National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ)

We are beyond excited to announce that the 10th National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice will take place July 7-10, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana! Every NACRJ conference is a powerful space for community building, learning, and transformation—responding to the needs of the time and shaping the future of our field. As we look ahead to 2026, we invite you to mark your calendars and join us in New Orleans to celebrate the values that ground our work and strengthen our collective impact. More details will be shared in the coming months through our email newsletter and conference webpage: https://lnkd.in/e9UyKN_e In the meantime, we encourage you to save the date and plan to be part of NACRJ's milestone 10th conference. We can’t wait to see you there! #NACRJConference #NACRJConference2026 #restorativejustice #communityjustice #NOLA #neworleans #NACRJ

We are thrilled to announce our new NACRJ Board Members, Lorna, DeMointé, and Tyrone, who joined the NACRJ Board of Directors in January. Our new members bring a wealth of restorative justice knowledge and experience to NACRJ leadership, and we are grateful for their leadership and commitment to advancing community and restorative justice. Learn more about them and our other Board members: https://shorturl.at/dhWTA? ?? Tyrone Botelho is a national and international keynote speaker, mediator, and social justice advocate dedicated to addressing systemic inequities, racism, and discrimination. As a Restorative Justice practitioner for 15 years, he co-founded CircleUp Education a decade ago to advance equity-driven Restorative Justice. ?? Lorna Hermosura, PhD, is the author and Project Director of the STEP UP Texas project as well as an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin. STEP UP Texas provides trauma-informed and restorative practices training and implementation support to personnel working in school districts, law enforcement, and juvenile justice in 11 Texas counties to address racial and ethnic disparities in engagement with the juvenile justice system. ?? DeMointé Wesley is a student of restorative justice, conflict transformation, and liberatory politics. As an RJ practitioner, they have helped guide others in their restorative justice journey by teaching workshops, holding community spaces, and facilitating repair of harm processes in communities and workplaces. #restorativejustice #communityjustice #CircleUp #STEPUP #NACRJBoard #socialjustice #criminaljustice #youth #harmreduction

We invite you to experience the powerful live performance of “All Nations Rise” by Lyla June at this past year's NACRJ Conference. Lyla's messages of unity, resilience, and strength call on all nations to rise together in harmony and respect for Mother Earth. View her full performance and additional videos from the Conference on the 2024 National Conference page at our website: https://lnkd.in/eUZU4JvM

This Valentine's Day, show your love for community and restorative justice! Join us in our mission to spread justice and love by donating to NACRJ. Every contribution helps us build a stronger, more restorative future. Donate now through February 14 here!: https://shorturl.at/OPJcX #valentinesday #galentinesday #donate #NACRJ #communityjustice #restorativejustice #giving

NACRJ is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as our?Conference and Events Director. This individual will play a pivotal role in planning and executing NACRJ’s flagship national conference, as well as other key organizational events. Candidates should bring demonstrated experience leading large-scale (1,000+ attendees) event or conference planning in a non-profit or mission-driven environment. Click here to learn more about this exciting role & apply!: https://lnkd.in/eQtTF-T8 #NACRJ #restorativejustice #communityjustice #jobopportunity #careers #rjcareers #events

NACRJ is proud to share that two of our esteemed NACRJ Board members, President Thalia González and Treasurer Amy Dallas, will be featured panelists at the upcoming Fordham Urban Law Journal Symposium on Friday, February 14, 2025 in New York City. This year’s symposium, "Restorative Pathways: Reimagining Justice Reform for a Better Tomorrow," brings together scholars and practitioners from across the country to explore innovative approaches to justice reform. Hosted in collaboration with Fordham Law School's Urban Law Center and the Stein Center for Law and Ethics, the event will provide a platform for critical discussions on the role of restorative justice in shaping a more equitable legal system. González and Dallas will contribute their expertise to multiple discussions throughout this day-long symposium, which offers a valuable opportunity to engage with leading voices in restorative justice, law, and policy. Both in-person (New York, NY) and virtual registration options are available. To learn more and register, click here: https://shorturl.at/aWqaP #RestorativeJustice #CommunityJustice #Fordham #FordhamLaw #law #reform

At the 2024 NACRJ Conference, Derecka Purnell invited us to explore the connections between climate change, capitalism, colonialism and restorative justice, and how we can use what we've learned from the past seven generations to inform and impact the next seven generations. Check out her full keynote and additional videos from the Conference on the 2024 National Conference page at our website: https://lnkd.in/eUZU4JvM #NACRJ #Community #Circles #Envision #DMV #WashingtonDC #restorativejustice #communityjustice

In her empowering keynote address, Dr. Lyla June Johnston shared unique insights into justice, healing, and the path toward sustainable community transformation with attendees of the NACRJ 2024 National Conference. You can view her full presentation and additional videos from the Conference on the 2024 National Conference page at our website: https://lnkd.in/eUZU4JvM #NACRJ #Community #Circles #Envision #DMV #WashingtonDC #restorativejustice #communityjustice

This powerful clip from the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 National Conference brings us back to the incredible and powerful performances from this summer. We invite you to watch the complete opening ceremony and additional videos from the 2024 Conference on the 2024 National Conference page at our website: https://lnkd.in/eUZU4JvM #NACRJ #Community #Circles #DrumsNoGuns #DMV #WashingtonDC #Envision #restorativejustice #communityjustice

NACRJ Executive Director Joel Friesz reflects on the inspiring 2024 NACRJ conference opening ceremony, finding hope and resilience in its messages as we face a challenging new year. Read his blog at our NACRJ News & Blog page: https://shorturl.at/DCKHy We also invite you to watch the complete opening ceremony and additional videos from the 2024 Conference. Check them out on the 2024 National Conference page at our website: https://lnkd.in/eUZU4JvM #NACRJ #Community #Circles #DrumsNoGuns #DMV #WashingtonDC #Envision #restorativejustice #communityjustice