Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice

FOUNDED BY NEIGHBORHOOD VOLUNTEERS IN 2005, SWEARD LONGFELLOW RESTORATIVE JUSTICE (SLRJ) BECAME INCORPORATED AS AN INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT IN 2019.THE YEAR 2020 PRESENTED MANY CHALLENGES TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO SLRJ. IN MARCH 2020, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESSES AND TRAINING AND CONSULTATION TRANSITIONED TO VIDEO CONFERENCING. IN MAY, GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED BY A POLICE OFFICER FROM THE 3RD PRECINCT OF MINNEAPOLIS, THE SERVICE AREA FOR SLRJ. IN THE UNREST THAT FOLLOWED, THE BUILDING THAT HOUSED THE SLRJ OFFICES WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. DUE TO VIDEO CONFERENCING AND CONTINUED COMMUNITY INVESTMENT IN THE PROGRAM THROUGH TIME, RESOURCES, AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, SLRJ CONTINUED ITS SERVICES UNINTERRUPTED THROUGHOUT 2020.LARGELY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, REFERRALS FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DECREASED WHILE REQUESTS FROM OTHER SOURCES INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY INCREASED.RESTORATIVE CONFERENCES: SLRJ HELD 17 RESTORATIVE CONFERENCES FOR INCIDENTS INCLUDING SHOPLIFTING, THEFT, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. EACH OF THE CONFERENCES WAS LED BY TWO TRAINED FACILITATORS WITH BETWEEN 2-12 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING, INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO DID THE HARM, FAMILY MEMBERS, THE PERSON HARMED, THE CO-DEFENDANTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.TO "MAKE THINGS RIGHT," PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED SUMMER SCHOOL, PERFORMED VOLUNTEER WORK, MADE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, ATTENDED ANTI-RACISM WORKSHOPS, AND/OR MADE VERBAL AND WRITTEN APOLOGIES.RESTORATIVE CIRCLES: SLRJ ASSISTED LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE USE OF CIRCLES TO EXPLORE PERTINENT TOPICS AND TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AMONGST STAFF TEAMS.INFORMATION AND REFERRAL: SLRJ RESPONDED TO APPROXIMATELY 50 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL MOSTLY FROM INDIVIDUALS EXPLORING RESTORATIVE OPTIONS AND FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS SEEKING EDUCATION AND ADVICE REGARDING THE USE OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: STAFF GAVE MORE THAN 20 PRESENTATIONS REGARDING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND ITS USE TO CHURCHES, ADVOCACY GROUPS, ATTORNEYS, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. A PROJECT REGARDING THE USE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TO RESPOND TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CONTINUES AS DOES A PROJECT TO INCREASE OUTREACH TO SOMALI FAMILIES.