News / Events
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Upcoming Events
- Restoring Faith in Government: Encouraging Civil Public Discourse
Do we agree on anything? Perhaps only this: We live in polarized times, and discussion of a long list of big issues is marked by acrimony and heated rhetoric, often to the point of deadlock. Is the vehemence in our political life taking a toll on policy making? Is it possible to turn down the heat and turn up the quality of our politics without compromising our rights? The Marquette Law School sixth annual Restorative Justice Conference in Milwaukee will examine these issues and the cumulative effect that our heated politics have on our institutions and our lives. More information or to register.
Past Events
- On March 3, 2012, Professor Mark Umbreit, Director of the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking, presetned a workshop at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum hosted by Augsburg College in Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Umbreit's workshop was on "Palestinians and Israelis in Restorative Dialogue: Engaging the Energy of Compassion and Forgiveness." Nobel Laureate President F.W. de Klerk of South Africa was the key-note speaker during the three day forum (March 1-3) on "The Price of Peace."
- Professor Umbreit gave the keynote address at an
International Conference on Restorative Justice in Istanbul, Turkey in March
2012. The Turkish Parliament is working on legislation to implement victim
offender mediation and civil court mediation throughout the country. Umbreit is
helping to organize an international panel of experts to travel to Turkey, with
colleagues from Brazil, Spain, Italy, Austria, Finland, Norway, Belgium,
Scotland, and the U.S. He is also helping to organize a study tour for Turkish
legislative leaders and policy makers to meet with national leaders in the
mediation field in Washington, DC, New York, and Milwaukee.
Umbreit will also be providing extensive technical assistance, training, and research over the next 12 months as the Turkish Ministry of Justice attempts to more thoroughly implement and assess the practice of victim offender mediation and alternative dispute resolution policies and practices. Mark and the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking have been involved in building increasing bridges of understanding and support between Islam and the global restorative justice movement. The work in Turkey, as a large democratic Muslim country, will significantly expand this initiative. - Peace Building Through Restorative Dialogue (PDF) Professor Umbreit hosted this five day workshop to provide Humphrey Fellows with new skills and approaches to more effectively deal with both everyday type of conflicts in workplaces and communities.
- Professor Umbreit presented a video-seminar on peacebuilding and restorative dialogue to youth leaders in Liberia, West Africa, on Thursday December 14, 2011. Jennifer Blevins, doctoral student, research assistant, and director of the Bryan Coyle Center also participated, along with five Somali youth from the Coyle Center. The training supported nationwide effors to promote healing and reconciliation among various tribes, Christians, and Muslims, following the past many years of violent political conflict and killing.
- The Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking received a $25,000 grant from the International Institute for Education to conduct a five day workshop on Peacebuilding Through Dialogue: From Conflict Management to Transformation in Individuals, Families, Communities, and Nations. Up to 40 Hubert Humphrey Fellows from countries throughout the world will attend this workshop in March of next year.
- At the request of the Tribal Court of the Ft. Peck Reservation of the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes in Eastern Montana, Professor Mark Umbreit provided restorative justice training and consultation related to their youth justice system, on October 26-28th.
- Professor Umbreit received the John W. Byrd Pioneer Award for Restorative and Community Justice (Research, Education, Training, Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis) at the National Conference on Restorative Justice in Austin, Texas in May 2009.
- Professor Umbreit was awarded a Fellowship from The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society (Northampton, MA) to develop a new course on "Peacebuilding Through Transformative Dialogue in the Global Community: A Mindfulness-based Approach.
- Professor Umbreit traveled to Mexico City during the first week of April to conduct a three day training on victim offender mediation and restorative justice. The training was in response to a request from the Alternative Justice Center and the Federal Superior Court in Mexico City, and is made possible through support from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.
- Professor Umbreit has received a request from the University of Istanbul, Turkey to have his previously published Marquette Law Review article on "Restorative Justice in the 21st Century: A Social Movement Full of Opportunities and Pitfalls" translated and published in their Law Review. This represents an important extension of his many years of engagement with the Muslim community, both in North America and abroad.