Grateful to have been a part of the Collective Future Practice Space event organized by Katya Abazajian! We discussed the challenges of collective organizing & discussed ways we can do better. We shared experiences, felt seen, heard & encouraged. Many times the truth tellers are the ones who pay the highest price for their courage. This space allowed the challengers to come together, connect & recharge so we can stay in the game & do some good damage 😁

Katya shared resources that have helped her in her conflict resolution work. Paraspace Books shared their really cool selection of books!

We are so thankful to be able to share our space for impactful community work like this ♥️

Special thanks to youth alum Maithreyi Asthagiri, our summer Youth Fellow Lizbeth Velasquez, and Co Founder Tisha Wilson, for presenting on circles as a tool for resilience and resistance in the face of the hostile state of public education. We appreciated presenting at Community Voices for Public Education - Houston’s annual forum, “Protect Public Education, Protect Democracy.

Anita caught up with mentor Janet Connors, whose restorative justice work has reverberated in Houston for years, and Jesús Pizarro — her colleague from the Common Justice Practitioners Lab. Over brunch they brainstormed ways to deepen collaboration between Boston, Worcester, and Houston.

Janet’s story is featured in the documentary Circle Up and in my book Restorative Justice in Urban Schools, reminding us how mothers, youth workers, and community leaders have shaped this movement across generations.

Jesús Pizarro, of Legendary Legacies, brings powerful leadership from Worcester — uplifting returning citizens, building youth pathways, and modeling community-rooted accountability.

Movement work across cities, stories, and lived experience.

We had the pleasure of being a part of the Bringing Houston Together Conflict Resolution 2 day Workshop put together by Rodrigo Martins, Community and Constituent Engagement
Office of Councilmember Julian Ramirez.

The fact that this workshop was packed with so many people from all levels of community was so encouraging. There is a growing need for spaces where we can connect & develop healthier ways to approach conflict.

In the words of Rodrigo: “As I see it, effective conflict resolution begins with our ability to regulate our own nervous system—to move from reactivity toward clarity and centeredness. When we can navigate our own emotions and judgments, we are better able to help others do the same. From that calmer place, we see ourselves, others, and the situation more clearly, accessing wisdom that is often obscured by the fight-or-flight response.”

The fact that this type of workshop is coming from a governmental office definitely gives us hope for the future & makes us feel good that our tax dollars are going to something that will make lasting positive community impact.

There’s still a long way to go in making Houston a truly restorative city, but every circle, every conversation, and every relationship built brings us one step closer. We’re grateful to be part of that work and look forward to continuing it.

Did you know? Restorative Houston is creating a harm repair apprenticeship program in community! Due to high demand, we are in the planning stages of putting together an apprenticeship that focuses on harm repair & conflict resolution. We reached out to all of the people who have completed our community building apprenticeship & asked them if they wanted to be part of building this new program.

Watch Eunjeong Lee as she answers the questions of why she decided to be a part of this project & what she’s looking forward to the most on TikTok or Instagram

We will be piloting this cohort this summer & hopefully launching the second cohort sometime next year. We are so excited!

Janet Bonner, co-founder of Restorative Houston, recently completed our Restorative Justice Apprenticeship as a way to stay connected to new practitioners and continue deepening her own practice. As part of her journey, Janet designed a beautiful Circle with her Bible study group, creating space to share tea, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversations about faith. While Restorative Houston is not a religious organization, her Circle highlights the beauty of our apprenticeship model: participants gain tools and training they can adapt to build connection, belonging, and community within their own unique spaces.We love the care and intention Janet brought to this gathering and the thoughtful way she curated the experience with members of her pod. This is restorative practice in action—meeting people where they are and creating spaces for authentic connection.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Kadence Carter, one of Restorative Houston’s first youth board members, on being selected for the Disability Project’s Disabled Youth Community School!

Kadence has been a thoughtful leader, advocate, and changemaker in our community. It has been an honor to watch him grow, share his voice, and help shape Restorative Houston’s vision as a youth leader. This opportunity recognizes the expertise, insight, and lived experience he brings to movements for disability justice and community transformation.

Congratulations, Kadence! We can’t wait to see all that you’ll learn, contribute, and build with fellow disabled youth leaders in San Diego this November. Your Restorative Houston family is cheering you on every step of the way.

REGISTER HERE!

BUY TICKETS! Please spread the word, share, share, share!!

If you are not able to attend the gala but want to support in other ways, here are some underwriting opportunities! If you are interested in supporting this way, please email us at [email protected] OR donate HERE & make sure you specify what the donation is for in the notes section of the donation process.