Yesterday we conducted an all-day training to bring clips from THE CIRCLE into Boston Public Schools to foster conversations about forgiveness, accountability, and justice. The training is a part of a project called CIRCLE UP funded by Mass Humanities that pairs survivors of homicide victims with interns from Suffolk University's Center for Restorative Justice to facilitate circle series in three urban schools.
The project is guided by filmmaker Julie Mallozzi; scholars Carolyn Boyes-Watson and Thomas Wartenberg; and restorative justice leader Janet Connors.
In the training we talked about how to establish a circle community at the school so that students feel comfortable exploring complex issues of violence in their lives or community. We also reviewed specially edited clips from THE CIRCLE designed to open discussions of forgiveness, accountability, and justice: fundamental human values important for all of us as we move forward in our lives.
We are excited for the circles to begin in a few weeks! Thank you to all of the participants for your wonderful contribution to the training.