Celebrating 10 Years:
Restorative Justice in Education (RJE) Conference
June 24-25, 2025
"Language Matters: Exploring the Role of Discourse and Communication in Restorative Justice in Education"
Language matters. According to Maisha Winn (2018), “restorative justice discourse disrupts retributive mind-sets and processes” (p. 41), creating new ways of talking about harms, needs, and obligations. Citing Angela Davis, Winn invites practitioners to engage with “critical vocabularies” where equity and justice are central to our communication. Whether we are speaking with or about youth, communicating with families and community members, or advocating for a more just and equitable world, the language we use matters.
Breakout sessions will share the ways in which language, literacy, communication, and the discourses that we use at the interpersonal, institutional, and structural levels (Davis, 2019) shape us and our work, and indeed are shaped by us.
Winn, M. T. (2020). Justice on both sides: Transforming education through restorative justice. Harvard Education Press.
Read more about our conference theme here
Opening Keynote
Stolen Language: Restoring Indigeneity In Restorative Justice Practices
In 1778, there were over 500,00 pure Hawaiians. After an overthrow of their kingdom, which resulted in a loss of culture, language, land, people, spirituality, family structure, and way of life; by 2044, demographers predict there will not be a pure Hawaiian left. But there have always been resistors, and over the years, there has been a huge resurgence of cultural practices and more consciousness, to include restorative justice. Learn how one educator is using restorative justice to heal the cultural trauma that students experience and bring into the classroom; bring about connection by allowing individuals to get to know one another on a deeper level; and identifying and understanding place, so students know the stories, people, and history of where they come from.
Speakers: Bella Finau-Faumuina and Dwanna Nicole
Session: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 24
Meet our Keynote Speakers!
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Bella Finau-Faumuina
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Dwanna Nicole
Welcome Reception
Bluestone Vineyard, Bridgewater, VA
Monday, June 23, 2025
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Join us at Bluestone Vineyard for our first in person event to open the conference! Cash bar and light appetizers will be available. Grab a glass of their EMU branded wine, 1200 Park, as you mix and mingle with fellow RJE practitioners, EMU faculty and staff. If you have not already done so, please RSVP when you register for the conference.
Even if you can't make the conference but would like to connect with RJE practitioners while in the Shenandoah Valley Area, we would love to see you at the Welcome Reception!
Reception is included in Full Program registration. To register for JUST the reception, choose "Welcome Reception ONLY" on the selection page.
Speaker and Session InfoRegisterSnapshot Schedule
For more information or questions, please email us at cape@emu.edu
Looking for more? Consider an online Graduate Certificate or MA in Education with a concentration in Restorative Justice.
Virtual access registration for 2024 Conference still available
Virtual access will include Opening and Closing Keynotes, as well as all sessions, plenary, and panels. All virtual registrants will have access to recordings.
Did you miss the 2024 conference? You are still able to access all recordings! Register below!
Virtual access: $100.00
Register for 2024 Virtual Access2024 RJE Conference Schedule
