Community Building
An example of community building
Community Circles, Team Building Games, Check-in/out Questions.
What does RJ stand for.
Restorative Justice
What is empathetic listening.
Listening to understand
How do you know who goes next when in circle?
Circle order
Who Are We
Alternatives is a comprehensive, multi-cultural youth development organization that operates as a support system for more than 3,000 of Chicago’s young people and their families each year.
What is community building?
Community building is getting to know each other and creating a positive relationship so that we can get things done while also having fun
Name a punitive punishment System
School, Judicial, Home
Name 3 listening barriers
Interrogating - “What exactly were you thinking coming so late today?”
Advice giving - “Why don’t you just...”
Consoling, or reassuring - “Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.”
Minimizing - “At least you didn’t get seriously hurt in the accident.”
Storytelling - “This reminds me about my friend’s situation...”
One-Upping - “That’s nothing, did you hear what he said to me...”
Stealing the limelight - “I’m going through the same thing. I’m...”
Judging - “You could have responded better.”
Shutting it down - “Everything will be better tomorrow.”
What is the role of the Circle Keeper?
Sets the tone for the circle
Gives the Introduction and Closing
Comes with prepared questions
Helps maintain safe space—reviewing the circle agreements when necessary
Helps create connections between points that are brought up in the circle
Models by giving own responses and listening
Our Mission
Is to inspire young people to create a just future through practices that heal individuals, restore communities, and transform systems.
A game we've played together
signs game or an other game we've played
Name 2 proactive restorative practices
Community building and restorative communication
Before you are restorative with others you must..?
Know Your Identity, Privilege and Bias
Name 3 elements of a circle.
Circle Keeper
Talking Piece
Center Piece
Circle Guidelines
Questions
Opening and Closing
Our Values
Collaboration, Accountability, Agility, Liberation, Equity
One way we build community that is not playing games
Check-ins or Check-outs
Talking circles
What are the 3 major actions in RJ
Acknowledgement of the harm that was caused
Repairing harm done to and by all parties involved (includes getting to the root issue of why conflict happened in the first place)
Transformation which are changes that everyone agrees to so this conflict(s) doesn’t reoccur.
When listening empathetically what 2 things do you need to listen for?
Feelings and needs
Name 1 different kinds of circles
Talking Circles
Conflict/Peace Circle
Our Vision
Young people, free. Free from oppression, free in their identities, and free to pursue their wildest ambitions.
Name I aspects of facilitating a circle
Finding Topics
Introduction
Guidelines
Restorative Justice is a philosophy founded on..?
The belief that relationships are the glue that hold our communities together.
WHen talking about active listening what does BOARS stand for?
Body Language
Open-ended Questions
Affirm the speaker
Reflective statements
Summarize
Name the 4 circle guidelines.
Honor the Speaking Order
Sharing is voluntary.
Speak and listen from the heart
Confidentiality
Who Do We Serve
Alternatives serves youth between the ages of 10 and 24 and their families citywide. Our participants reflect the city’s rich diversity: 55% identify as Black, 28% Latinx, 7% Multi-Racial, 6% Asian and 4% white, and they lived in 70 different Chicago communities – 48% on the south and west sides of the City.