On today's Your Call, we’ll rebroadcast a conversation about restorative justice programs in schools. Last year in Oakland , where the majority of suspensions were African American students, the school district turned to Restorative Justice as a way to resolve conflict and decrease suspensions. How are these programs being used to teach kids alternatives to conflict and help keep them out of the prison and in school? That’s on the next Your Call with Hana Baba, and you.
Guests:
David Yusem, program manager for the Restorative Justice Program with the Oakland Unified School District
Eric Butler, restorative justice school coordinator at Bunche HS in West Oakland
Damon Smith, graduated last year from Bunche High School in Oakland and went through the Restorative Justice program there
Resources:
Oakland Local: OUSD puts some money behind ending discrimination in schools
NY Times: Opening Up, Students Transform a Vicious Circle
YouTube: Restorative Welcome and Re-entry Circle
SF Gate: Oakland schools' black male students at risk
KQED: Oakland School District and Feds Agree on Changes to School Discipline
Oakland Local: Beating the school-to-prison pipeline
OUSD: Restorative Justice Program
Urban Strategies: African American Male Achievement Initiative (AAMAI)
Urban Strategies: AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ACHIEVEMENT INITIATIVE: A CLOSER LOOK AT SUSPENSIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES IN OUSD 2010-2011
Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY)
OUSD: Thriving Students
