Center for Policing Equity : A research and action think tank, CPE aims to provide policing equity through evidence-based research into social justice, using data to create levers for social, cultural and policy change. http://policingequity.org/
Designing Justice Designing Spaces : Using the philosophy of restorative justice we design physical environments in such a way that the environmental design supports the programs which occur within the space. http://designingjustice.org/
Dreamcorps : Seeks freedom and dignity for all people in all communities, closing prison doors and opening opportunities, crossing racial, social and political divides. Fosters presence, conviction, and love, helping people turn towards each other instead of against each other. https://www.thedreamcorps.org/
Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) : Provides legal representation for illegal convictions, unfair sentences, prison abuse, and death penalty cases. Works with communities harmed by poverty and unequal treatment. Confronts racial injustice and educates public on this history of racism and slavery in the U.S. Founded by Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy, a best selling book and motion picture about his experiences as a lawyer working for people sentenced to death and children sentenced to life imprisonment. Opened the Legacy Museum: from Slavery to Mass Incarceration and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. https://eji.org
Hands Across the Hills : Establishes face to face meetings, in which constructive dialogue is employed about dismantling racism in America, and between people who voted for different candidates during the 2016 Presidential election. https://www.handsacrossthehills.org/
Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice : Directly accompanies immigrants facing detention and deportation while also motivating people of faith to lobby for policy change at local, state, and national levels. http://imirj.org/
Jailhouse Lawyers Speak : Spokesgroup for 2018 prison strike, advocating for the humanity of prisoners to be recognized, improvement in prison conditions and prison labor practices, rehabilitation options, and other prison reforms. https://www.facebook.com/BlkJailhouselawyer/
National Association of Community & Restorative Justice : Provides support to members on establishing practices that help promote a more equal style of justice that heals wounds and is more socially constructive. Is the parent organization of the National Conference on Community and Restorative justice. https://nacrj.org
National Juvenile Justice Network : NJJN leads a movement of state-based juvenile justice reform organizations and alumni of its Youth Justice Leadership Institute to fight for a fairer youth justice system by advocating for policies and practices that treat youth in trouble with the law with dignity and humanity, strengthening them, their families and communities. http://www.njjn.org/
Playworks : Playworks is aiming to reduce bullying and increase inclusion by creating a generation of kinder, empathetic kids. https://www.playworks.org
The Revolutionary Love Project : Building the movement to ground our lives and politics in Revolutionary Love! We produce stories, tools, curricula, conferences, films, and mass mobilizations rooted in the ethic of love. www.revolutonarylove.net
The Restorative Way : Using consulting and training to promote restorative communication in order to help individuals achieve more positive outcomes from emotionally difficult situations. https://restorativeway.com/
Social Justice Sewing Academy : A youth education program that bridges artistic expression with activism to advocate for social justice. Through a series of hands-on workshops in schools, prisons and community centers across the country, SJSA empowers youth to use textile art as a vehicle for personal transformation and community cohesion and become agents of social change. sjsacademy.com/
Southern Poverty Law Center : Southern Poverty Law Center monitors hate groups and other extremists throughout the U.S. and exposes their activities. https://www.splcenter.org
ALABAMA
Center for Courage and Renewal : Promotes deeper listening, more wholehearted decision making and more trustworthy relationships through several services including retreats, programs, consulting, books, coaching, presentations, and online resources. http://www.couragerenewal.org
CALIFORNIA
Ahimsa Collective : A network of facilitators and collaborators who draws from a restorative justice and peace making practices to work in deep community with people who have committed an act of violence, survivors of violence, and families impacted by harm. Work includes prison circles, community circles, victim offender dialogue, centering and supporting survivors, reentry support, and restorative justice training. https://www.ahimsacollective.net/
Bay Area Non-Violent Communication – Safer Communities Project : As BayNVC’s social justice project, Safer Communities’ vision is to transform the California State judicial system from a punitive justice system to a restorative model, one NVC class at a time. https://baynvc.org/safer-communities/
Canticle Farm : Inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, an urban community experimenting at the intersection of faith-based, social-justice-based and Earth-based nonviolent activism. https://canticlefarmoakland.org
Californians for Safety and Justice (CSJ) : A nonprofit working with Californians to replace prison and justice system waste with common sense solutions that create safe neighborhoods and save public dollars. Promotes criminal justice strategies through policy advocacy, public education, partnerships and support for local best practices to stop the cycle of crime and build healthy communities. https://safeandjust.org/
Centerforce Youth Court : Diverting youths in the San Francisco Bay Area who commit misdemeanor and first time offenses from juvenile detention, and using peer based restorative justice and education instead. https://www.centerforce.ngo/
CircleUp Education : Mission is to cultivate happy, thriving, and stress-free cities, organizations and schools by designing and facilitating custom training and consulting solutions on conflict resolution, diversity and equity, restorative practices and professional development. https://www.circleuped.org/
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice in Oakland (CURYJ) : Looks to young people to lead the way by transforming our community and investing in their healing, activism, and aspirations through our youth programs, life coaching, policy organizing and restorative retreats and trainings. https://www.curyj.org/
Community Resource Initiative Investigation Office and Resource Center : Challenge the death penalty, improve the standard of care and advocate for the value of human life. Collaborate with families and communities to facilitate safety, growth and resilience. http://www.cr-i.org/
Community Works West : Programs that help clients and their families access the inner power to work and live to their full potential. Uses insights on lasting change to keep people out of prison, advocate for a more humane justice system, and support healthy communities for all of us. http://communityworkswest.org
East Point Peace Academy : Non-violent peace warriors, gathers leaders and active participants to create, support, and nurture the Beloved Community through the full reconciliation of historic conflict and addressing new conflict as an opportunity for deeper growth. https://www.eastpointpeace.org/
Everyone Home : Alameda County’s road map for ending homelessness, emphasizing a coordinated, efficient regional response, making the best use of the county’s resources while building capacity to attract funding from federal, state and philanthropic sources. Envisions a system of care in Alameda County that ensures all extremely low-income residents have a safe, supportive and permanent place to call home with services available to help them stay housed and improve the quality of their lives. http://everyonehome.org/
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity : A statewide California organization that connects clergy and people of faith to social justice work. Seeks to make the criminal justice system more just, and the immigration system more fair and humane. http://www.im4humanintegrity.org/
Oakland Unified School District Restorative Justice Initiative : Builds, maintains, and restores relationships between members of the entire school community to create an environment where all students can thrive. Builds community, responds to harm/conflict and provides individual circles of support for students. https://www.ousd.org/Page/12326
Oakland Catholic Worker : Offers transitional housing and support services to Latin American Immigrants, distributes food to people in need, advocates for elimination of unjust practices locally and globally, and supports restorative justice practices.
Pope Francis Legal Clinic : Volunteer lawyers provide free consultations regardless of religious or financial background, while working to bring a spirit of justice and mercy to their review of case circumstances. https://www.ctlcathedral.org/get-involved/social-ministries/pope-francis-legal-clinic
Resolve to Stop the Violence : A program from the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department in partnership with the nonprofit Community Works West that aims to help incarcerated prisoners recognize their violent attitudes and change them. Serves San Francisco County Jail inmates who agree that they are dangerous and wish to change. http://communityworkswest.org/program/rsvp/
Restorative Justice Center : Offering RJ trainings and restorative circles at UC Berkeley and in the Bay Area Community as well as strategies and processes to help individuals and campus communities respond to “harm events,” including offensive or harmful speech and behavior, that cause people to feel marginalized or excluded based on ethnicity, gender identity or other identity category. http://rjcenterberkeley.org
Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY) : Works to interrupt punitive school discipline and juvenile justice policies that activate tragic cycles of violence, incarceration, and wasted lives for youth of color. Promotes institutional shifts toward restorative approaches that actively engage families, communities, and systems to repair harm and prevent re-offending. http://rjoyoakland.org/
Restorative Justice Training Institute : Offers planning, training, coaching, curriculum development, research and evaluation for schools and organizations working with youth. http://www.rjtica.org/
The Restorative Way : Using consulting and training to promote restorative communication in order to help individuals achieve more positive outcomes from emotionally difficult situations. https://restorativeway.com/
Safe Return Project : Participatory research and action initiative led by a group of formerly incarcerated Richmond residents who carry out research, community organizing, and policy advocacy to improve community reintegration after incarceration. https://www.facebook.com/safereturnteam/
SEEDS Community Resolution Center : Cultivates positive communication and develops fundamental understanding using mediation, facilitation, training and restorative practices, so that all people can be in productive relationship with each other. https://www.seedscrc.org/
Sunshine Behavioral Health : Offers culturally competent mental health care and resource material through their page on Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community. Resources explore effects of racism on mental health as well as disparities in treatment options, and potential for untreated mental illness to result in encounters with law enforcement and incarceration. https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/mental-health-issues-facing-the-black-community/
New Dream : A program for returning citizens who are on parole or probation. Helps students with transition into college, break down stigma about former incarceration, continue to build community visibility among our reentry students and finally demonstrate that our reentry students have the ability to thrive and be productive citizens on our campus. http://alameda.peralta.edu/new-dream/
Corrections to College California : A four-year initiative designed to build a network of bridges from corrections to college in California. http://correctionstocollegeca.org
GEORGIA
Georgia Justice Project : Provides legal services, social services, and unemployment support for poor people accused of a crime. Aims to demonstrate a better way to support individuals in the criminal justice system, and reduce barriers to reentry from prison to society. https://www.gjp.org/
Positive Discipline Alliance : Provides training for parents, teachers, therapists, and others on using Adlerian social and emotional skills, which emphasize an individuals meaning to society, in personal, business, and school relationships. positivediscipline.org
MASSACHUSETTS
ASH Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard University A forum for innovation in the public sector. https://www.innovations.harvard.edu/find-innovative-solutions/all-topics/criminal-justice-public-safety
MISSOURI
Center for Conflict Resolution : Processes are based on the principles of restorative justice; involving everyone affected by harm in creating solutions that meet the needs created by harm. https://ccrkc.org/restorative-justice/
PENNSYLVANIA
International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP): A graduate school run by scholar/practitioners that teaches restorative practices to empower people to transform communities. https://www.iirp.edu/
WISCONSIN
Dane County Time Bank Youth Court and Restorative Justice https://danecountytimebank.org/projects/youth-court-restorative-justice
Please help us grow this list! Send us your recommendations of organizations from anywhere in the world, and tell us why you suggest them. We’re looking for organizations whose focus is related to one or more of the subjects below:
- Restorative Justice
- Prison reform that prioritizes healing or recognizing the humanity of prisoners
- Nurturing empathy, respect, and love for people experiencing societal injustice.
- Upholding or defending human rights
- Safety in communities, schools or families through fostering healthy relationships
- Legal aid to people in need
- Practicing law through love, empathy, mindfulness, meditation, or spiritual practice
If you have suggestions to help us improve this list or any of our tools, let us know!
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https://restorativeway.com/