Restorative Practice: An Overview

Broken. It seems that many of the systems that we rely upon are broken.  Our school system is broken. Our healthcare system is broken. Our criminal justice system is broken.  Many of our communities are broken.  And too many of our families are broken.

Reports of our brokenness are everywhere. So, what do we do now?  There are many options.  We could  find the people who did the "breaking" punish them and make them pay.  We could just accept what we have as our new reality.  Or we could say, "forget about the past" and focus on the future.  I believe none of these option alone will produce the kind of society we want.

On the contrary, combining all of these approaches would bring us closer to the principles of Restorative Practice. Restorative Practices seek to understand the harm that has been done by exploring the many people who have been harmed.  It also aims to quantify the harm done  to people and relationships through exploring the financial, emotional, social, spiritual and psychological harm that has resulted. In addition, Restorative practice explores the process of repairing the harm by asking "what needs to be done to make things right?" And finally, this process strives to engage everyone into the repairing process.  


Listed to the right of important videos to help you understand how Restorative principles are being applied in families, schools and communities. 


I personally believe that communities that are committed to Restorative Principles will experience more peace and higher forms of well-being. 

"Understanding The Boy Problem"

Featured is Dr. Pedro Noguera, at the Gathering of Leaders, 2012. His research examines the impact of single sex classrooms on boys.  The results are very insightful.

 I am preparing a proposal to present at the "COSEMOC 7th Annual Gathering-Young, Gifted and Literate: Boys and Young Men of Color Prepared for the Future" Conference in Chicago on April 25-27, 2013. 

America's Gap Problem

I have been talking about this research quite a bit lately, so I thought I would share it with you.  This research shows the disturbing connection between the income gap and all the social ills that plague our nation and others that have this widening gap between those that "have" and those that "have not."

After seeing this, you will no longer wonder why it is a social imperative that we close this gap by supporting the growth of the middles class.  

Coach Hodge Radio

I'm playing with the idea of broadcasting weekly.  I want to share some ideas and good stuff  with your eyes.  Take a listen by clicking here.

Consortium for Leadership Development

This is a very cool and unique leadership development program for emerging business leaders in St. Louis.  I don't know how I got in, but I'm apart of the first class for the next 10 months. 

From St. Louis and Proud

FIRE: A Verbal History of Black Firefighters in St. Louis

These are the stories segregation and activism of the courageous black firefighters in St. Louis.

The Scholarship Solution

Mrs. Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, my wife, has a system for families who need money for college.  It's a system she used to get her nephew through Morehouse College debt free.  Check it out The Scholarship Solution.

The Wisdom of William Jenkins

William Jenkins is one of the most influential people in my life.  Even though he is pretty tech savvy for his age, he still needs a little help getting his work out there.  So, I'm helping him out.  Check out his YouTube Channel.