Upcoming events.
WVRJP Skills Building Institute
The WVRJP has heard loud and clear that everyone wants to learn more! One of the things that they are most interested in is acquiring the skills to be a circle keeper and to be able to facilitate a Restorative Justice Dialogue. On June 13, 2025, we’ll convene at the West Virginia University College of Law for a full day of building skills. All participants will have the opportunity to learn from experienced restorative justice practitioners.
Each participant will be engaged in a half-day session to build their skills in Restorative Justice Circle Keeping and a second half-day session to build skills in Victim-Offender Dialogue. Each session will include a presentation by a nationally recognized restorative justice practitioner and an interactive session to practice those essential skills. Judge Wesley Saint Clair will be leading the portion of the program about circle keeping, and Tracey Battle will be focusing on victim-offender dialogue.
While the event is in-person, an online option will be available, but participants are strongly encouraged to participate in person.
Registration fees are as follows:
In-person participants: Early bird $60.00 (through March 31), Regular registration $75.00
On-line participants: Early bird $150.00 (through March 31), Regular registration $200.00
Lodging:
Hotel blocks have been reserved at several Morgantown hotels. Select and book your hotel here.
WVRJP is in the process of securing double occupancy dorm rooms at WVU for a cost of $26.00 per person. Details will be provided in the next few weeks.
Webinar: How does Restorative Justice Make Our Communities Stronger?
On March 6, 2025, from noon until 1:00 p.m., the WVRJP will offer a free webinar to examine how Restorative Justice may be integrated into a community. Debbie Watters, a co-director and founder of Northern Ireland Alternatives (NIA), will join us. Northern Ireland Alternatives (NIA) is a government-accredited restorative justice program that aims to promote and develop non-violent community responses to the issues of low-level crime and antisocial behavior in areas across Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Alternatives is a central co-ordinating initiative aimed at embedding the philosophy and practice of restorative justice to peacefully address socially harmful activities and develop non-violent, innovative approaches to doing justice within local communities.
The program is designed to be more of a conversation, and four talented members of our community will engage Ms. Watters in a discussion that will help anyone understand ways to strengthen their community. Our guest facilitators include grAce assistant executive director Nicole Ann Bailey, Shepherd Univeristy Director of Counseling Wendy Baracka, Peer Re-Entry Program Coordinator Amber Blankenship, and West Virginia University College of Law student Gregory Robertson.