View the conference schedule and presentation materials (where provided).

Putting Theory into Practice: The Restorative Way

This conference will spotlight the City and County of Swansea, which is bringing restorative practices training and services to those who work with children and young people in the area. Teachers, police, social workers and a variety of agencies throughout the city have recieved training programs developed by the International Institute for Restorative Practices.

Plenary speakers include Jack Straw, Chief Executive of the Swansea Council; Lizzie Nelson, Director of the Restorative Justice Council; Marian Quinne, CEO, CDI West Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland; and Val Keitch, Manager, South Somerset Community Justice Panel.

Last week Lehigh Valley News reported on the IIRP's 15th World Conference. They focused on Steve Korr's plenary and related his talk to implementation of restorative practices in two Lehigh Valley School Districts, Allentown and Bethlehem. They quoted Korr below:

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada invites the public – in person or via webcast – for an event on August 14, 2012, 7:30 to 9:30pm (ET), Harbourfront Centre’s WesJet Stage, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA.

The evening will feature a keynote address by TRC Chair Justice Murray Sinclair, drummers and dancers from the Aboriginal and Black communities and an Authors’ Dialogue moderated by veteran broadcast journalist, Shelagh Rogers.

Greetings from Day Three of the IIRP's 15th World Conference, "Building a Worldwide Restorative Practices Learning Network."

Jean Schmitz, Founder and Director of the Latin American Institute of Restorative Practices presented the day's only plenary session, Restorative Practices in Neighborhoods in Lima, Peru.

He began by asking: Why are victims poorly served and re-victimized by the justice system? He then talked about how he and his colleagues are working to change this condition by establishing a "restorative zone" in Lima, Peru, with support from the city's mayor, Susana Villarán.

Greetings from Day Two of the IIRP's 15th World Conference, "Building a Worldwide Restorative Practices Learning Network."

Vidia Negrea, director of CSF Hungary and Victim Support Psychologist, Hungarian Ministry of Justice, presented the day's first plenary session, Family Group Conferencing/Family Group Decision Making as a Transition from Prison in Hungary Negrea discussed how she has been using FGC/FGDM with prisoners and their families throughout Hungary. She described how and why it works, defining it as a collaborative process between professionals and families that balances the need for security with the need for maintaining family ties. FGC/FGDM, she said, empowers families to make decisions based on their own strengths and resources; creates a safe place to deal with needs and feelings (past and present) and develops collaboration between the family network and the community.

Presented by Jean Schmitz in a plenary session on August 3, 2012, at the 15th IIRP World Conference, Building a Restorative Practices Learning Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA, August 1-3, 2012

Presented by Steve Korr in a plenary session on August 2, 2012, at the 15th IIRP World Conference, Building a Restorative Practices Learning Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA, August 1-3, 2012

I'm having a great time at the conference so far. It's a lively atmosphere with a lot of ideas being exchanged. I'm making new connections as well as reconnecting with old friends.

Laura Mirsky has posted this day-one conference report:

Presented by Stacey Miller in a plenary session on August 1, 2012, at the 15th IIRP World Conference, Building a Restorative Practices Learning Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA, August 1-3, 2012

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