Peace Circles Prepare To Launch

Posted on by HSCPC

Peace Circles Prepare To Launch  –

Exciting things have been happening behind the scenes at the Hastings Sunrise CPC! We are preparing to launch a new restorative justice program to help resolve conflict in the community through restorative practice.

The program, Bridging Divides, is using Peace Circles to bring people together, gain understanding, resolve issues, heal and build relationships. Peace Circles can be used in workplace and neighbour disputes, community building, cultural and social dialogues, and much more.

The facilitators, called peacemakers, are trained to thoughtfully guide and work with community members as they participate in the circle process through the stages of suitability, preparation, gathering and follow up. The peacemakers have refined their skills by facilitating dialogue circles with various groups in Hastings Sunrise, for example exploring what a peaceful community looks like, and how local organizations can collaborate more successfully.

“It has been such an insightful journey, learning more about how to design an inclusive process where participants feel safe and supported to share their concerns in a dialogue that focuses on healing and finding consensus, rather than placing blame or punishment,” says Tommy Luong, a peacemaker and HSCPC board president.

Advancing the restorative neighbourhood initiative is a collaboration of three organizations: Hastings Sunrise CPC, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, and Peace of the Circle. In March, representatives from the lead organizations and 12 local community partners met at Sunrise Hall to further discuss what a restorative neighbourhood means to them, and how we are using restorative practices. All expressed support for the initiative and would like to be involved. As the world around us gets more complex and people feel more isolated than ever, restorative practices can help us to reconnect with each other.

“This is a genuine community,” says one organization’s representative, “it is grassroots, down to earth and welcoming. This is critical, very important work where people can come together from all different backgrounds. We can’t put a price on that.”

Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House will continue to focus on dialogue circles and bringing restorative practices to organizations in Hastings Sunrise. The goal of the HSCPC’s Bridging Divides program is to respond to cases that involve conflict and harm. The HSCPC team is creating a webpage for Bridging Divides that will have information and resources, and the intake process will be launched in late spring/early summer 2025. 

If you would like to learn more about Bridging Divides or request a Peace Circle, please visit our office at 2620 East Hastings Street, call us at 604-717-3584 or email Nina at ninak@hscpc.com.

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