IIRP graduate-to-author, Jen Williams, provides us the keys needed to support youths in building their skills in conflict management, emotional regulation, and interpersonal accountability with ease and creativity.
Jen Williams has had a seasoned career in education as a counselor, consultant, and professional development instructor supporting educators across the country. With the publishing of Peacekeepers, she adds author to her list of accomplishments. Inspired by her time as a middle school counselor, Peacekeepers: An Implementation Manual for Empowering Youth Using Restorative Practices focuses on youths and looks at them as the experts in their own story. This workbook is a grab-and-go for those working with young people, featuring implementation plans and skills that can be applied immediately. The text positions young people as part of the solution, mediators of their own feelings and actions. It provides tools to empower and encourage them to resolve conflict by facilitating restorative justice conferences. Youth are guided into becoming Peacekeepers, those who have skills in navigating peer-to-peer conflict and upholding a culture of accountability and belonging. QR codes provide convenient access to cited articles, assessments, evaluations, and organizational tools. The approaches discussed in the workbook can be used in any education setting, faith-based organization, or youth-centered initiative. Jen joins us to answer some questions about the creation, use, and future of Peacekeepers.
Q: What inspired you to write Peacekeepers?
A: The Peacekeepers program existed in my school for about six years before I wrote the manual for implementation. During the action research course in the IIRP’s graduate program, I evaluated the Peacekeepers program. I realized there was limited research about students leading restorative justice conferences and that the impact on my school community was promising. In one year, behavior referrals dropped 54%, and the Peacekeepers helped more than 70 students resolve conflicts. I knew I needed to share this work with others.
Q: What sets your publication apart from others of its kind?
A: Since publishing, I received feedback that my book is easy to read and understand. It also gives explicit examples of how to be student-focused and ways to have students facilitate tough conversations with ease. They support the process from pre-conferencing to after-conference check-ins. Student facilitators take great pride in helping their learning community. Similar publications focus on students leading proactive circles or supporting behaviors on the playground in the moment they happen. My book seems to be the only publication where students lead formal restorative justice conferences as active participants throughout the whole process.
Q: Based on feedback you’ve received, how have readers been using your book?
A: Exciting things are happening around the globe with Peacekeepers! Some are reading the book to deepen their understanding of restorative practices concepts. Others are implementing and running full programs, as I did when I was working in the middle school. Washoe County School District (Nevada) is offering book studies for colleagues to collaborate in exploring ways to empower students as impactful leaders in their schools.
Q: What are the three most important things you hope readers take away from the publication?
A: I would love for readers to have courage to take risks and let students lead!
I encourage readers to start collecting before and after data for student facilitators and participants in conferences to see how their school engagement and learning is impacted.
Have fun with it! This could be the part of your day that brings a smile! So many of us support young people in tough situations, and seeing the power of this work can really melt one's heart.
Q: What are your next aspirations for this work?
A: I am creating a student accompaniment journal to provide ongoing support for the program, and I hope to develop other resources for training students in restorative practices.
