About Us

Mission

To provide schools, workplaces and other communities with training, consulting and facilitation of dialogue circles which improve communication, build relationships, reduce violence and allow those most impacted by conflict and wrongdoing to develop their own solutions for justice and well-being.

Who We Are

The Center for Restorative Approaches (CRA) was founded in 2008 as an initiative of Neighborhood Housing Services. Our organization helps people uncover their natural ability to respond to destructive behavior in constructive ways. We provide communities with training and tools that build relationships and that allow for those most impacted by conflict and crime to develop their own solutions and ways of repairing harm. Our staff, interns and volunteers are committed to making restorative approaches possible. CONTACT US to see how you can join in our mission!

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement (JEDI)

The Center for Restorative Approaches is committed to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) as we work to fulfill our vision of nurturing our humanity one person, one circle, one community at a time.

At CRA:

Justice requires us to remove barriers that prevent any person from participating fairly, to focus intentionally on harm prevention, and to ameliorate disparate impact

Equity means we work to ensure all persons have opportunities to participate in our processes and practices and that we mitigate the negative impacts of implicit power dynamics. 

Diversity requires our openness to persons of a variety of backgrounds such as race, culture, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, and other identity-based differences.

Inclusion means we demonstrate to all persons that they are valued for who they are and what they bring to our organization by honoring their unique skills, welcoming their perspectives, and ensuring a sense of belonging. 

  • Board Membership

We seek board members who reflect the identity and thought diversity of our city, state, and its regions, and the 501c3 nonprofit sector. We choose board members who support our commitment to JEDI.

  • Programming

We seek engagement and input from board, staff members, funders, and other stakeholders to ensure that our programs are aligned with our commitment to JEDI.

  • Policies and Procedures

We adopt organizational policies and procedures aligned with our commitment to JEDI.

  • Employment

We seek staff who are reflective of the diversity in the communities we serve. We foster a workplace that promotes the realization of our commitment to JEDI.