building | healing Communities

Conflict Transformation | Healing Justice | Restorative Justice
Program Development I Community building

building | healing Communities

Conflict Transformation | Healing Justice | Restorative Justice
Program Development I Community building

About Us

Innovation

Collaboration

Innovation

We need to re:vision our approaches to education, justice, and community with a focus on healthy connection, healing, accountability, and learning.

Many people observe that Lauren's background in neuroscience and animal behavior is the "special sauce" that makes her work unique and important for these times.

Seeing restorative approaches as the biological-moral imperative of our time, Lauren brings biology and interpersonal neuroscience to her lectures, facilitation, and trainings--making them powerfully intuitive, understandable and accessible for all.

Our work is rooted in core values and foundational principles (not rote techniques) which allows for a high level of both flexibility and integrity.

Experience

Collaboration

Innovation

Lauren Abramson, Ph.D. has 40 years of experience in community-based work.

Lauren brought community conferencing and restorative justice to Baltimore & Maryland in 1995, and for over 25 years was at the helm of building one of the most innovative and long-standing community-based RJ programs in the US.

With her broad and deep experience in RJ facilitation, program development, training and theory development, Lauren remains committed to bringing innovation, inclusiveness, and impact to transformative justice and community building.

Collaboration

We work across sectors, including:

Communities
Schools
Juvenile Justice

Workplaces
Prisons
Human Services Agencies
Faith Communities
Residential Communities
Governments
Youth development

Collaborations
Planning (urban, environmental, etc)

Services

Request a facilitation

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

Conflict management

Community justice

Community-building

Visioning

Planning

Serious Crimes Conference
(murder and other serious incidents of harm)

Victim Offender Dialogue
Family conflict
Workplace conflict
Community healing
Community celebration
Staff development and team building

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

This two-day facilitator training is typically part of a Program Development Package. Training includes dialogue about core values of RJ and conflict transformation, a variety of experiential learning opportunities, exploration of oppression and power imbalances in relation to this work, and the role of emotion in dealing with conflict.

Video about Community Conferencing

RJ Program Development

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

There are dozens of places to get trained in a restorative justice process, but there are precious few places to get help with building and sustaining an RJ program (which is by far the hardest part of building RJ). Lauren founded the first conferencing program in urban America, and shares the million and one lessons experienced so that no one has to reinvent the wheel .

Get help with:
     Program design
     Sustaining quality services
     Effective operations/systems
     Impact and outcomes

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Human beings are mammals. Mammals are different than reptiles in that we have a limbic system that is uniquely wired with biological "apps" that promote our survival--like bonding with our young, emotions, and empathy. Tragically, many of our institutions (like education and justice) ignore our biology; they focus on separation over connection, rationality over emotion, and punishment over empathy and accountability. This presentation engages participants in learning how to build effective schools, fair justice and connected communities through restorative approaches that honor our biology instead of ignoring it.

Restorative Approaches Workshops

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Trauma | Learning | Mindfulness | RJ

Restorative Approaches Overview

Dialogue Circle Facilitation

Community Conferencing Facilitation

The Role of Emotion in Conflict transformation

Trauma, Learning and Restorative Approaches

Stress, Kindness, and Mindfulness

Biology of conflict and managing it

Trauma | Learning | Mindfulness | RJ

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Trauma | Learning | Mindfulness | RJ

We can no longer ignore the impact that trauma has on our behavior--for children and adults alike. Learn about what trauma/toxic stress does to our ability to pay attention, learn, and have healthy relationships. Develop skills for identifying and responding constructively to "bad behavior." Create a practice for being mindful, and for helping others manage their reactivity through simple and doable exercises. Workshops are individually tailored so they are developmentally appropriate.

Impact and Testimonials

"The program Lauren helped us start in 2008 is still thriving all these years later."

"Repeatedly calling the police about kids playing in the street didn't work. We finally tried a community conference in 2001. As a result, we started a football league for them, and our neighborhood is still reaping the benefits ."

"The program Lauren helped us start in 2008 is still thriving all these years later."

"I can finally celebrate my son's life instead of constantly mourning his death."

"Repeatedly calling the police about kids playing in the street didn't work. We finally tried a community conference in 2001. As a result, we started a football league for them, and our neighborhood is still reaping the benefits ."

"The program Lauren helped us start in 2008 is still thriving all these years later."

“This was the best Continuing Ed that I have been to. I was moved by the sharing of the stories. The presenters were so knowledgeable and did a great job of presenting...I have new things to listen for.” ~Participant in CEU workshop about using Restorative Conferencing for murder cases

Read the Washinton Post article about a powerful Serious Crimes Conference

"Repeatedly calling the police about kids playing in the street didn't work. We finally tried a community conference in 2001. As a result, we started a football league for them, and our neighborhood is still reaping the benefits ."

~ Neighborhood resident

VIDEOS about our work

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

See how Baltimore residents transformed their own crimes and conflicts using Community Conferencing

CLick to see video of Community Conferencing in Action

Daily Rap Dialogue Circles

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

See how young people and adults in various school communities have used Daily Rap dialogue circles to build healthy connections, resolve minor conflicts, and create a meaningful sense of community.

Click to see Daily rap video

Healing Justice in Baltimore: "The Flip Side of THE WIRE"

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

Healing Justice in Baltimore: "The Flip Side of THE WIRE"

Lauren gives a 2011 talk at Ignite Baltimore about the ways that Baltimore residents have resolved their own crimes and conflicts, without going to court, in their own neighborhoods.

click to see "The Flip Side of THE WIRE"

building | healing Communities

building | healing Communities

About Us

Innovation

Collaboration

Innovation

Experience

Collaboration

Innovation

Collaboration

Collaboration

Collaboration

Services

Request a facilitation

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

RJ Program Development

Community Conferencing Facilitator Training

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Restorative Approaches Workshops

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Trauma | Learning | Mindfulness | RJ

Trauma | Learning | Mindfulness | RJ

Restorative Justice: The Biological Imperative of our Time

Trauma | Learning | Mindfulness | RJ

articles and news

General information

Impact and Testimonials

"The program Lauren helped us start in 2008 is still thriving all these years later."

"Repeatedly calling the police about kids playing in the street didn't work. We finally tried a community conference in 2001. As a result, we started a football league for them, and our neighborhood is still reaping the benefits ."

"The program Lauren helped us start in 2008 is still thriving all these years later."

"I can finally celebrate my son's life instead of constantly mourning his death."

"Repeatedly calling the police about kids playing in the street didn't work. We finally tried a community conference in 2001. As a result, we started a football league for them, and our neighborhood is still reaping the benefits ."

"The program Lauren helped us start in 2008 is still thriving all these years later."

"Repeatedly calling the police about kids playing in the street didn't work. We finally tried a community conference in 2001. As a result, we started a football league for them, and our neighborhood is still reaping the benefits ."

"Repeatedly calling the police about kids playing in the street didn't work. We finally tried a community conference in 2001. As a result, we started a football league for them, and our neighborhood is still reaping the benefits ."

"Repeatedly calling the police about kids playing in the street didn't work. We finally tried a community conference in 2001. As a result, we started a football league for them, and our neighborhood is still reaping the benefits ."

VIDEOS about our work

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

Daily Rap Dialogue Circles

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

Healing Justice in Baltimore: "The Flip Side of THE WIRE"

Community Conferencing in Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Neighborhoods

Healing Justice in Baltimore: "The Flip Side of THE WIRE"

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Community Transformation