The Lab is leading a multi-year initiative with community, public and private sector partners to foster the development of restorative communities throughout Nova Scotia. Restorative communities are not just places where lots of restorative things are happening. Being a restorative community reflects something about the culture of the place. A restorative approach places relationships at the core of what it means to be a community that is just, inclusive, safe and well. Restorative principles guide how a community works.
Our work to foster and support restorative communities is key to connecting a restorative approach across sectors, strengthen community capacity for leadership/partnership within communities and with government, and to tackling the complex and relational nature of the most pressing current challenges facing communities
The work around restorative communities has implications at the level of governance of communities and states and the conditions necessary to create healthy and vibrant places to live and work.
The Restorative Lab also hosts and supports the continued development and work of the Restorative International Learning Community (ILC). It is a network of leading experts, policymakers, community leaders, practitioners supporting jurisdictions around the world that are committed to becoming restorative. The ILC will support workshops, conferences and learning exchanges among researchers, policymakers and practitioners.
Initial Jurisdictions:
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- Leeds, UK
- Hull, UK
- Oakland, California, USA
- Vermont, USA
- Whanganui, New Zealand
- Canberra, Australia
- Newcastle, Australia
And many others which have now emerged.
