Georgia Conflict Center

The Georgia Conflict Center has been part of the Athens community for over 12 years. We are committed to building peace with justice by advancing restorative practices within communities, schools and organizations. We are committed to embracing our mission every day by helping others build restorative communities in schools, neighborhoods, and at work in Athens and beyond. Restorative ultimately means restoring each other to our best selves which enhances the collective. 

In several Georgia counties, students, teachers, parents, and administrators have garnered myriad benefits of a restorative approach to discipline: working with (not doing for) students improves both self accountability and emotional/social skills. It increases engagement and trust between all parties. 

 Recently, we began to partner with the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office and Juvenile Offender Advocates (JOA) to receive case referrals for Restorative Justice Conferencing, as an alternative to sentencing in select cases. In such cases, a young offender is offered the opportunity to understand, address, and repair the harm they caused. We collaborate with Juvenile Offender Advocates to pair program participants with a community-based Advocate where possible.

We are asking for your help to fund a project coordinator position for this important community work. Restorative Justice Diversion focuses on making things right and reintegrating participants back into the community with skills and awareness to prevent future crime. A recent randomized control trial from the Make-It-Right (MIR) Program in Alameda County, California, showed a 44% reduction in recidivism among high risk youth participating in RJD. (Shem-Tov et al 2021)

Check out our fundraiser to learn more about a new program we are starting in Athens, GA.