For the past decade, North Dakota’s Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group (SAG) has collaborated with the Council of State Governments Justice Center to improve policy and practice, aiming to reduce racial and ethnic disparities among justice-involved youth. Building on this work, Consensus Council was invited in February 2024 by SAG and the Central Regional Education Association to develop the state’s inaugural Restorative Practices Council (RPC).
The RPC will leverage Consensus Council’s rich history of convening stakeholder groups as well as expertise managing ND’s statewide Restorative Justice program. The RPC aims to deliver training, resources, and technical assistance to schools and justice systems. A primary focus will be examining the impact of restorative practices on Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) youth and their families. Leading these early planning efforts is Consensus Council’s newest team member, RPC Coordinator Natasha Gourd.
Gourd is supported by the RPC Advisory Workgroup, a dedicated and passionate collective of BIPOC individuals who serve youth and families across the state. This group, facilitated by Gourd, meets monthly to shape RPC’s direction and will select recipients for a pilot grant program designed to benefit ND schools in the 2024-25 academic year. The workgroup members’ insights and expertise are vital in creating the vision that will shape the Council.
We are thrilled to be on this journey and to further embed restorative practices in schools and communities across North Dakota. Together, we can create a more equitable and supportive environment for all!
Read about Consensus Council’s related grants awarded to ND Public and Tribal Schools