[Press Release: Times Record January 13, 2025]
Topsham, ME – Restorative Justice Project Maine (RJP Maine) received a $9,000 grant from the
Community Development Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to support Mt. Ararat High
School in offering their students more restorative responses to harm and conflict.
The organization will work with school staff, students, and partners to increase understanding of
restorative principles and practices. RJP Maine and Mt. Ararat will train the school community
on restorative responses to harm and establish a partnership to facilitate referrals to RJP
Maine’s youth harm repair program when an incident that would benefit from a facilitated
restorative process occurs. RJP Maine’s long-standing approach to juvenile harm repair diverts
youth from the criminal legal system before or after charges have been brought against them,
holding them accountable for harms caused through a facilitated process that gives those
harmed more voice than typical legal processes.
Restorative practices originated from indigenous ways of being which center community
connection and relationships. When harm occurs, those closest to the community are most
impacted. RJP Maine welcomes members of the local communities to play an active role in the
harm repair process to deepen community ties. Volunteer roles include co-facilitating harm
repair discussions or individualized mentorship of a young person during the harm repair.
RJP Maine is hosting the upcoming training series for volunteers interested in supporting our
work at Mt. Ararat:
3-Part Virtual Series: Foundations of Community-Based Restorative Practices. This
series is an introduction to restorative theory and practice. All volunteers are asked to
attend. Scheduled 9 am-2:30 pm on 1/24, 1/31, and 2/7
3-Part Virtual Series: Harm Repair Practice Series. This series offers a deeper
exploration of Restorative responses to conflict. It is geared towards volunteer
co-facilitators, though volunteer mentors are also welcome. Our Foundations series is a
prerequisite. Scheduled 9 am-2:30 pm on 2/14, 2/21, and 2/28
To express interest in volunteering and to learn more about the upcoming training, please
complete the brief form, https://secure.everyaction.com/X-hd6r57R0mQIVyOwd1mCA2.