Restorative Justice Practices- Tier 1 Pathway

About the Workshops….

The Town Project invites you to a series of six, 2-hour workshops on Tier 1 Restorative Justice practices. These interactive sessions are designed for educators, youth-serving professionals, caregivers, and community members who support young people in any capacity. Each workshop is standalone and can be taken individually or combined for deeper growth.Through this series, participants will explore restorative communication skills (active listening, affective/impact statements, de-escalation, activator awareness) and practice circle-keeping techniques that build trust, inclusion, and accountability. Whether you work in schools, after-school programs, nonprofits, or community settings, Tier 1 equips you with tools to strengthen relationships, prevent conflict, and nurture collective care.

Who should attend?

Educators, counselors, youth mentors, nonprofit staff, restorative justice practitioners, community organizers, coaches, parents, faith leaders, and others committed to building inclusive, accountable, and caring communities.

What You Will Learn?

An in-depth understanding of Restorative Justice and its historical Indigenous origins.

Trauma-informed restorative communication practices.

Tier 1 Restorative Interventions aimed at early conflict resolution and prevention.

How to facilitate Tier 1 Community Building Circles

Training Highlights

Learn how to create a safe “container“ in your classroom/school/organization.
Interactive Group Activities for hands-on experience.
Short blocks of Direct Instruction followed by participant-centered activities.
Scaffolding and Summarization to connect existing and new strategies.

Goals

To build a shared understanding of the foundations for restorative justice implementation.
To develop discrete restorative-communication skills, strategies, and circle practice.

Workshop Topics…

Active Listening

Listening deeply is the foundation of restorative practice. In this workshop, participants will practice techniques that move beyond hearing words to truly understanding meaning, emotions, and needs. Learn how active listening fosters empathy, strengthens relationships, and helps de-escalate conflict in classrooms, workplaces, and communities.

Impact & Affective Statements

Words carry power. This session introduces affective and impact statements as simple yet transformative tools for expressing feelings and needs without blame. Participants will learn how to use these statements to promote accountability, build trust, and create a culture of honest, respectful communication.

De-escalation Techniques

Conflict can escalate quickly when emotions run high. This workshop equips participants with restorative de-escalation strategies rooted in curiosity, calm presence, and co-regulation. Explore how to interrupt the escalation cycle, maintain safety, and support others in moving from reactivity to reflection.

Activators & Triggers

Everyone has activators—moments, words, or behaviors that spark strong emotional responses. In this session, participants will identify their own triggers, explore how they show up in relationships, and practice restorative ways to regulate themselves and respond constructively to others.

Circle Practice – Foundations & Best Practices

Circles create space for connection, dialogue, and collective care. This workshop introduces the foundations of circle practice, from structure and purpose to the role of the facilitator. Participants will experience a circle, reflect on its impact, and leave with practical tools to begin integrating circles into their own contexts.

Circle Practice – Types of Circles

Not all circles are the same. This session explores different circle formats—from community-building to problem-solving and healing circles—highlighting when and how to use each. Participants will learn how circles can adapt to diverse settings, creating flexible pathways for connection, accountability, and repair.

Earn Graduate Credit While You Learn

Take your professional development further by earning graduate-level credit through the University of the Pacific. Each of our restorative justice workshops can count toward units that educators and professionals can apply to salary advancement, recertification, or ongoing growth. Flexible by design, you can attend individual workshops or stack several together with pre-work and reflection assignments to complete the 15 hours required for one credit. This partnership makes your investment in learning restorative practices not just transformative for your community—but also a strategic step in your career.

Learn more

Financial Aid & Sliding Scale Available

We believe cost should never be a barrier to healing, learning, or community building. If you need support, we offer financial aid and scholarships—just click here to apply.
If you’re able to pay the full registration fee, your contribution directly helps us offer scholarships to those with limited access to funding. Thank you for helping us keep this work accessible and sustainable.

Tier 1 Training Registration Form

This Tier 1 Restorative Justice course is designed to equip educational professionals with effective communication and restorative practice strategies that are essential for building a compassionate school, classroom and community.

First Name *

Last Name

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Phone *

Name of Organization *

Your Title/Position *

What is your experience with restorative justice practices? *

Which workshop would you like to attend? *

And last but not least: What's your favorite song/artist? *

By submitting this form, you agree to receive emails from The Town Project about upcoming workshops, resources, and community updates related to restorative justice. You can unsubscribe at any time.

The Town Project would like to ensure that our trainings are accessible to everyone. If you need financial assistance, please click on this link to complete our financial aid application. Thank you!