May: Introduction
Restorative Justice is a key expression of living into the new story. Beyond specific skills or processes—which can vary—what matters most is that this approach to “justice” is rooted in our interconnection rather than separateness. It reflects a deeper shift in how we understand who we are, what makes us safe, and what justice can be.
People use different terms—victim/offender, or the person who did harm and the person who experienced harm—but for our purposes, we want to stay grounded in what science increasingly shows us: that those who do harm are themselves harmed by that harm, and that communities who witness or carry awareness of harm are also part of its impact. Harm is never isolated; it lives within relationships.
This month, we’ll explore resources on restorative justice that center this shift in awareness. We also invite you into a simple experiment: throughout May, notice when your mind turns toward retribution as a solution. When it does, get curious. Where is that impulse coming from? What else might be possible in the situation you’re considering?
You don’t need to have an answer. The invitation is simply to make space for the possibility of another way. Each time we lean toward restoring relationships—and our shared humanity—we become more able to recognize and support restorative approaches in our communities, our media, and our political life.
Take notes this month and track your learning, your questions, your reservations, and your own experiments. Each week’s material is meant to offer grist for your own insights and understanding. We all carry a deep well of wisdom that restorative justice draws upon.
In this short animation, we introduce RJ as a feature of New Story. People have been using this video as a teaching tool for workshops and classrooms.