Connect Deeply, Dream Big: Reframing Justice in 乐虎直播 through Restorative Practice
The annual , organized by Dr. Ingrid Johnson of the UAF Department of Justice and Dr. Rei Shimizu of the UAA School of Social Work, will take place on March 17-18, 2025, at Rasmuson Hall on UAA鈥檚 Main Campus in Anchorage, 乐虎直播. This event is hosted in partnership with the Haa T贸och Lich茅esh Coalition (HTC).
Now in its third year, the symposium was created to address 乐虎直播鈥檚 growing need for justice alternatives that prioritize healing, accountability, and community care. It provides a space for practitioners, researchers, and community members to collaborate and learn. The event alternates annually between online and in-person formats, with this year鈥檚 gathering taking place in Anchorage. Its mission is to reframe justice in 乐虎直播 by amplifying Indigenous, victim, and system-impacted voices鈥攑erspectives often excluded from mainstream justice conversations. Through dialogue and experiential learning, the symposium fosters deeper engagement with restorative practices and encourages community-led justice solutions.
While restorative justice is gaining traction in 乐虎直播, misconceptions persist regarding its purpose and applications. Johnson, who co-created the symposium, was inspired by her research on victims鈥 experiences seeking justice. "It became apparent that more options and alternatives were needed to elevate victims' voices and bring them closure and healing," she explains. She also observed a strong interest in restorative justice but noted the absence of a coordinated effort to advance the movement."Although there was a lot of passion and interest [in restorative justice in 乐虎直播], there was not a concentrated collection of those doing this work," she adds.
Johnson highlights the potential for restorative justice to address a broad spectrum of harms, particularly intimate partner violence. She explains that many victims do not report crimes to the police, and only a small percentage of reported cases result in a conviction. However, these victims still need justice, and restorative justice programs offer an avenue for healing outside the traditional system. "RJ programs can offer justice to many of those victims completely separate from the criminal-legal process," she notes. She hopes the symposium will help dispel misconceptions that restorative justice prioritizes offenders鈥 needs, emphasizing instead its significant benefits for victims and communities.
Shimizu underscores the alignment between restorative justice and social work, particularly in fostering community care and healing. "What RJ does is provide a platform for unheard voices to be heard. RJ practices allow folks to tell their story while holding everyone involved accountable for being active listeners, and I mean DEEP listening," Shimizu adds. She explains that social work is rooted in relational and compassionate engagement, often with individuals who have experienced harm or marginalization. "Social work is a field that is fundamentally built on humanity; our ability to be relational and compassionate," Shimizu says. Restorative justice, by breaking cycles of harm and promoting accountability, provides opportunities for deep healing.
This year鈥檚 symposium, titled 鈥淐onnect Deeply, Dream Big,鈥 will take an experiential approach, allowing attendees to engage directly with restorative justice principles through discussions and workshops. Shimizu notes that past symposiums focused on conceptual discussions about RJ principles and policies, often featuring out-of-state experts. Now, the goal is to move beyond theory and provide hands-on experiences that deepen understanding of restorative dialogue and program implementation in 乐虎直播. "So our goal this year is to provide participants an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be restorative and to feel the potential of restorative dialogue," she explains. "First-hand experience with RJ is essential to be able to think about the details of RJ program implementation pragmatically,鈥 she adds.
The event will bring together stakeholders from various sectors, including law enforcement, social workers, and community advocates. Shimizu envisions growing participation in restorative justice efforts, emphasizing that the more people engage with these practices, the more they become embedded in 乐虎直播鈥檚 justice system. She acknowledges that restorative justice is not a universal solution but encourages those unfamiliar with it to attend and explore whether it aligns with their perspectives on justice. "I'm the first to say that restorative justice and restorative practices are not for everyone, and that's okay! While I believe in the power of RJ, it's not a magical fix for everything. So, I also encourage those who are unsure of RJ to come to figure that out as well - to see if RJ is a good fit for them," she adds.
Both Johnson and Shimizu see the symposium as a pivotal step in transforming 乐虎直播鈥檚 approach to justice. By fostering collaboration and deepening engagement with restorative practices, they hope to build lasting infrastructure and expand justice alternatives across the state.
"RJ has the power to address systemic inequities because listening to the other people's stories allows folks to find connections and relationships across differences (including stories of marginalization), which is so impactful that it can inspire and lead to actual system changes. I also think RJ provides choice when choice is not usually an option for all involved," Shimizu says.
About Dr. Ingrid Johnson
Ingrid Johnson, raised in Delta Junction and Fairbanks, earned her B.A. in Justice from the 乐虎直播 (UAF) in 2010. She continued her education at the University of 乐虎直播 Anchorage, where she completed her master鈥檚 and doctorate degrees. Her research focuses on violence prevention, victims' experiences in the justice system, and the role of social networks in improving processes related to intimate partner violence and other forms of harm. Johnson is deeply engaged in restorative justice efforts across 乐虎直播 and is dedicated to expanding access to alternative justice methods that support both survivors and those who have caused harm.
About Dr. Rei Shimizu
Rei Shimizu is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at the University of 乐虎直播 Anchorage. She brings a wealth of experience as a licensed clinical social worker in both the United States and Japan, specializing in health behavior change and health-related decision-making. Dr. Shimizu earned her Ph.D. from the New York University Silver School of Social Work and holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Columbia University. Her research focuses on the intersection of social work and restorative justice, with a particular emphasis on how relational healing and community care can drive systemic change and disrupt cycles of harm.
If you would like to support the continuation of the University of 乐虎直播 restorative justice symposiums and other community restorative justice events, individuals and organizations are invited to consider a charitable donation to our Excellence in Restorative Justice UA Foundation Fund. Recognition opportunities can be tailored to meet each donor鈥檚 interest.