Since 2020, the Office of Restorative Justice Practices has organized facilitator training sessions. Over 100 individuals of our UCSF community have been trained to facilitate community-building Circles. With the skills of facilitation using a restorative mindset framework, facilitators have led community Circles with trainees, faculty, and staff to strengthen relationships between team members and celebrate their collective values. Facilitators have integrated Circles into staff retreats, team huddles, committee meetings, student orientations, and classroom discussions. 

The Community-Building Circle Facilitator Training is designed to introduce participants to the origins and principles of restorative justice, equip them with tools to be aware of power dynamics and systems of oppression, and build participants' skills to facilitate community-building circles using a restorative justice framework. Through a didactic and experiential approach, participants will be introduced to principles of restorative justice to practice critical self-reflection and facilitate community-building Circles among people with varying values, experiences, and backgrounds to strengthen their relationships with one another.  

We are grateful to Honeycomb Justice Consulting for sharing their wisdom and guidance in developing the foundation of the community-building facilitator training. Honeycomb Justice Consulting is a group of restorative and transformative justice facilitators, educators, and diversity and inclusion specialists dedicated to collective healing and communal building. They share a collective vision of an equitable, just society rooted in anti-racist practices and methodologies. To learn more about Honeycomb Justice Consulting, visit their website https://honeycombjustice.org.

Learning Goals:  
With the completion of the training, participants will be able to: 

1. Understand the origins and wide application of restorative justice practices.  
2. Develop a critical consciousness to be aware of power dynamics and systems of oppression.   
3. Apply restorative justice approaches to strengthen trust and build community.  

Application Requirements:

• Facilitation experience – this can include leading team meetings, classroom discussions, training, workshops, and other relevant experience.  
• Proficient in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism topics. 
• Strong commitment to creating a culture of connectivity where all UCSF community members can thrive and feel a sense of belonging. 
• Approved released time by supervisor. 
• Ability to attend all 8 sessions; each session is 2.5 hours.

Training Format and Length: (40-hours)

• 8 sessions, 2.5 hour virtual and in-person. Details are included under the Schedule at a Glance section.
• 1 to 2 hours of independent learning between sessions, including required readings, supplemental reading, video and/or podcast episodes.  

Cost: Free 

Facilitators