Finding and Becoming Allies
RJAC Working Group Connects with Schools
By John Lemke
The mission of the MOSES Racial Justice for All Children (RJAC) Task Force is “to eradicate the childhood-to-school-to-prison pipeline”. The members of the Restorative Justice and School Wellness group, a working group within RJAC, are seeking to understand and address that middle stepping stone – what happens in the schools. The group has found allies in this search: teachers, administrators, social workers, school nurses, and involved parents.
There is an ongoing effort to bring the powerful tools of restorative justice (RJ) practices to children in the Madison schools. By participating in the Superintendent’s Wellness Advisory, members of the Restorative Justice and School Wellness working group have made useful and supportive connections with passionate RJ practitioners. The working group will continue to meet with the Superintendent’s advisory group, asking, “How can we help?”
At the center of it all are the kids themselves. On Friday, April 17, Barbie Jackson and John Lemke got to immerse themselves in a crowd of excited and caring schoolkids at the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Youth Restorative Justice Summit. Barbie and John hosted a table inviting middle school and high school students participating in the summit to respond to two questions via Post-it notes: What does it mean to BELONG? and What does WELLNESS mean for you? Here is what the students wrote:
- To belong means to feel comfortable and welcomed.
- To me, belonging looks like feeling unconditionally safe, comfortable, and welcome within a space.
- It means to be comfortable in the space you are in.
- To understand every[thing] is not the same from 20 years ago.
- Belonging means feeling valued by those around you.
- Belonging means to connect with the people around you and honor their beliefs.
- Belonging means feeling like a part of something.
- Wellness means being healthy mentally and physically.
- Belonging means feeling safe!
- To me, wellness means to feel good and comfortable with yourself and your surroundings.
- Belonging means to feel safe, respected, and loved.
- Belonging is feeling like you can be your true self in the room you’re in.
- To belong is to feel like many places can mean home.
- To belong is to be able to express yourself.
- To belong means to feel valued.
- Feeling connected with your community.
- Wellness is knowing your purpose.
- Wellness means being happy and healthy.
- Feeling like you belong.
- To belong means to feel comfortable in an environment.