Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Henry McClendon, Jr., the Director of Community Engagement for the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) and Pastor at the Berean Chapel of Detroit. Henry was previously the Southeast Michigan Area Director for Prison Fellowship Ministries, Director of Youth Development for New Detroit, Inc., and Program Officer for the Skillman Foundation. He is a proud lifelong resident of Detroit and is steeped in the wellbeing of his community.
Henry was introduced to the work of restorative justice in the 90’s after witnessing a restorative conference between a convicted murderer and his victim’s mother. He became inspired to bring restorative justice into his community and all communities he would touch in the future. The resolution and bond created from that conference would stoke the fire of his passion and lead him to spaces where he would implement restorative practices in K-12 education, policing, faith-based, and community health organizations.
Henry tells stories of the “secret sauce” to high performing schools in low-income areas, methods to creating humanization between citizens and police in a community, and the importance of the wellbeing of families as integral to creating thriving communities.
Tune in to hear more about Henry’s experience and to learn about our upcoming conference, Building Thriving Communities: A Radical Approach Through Restorative Practices, happening October 2-4, 2023, in Detroit, MI.
