I was reminded of the theme of an African story when I observed a recent Community Conference - it takes a village to raise a child. Thirteen people - parents, school leaders, facilitators - supported four young men as they considered their roles in a recent incident. Some of these individuals had worked together in the past through both school and community endeavors such as soccer and Scouts. Now, circumstances had brought them together again, the context much different.

They entered the room, separately, quietly finding a place in the circle. I sat apart from the group, ready to analyze the proceedings as an educator - to learn from skilled facilitators, study an alternative to traditional discipline, discover more about a process, which could be used to teach empathy and problem solving in schools. I was not disappointed. The facilitators had visited each of the boys and the families in preparation for the conference; throughout the afternoon they used questions to provoke thought and give direction. They ensured that individuals had an opportunity to discuss the circumstances and the emotions around the event in question. In many school discipline situations, we, as adults, determine the consequences of a student's actions. During the Community Conference, the adults had an opportunity to model and teach problem solving but in the end, each of the boys determined his own action plan for the future. When one boy offered to replace damaged items, adults and adolescents in the group offered suggestions about how this money could be used to make a positive impact in the school community.

As an observer, however, I could not simply analyze, separate my mind and my heart. I felt the beginning ,tension, the anger, the fear and the confusion. As the afternoon progressed, this tension dissipated. A boy spoke of his desire to become a positive leader. A father walked across the circle and shared his wish for a fresh start as he shook the hand of a boy who had harassed his son. Community Conferencing is restorative justice that reflects both responsibility and caring. That afternoon, I felt a sense of hope. I had watched a village work together to raise its children.


National Forum of Innovative Pilot Projects   Doug Borch

Observers We invite you to participate as an observer! Our list of observers includes people from the court system, school system, and other interested community members. If you are interested in participating please call Tami Wyld at 974-1867.

For 3 days in February, Kananaskis was the gathering place for 17 youth justice programs from across Canada. The projects, each partially funded through the Innovative Pilot Projects Initiative of the federal Department of Justice, shared program information, experiences and challenges. Senior members of the federal Youth Justice Policy unit also participated. The Forum, hosted and organized by CCC, was a wonderful opportunity for all and future gatherings are in the works.


A Positive Result: A Supportive Letter to a Young Person

This letter was written sometime after a victim, whose vehicle was stolen and damaged by a fifteen year old young person, chose to meet him in a Community Conference.

I am sorry I was unable to be in court for your sentencing as I was working that day. I was informed that it went very well for you. Your choices to do the conference and how you "were" in the conference paid off. Now you have another big choice to make- how to "be" and how to "use" the three months you were sentenced.

I am aware that you are almost finished my box. I received your instructions on how to protect my car in the package. Thank you for that. I have decided what I want the box to hold- my dreams and your dreams. Do you remember what you told me you wanted for your future?- to be a carpenter, have a home and family.

I want you to write that and put it in the box. My dream is to do a special course in complementary healing and meditation. When I finish the course I will be able to teach it. It will be something I can do when I can no longer handle the very hard physical demands and stresses of nursing. This course is very expensive and I have to go to the States to take it several times. I am going to have to work very hard to afford it. Every year we can visit the box and see how close we are to our dreams. The hard part is that very few people are able to leap to their dreams. Mostly it is hard work and small steps forward- and sometimes steps backwards.

You are lucky, in that you know your talent and what you like to do- "carpentry". Think of the steps you have to take to get really good as a carpenter and to be successful at it. As much as you don't like school the first step is completing your High School Diploma. While you are working on that try to find a carpenter to work with and learn from. (It doesn't matter what he pays you. What you will learn is most important) Next can be a course at SAIT or something like that. By the time you are the same age as the individual who stole the car with you; you could be very close to accomplishing your dream.

It's not easy. But if you know where you want to go, that will help you to make the right choices to get there. You won't always make the right choices. You do know how it feels when you have made a "right" choice. You described it when you have a job and were working hard to help your mother. You felt it when you chose to do the Community Conference. The right choice is always a good feeling when it is happening, and whenever you think about it. Bad choices bring us consequences we don't want- we have to take responsibility for that and learn to make better choices. You are always able to change yourself (not other people) Whenever you have to make a choice NOW (to be angry, to fight, to how you think others expect you to be) I want you to hear my voice in your ear saying: "Is this choice going to put you towards your dreams or the other way?...towards trouble or even maybe back to jail?" This goes for choosing to study or not study, obey the rules or not obey the rules. You have so much potential and you deserve to be the best you can be.

My choice to meet you in the conference paid off big for me. My seeing my own brother again through you, when you described yourself, made me contact my three brothers and the response has been wonderful. We are getting together the May long weekend. We rarely talked about our traumatic childhood, but even over the phone things are starting to pour out. I think it will be a very healing weekend for all of us. I am so happy for that because my one brother is very ill and we may not all be together again. I will think of you on that weekend.

All the best to you. I am looking forward to receiving my box.


An Interview with a Student Participant   interviewed by Tami Wyld and Darrel Heidebrecht

The following is an interview with a high school student who participated in a Community Conference. She was involved in a fight outside her school and was suspended for the remainder of the semester. She represents how young people can learn from their mistakes, get back on track, and be successful. Community Conferencing appreciates her willingness to include her interview as part of this newsletter. We wish her much success in the future.

1. What do you remember your first thoughts were about Community Conferencing?

Initially, I Thought the conference would be a quick and easy way to get out of trouble. I have had experience with peer mediation and so I thought my understanding of the process would make it easier to be a participant.. I soon learned that it took a lot of time and effort and was surprised that I had something to learn through the experience.

2. Why was it important for you to be a part of the conference?

I wanted to get everything out in the open because all of the rumors going around the school didn't make sense. I didn't want to be known as "the girl who got kicked out" and wanted to regain respect in the school. I wanted to restore my reputation for when I returned as a student after my time away. At the time other students were very curious about the process and had a lot of questions about the experience. However, it was a shock to come back to school and not be supported by my fellow students. Others began to make inaccurate conclusions about my absence, but my choice to stay away was to take the time necessary to figure out my life and get things back on track. I did receive support from all the teachers in the school which helped me to complete my courses at home and to graduate.

3. How significant was your adult supporter in the process?

She was a big support for me in many ways, especially as I faced challenges in my personal life. She was there to listen.

4. You spoke about your experience at two recent events, what was that like?

Speaking at both events was a great opportunity to share about how I learned to deal with problems differently. I had previously been Class President up until the incident which resulted in the community conference, and I speaking at these events made me feel like a leader again. Sharing my story felt a lot more meaningful, than just talking as a school representative. I will never forget the experience of being interviewed for the A-Channel, while at Master's Academy for a conference on Bullying.

5. In looking back, how did the CCC change things for you? In what ways?

Being involved in a Community Conference helped me to open my mind to the experience. I went in thinking that because I was familiar with mediation that I wouldn't learn anything, however I discovered the experience is more difficult as a participant and that I had much to learn. Now when I'm involved in arguments I find myself listening a lot more. I realize the importance of having the right people present which made it possible for things to work out. I think the other student felt confident and safe back in the school. I am also communicating a lot better with my family.

I have told this story "1000 times" and it will remain a pivotal point in my life. I have worked very hard to get my life back on track again. I work full time, am living at home again, and just attended my high school graduation.

6. What plans do you have for the future?

I plan to save up for a car and then attend SAIT.

Conferencing Activities 2000-2001 The Community Conferencing Team has been busy over the past months participating in a variety of conferences as well as hosting the National Forum of Innovative Pilot Projects in Support of the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative. These experiences have provided opportunities to build networks with other related organizations and to share information and strategies about how to work with youth at risk. Included here is a list of the events: Safe and Caring Schools Conference November 2000 CBE- Principal's Conference Fall 2000 Mennonite Central Committee Annual Conference February 2001 National Forum of Innovative Pilot Projects February 2001 National Youth Justice Police Forum - Ottawa, March 2001 CBE- Assistant Principal's Conference -Kananaskis March 2001 Watch For This Fall… The Calgary Board of Education has seconded another facilitator to our program. Chuck Eastley will join our team in August. Sarah Nelsen will also be joining Community Conferencing, August 1st, on a one year Voluntary Service Assignment through Mennonite Central Committee. Watch for introductions in the Fall Newsletter.

Newest Member of Conferencing Team:   Sheila Brantnall

My name is Sheila Brantnall and I am the newest member of the Community Conferencing Team. I was recently seconded from my position as a Probation Officer from the City of Calgary. I have a background in Social Work and obtained a BSW from the University of British Columbia. I have been practicing in the Social Work field for thirteen years. Started off my career in Child Welfare in Williams Lake, B.C. Prior to that I volunteered for the police-based victim's services and worked with women victims of domestic violence. It took me three years in Child Welfare to discover that my skills were better suited to doing something else. I decided that Calgary was the land of opportunity. Shortly thereafter I commenced with the City of Calgary as a Youth Probation Officer where I have been for the last nine years. I also volunteered for four years on the crisis lines at the Distress/Drug Centre.

I have found working with adolescents and their families truly enjoyable (it helps keep me young). I feel very fortunate to continue this work in a very meaningful way with Calgary Community Conferencing. The team has been very welcoming and I look forward to the next year. I have participated in four conferences so far and each one has been an amazing experience in which I learned something new. It re-energizes my faith in youth and allows me to work with victims in a very satisfying way. Based on my experience so far, I have a feeling that I am going to receive just as much as I give during my time with Community Conferencing.