There, Boshart took a course for administrative police officers that critiqued various methods and ideas in law enforcement today. He returned home convinced that it was 鈥渉igh time that we look at models outside of traditional policing.鈥�

One of the alternative models that Boshart had heard of before but didn鈥檛 then know much about was restorative justice. In the context of law enforcement, it鈥檚 an alternative to the traditional judicial system that focuses on the relationships that are damaged by crime, and holds offenders accountable for meeting victims鈥� needs that arise from the incident.

As it turned out, Boshart鈥檚 return from the police institute coincided with . He soon found himself leading development of the program from within his department, working with partners from 91短视频,听 and the , a local nonprofit that offers restorative justice services.

The program, which will divert appropriate cases from the courts to a restorative justice process, was publicly announced in March 2015 after more than a year of planning. Along the way, Boshart has become convinced that restorative justice offers law enforcement a valuable option for resolving conflict and increasing public safety.

鈥淚 see the value for law enforcement, and I see the value for the community. There鈥檚 a marriage there, a connection,鈥� he said.

Pointing to the growing body of empirical evidence that restorative justice is better than the court system at reducing recidivism rates for some crimes, Boshart said that police would do a 鈥渄isservice to the community鈥� by not taking the topic seriously. Amidst the ongoing national debate over police-community relations, justice and incarceration, Boshart also sees the new restorative justice program as a way of strengthening ties between police and the public, in addition to an effective new way of resolving specific conflicts.

One of Boshart鈥檚 biggest priorities for the new program is that it not meet the same 鈥渃ome and go鈥� fate that he鈥檚 seen befall other initiatives over the years. During his SPI course, Boshart completed a group project on program sustainability, through which he gained new insight into how he might ensure the local program stays around for the long haul.

Another valuable aspect of the SPI experience, Boshart said, was the diversity among his classmates. The 12 people in the course came from all across the United States as well as Peru and Ethiopia 鈥� all with their own thoughts and experience on how restorative justice practices can benefit communities. Boshart found their perspectives expanding, stimulating and relevant to his own work in Harrisonburg.

鈥淚 can walk away with a better understanding of what the potential for our restorative justice program is here locally,鈥� he said.

The context she鈥檇 been immersed in as a graduate student in the with the (CJP) at 91短视频 (91短视频) was very different than the context of the institute at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania.

鈥淭he term 鈥榩eacebuilding,鈥欌�� she said, 鈥渋s used frequently at PKSOI, but primarily to refer to activities done 鈥榩ost-conflict鈥� during 鈥榬econstruction,鈥� not to refer to activities all through the scale of different stages of conflict. This can make it challenging for stakeholders from dissimilar backgrounds to have productive conversations.鈥�

Monitoring semantics was just one of many skills Gehman practiced during what she calls a 鈥渃ultural immersion鈥� in the military environment. With her specific interest being the military-peacebuilding nexus in the Middle East and North Africa, Gehman was matched with a project covering the African Union Mission in Somalia. She worked under the supervision of retired Colonel Dwight Raymond, an expert on the protection of civilians in mass atrocities.

The experience gave her a better knowledge of the multi-dimensional, powerful stakeholders who engage in operations of war and peace: the U.S. military, U.S. government agencies, and multinational coalitions.

鈥淚 now have a basic familiarity with the principles and processes of United Nations peacekeeping, including issues like mandate implementation, force generation, and logistics for troop-contributing countries,鈥� Gehman said.

The CJP Capstone Project

When it came time to choose her practicum experience, Gehman said applying to PKSOI was a good option to pursue her academic and professional interests. She had previously conducted interviews with veterans, participated in a workshop called 鈥�,鈥� and joined veteran and fellow CJP graduate student Michael McAndrew .

Gehman also benefited from CJP鈥檚 connections to the institute. Her advisor, professor, had taken students to visit the institute. Additionally, CJP research professor has been a guest lecturer at the U.S. Army War College.

鈥淥ur faculty have strong connections with peacebuilding organizations around the world,鈥� said program director and professor. 鈥淭his helps our students find placements that fit their particular interests, and build skills and networking contacts.鈥�

Students in CJP鈥檚 practice-oriented graduate program in conflict transformation culminate their coursework in one of three options for a capstone project. The organizational practicum, of which Gehman鈥檚 experience is an example, requires a 2-4 month commitment. A second option is the research-based practicum, which results in production of an article, book, exhibit or other project. A third option allows full-time CJP students to write a thesis. Students must make a presentation to the CJP community about their project.

2015 CJP Capstone Projects

In addition to Gehman (from Morton, Illinois, and a graduate of Wheaton College), the following graduate students presented capstone projects during the 2015 spring semester. All were awarded their degrees during the April 26 commencement ceremony.

Matt Bucher (Harrisonburg, Virginia; Messiah College, 91短视频 MDiv ’15) researched Anabaptist responses to Christian Zionism and sought to find Christian theology that is good news for Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans. Additionally, he worked at the in Harrisonburg, connecting with local church leaders and working to understand where and how ministers have developed their ability and skills for addressing congregational conflict. Project title: Pursuing Good Theology and Best Practices: Christian Zionism, Empowering Church Leaders and Self-Reflection.

听Ray Garman (Ocean City, New Jersey; Haverford College) conducted independent research on the role that meaningful productivity plays in post-traumatic growth. Project title:A Predicament of Being

Fabrice Guerrier (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Florida State University) worked in the Advocacy Unit of the United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (). He focused on research and supporting numerous outreach and advocacy strategies essential to OHRLLS’ implementation of its programs of action, as well as mobilizing international support for the most vulnerable countries. Project title: Advocating for Vulnerable Countries in the 21st Century

Tony Harris (Annapolis, Maryland; Goucher College) worked as the global education graduate associate at the . His primary responsibilities included curriculum development and program design/implementation. He was also involved in planning special events and worked on various projects related to organizational development. Through his practicum, Harris also explored explicit and implicit theories of change specific to the organization. Project title: The Global Education-Peacebuilding Nexus: Pedagogies, Programs, and Possibilities

Jacob Kanagy (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania; Eastern University鈥�) served as a congregational consultant and member of a church governance reference team at a community mediation center. His experience led to exploration of the overlap and complexities of serving in both a secular and religious peacebuilding context as a mediator or facilitator. Project title: The Intersection of a Community Mediation Center,听Congregational Conflict, and a听Church Governance Project

Diane Kellogg (Staunton, Virginia; Geneseo State University) 鈥媍ontributed to the development and implementation of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding鈥檚 (WPLP). Confident that WPLP was making a greater impact in the participants鈥� home communities than most people were aware of, Kellogg explored how that impact could be measured and evaluated. Her video production introduced the program and its participants, and reported on the community-level impact of the women鈥檚 participation. Project title: Evaluation and Promotion of the Women鈥檚 Peacebuilding Leadership Program

听Bridget Mullins (Hudson, Ohio; University of Notre Dame) explored the role of theater in visualizing the roots of conflict and听re-discovering voice, body, self and the other.听In the process, she witnessed communities, both in Harrisonburg and in occupied Palestine, rehearsing the change they want to see in themselves and the world. 听Project title: Beautiful Resistance:听When Words Fail, Art Speaks听

Nate Schlabach (Millersburg, OH., Ohio State University) worked in the , an organization based in Washington, DC, that promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States and the Asia-Pacific region. He was involved in writing, researching, and editing several of the center鈥檚 newly released publications on Japan and Australia, and he provided news and analysis for the 鈥淎sia Matters For America鈥� website. Project title: The U.S.-Asia Relationship:听Why It Matters to America

鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine a better first case,鈥� said , the facilitator who led the meeting between the two men. 鈥淭his person could have been charged with a felony.鈥�

Instead , the offender and his employer were able to speak frankly about their needs, agree on a restitution plan and reconcile the matter in a mutually beneficial way outside of the criminal justice system.

The new program, the first of its kind in Virginia and more than two years in the creation, was announced at a press conference today [March 19, 2015] in Harrisonburg. Emphasizing the collaborative partnership, HPD Chief Stephen Monticelli stood alongside members of the steering committee, including representatives of local law practices and the Commonwealth’s attorney, the , and restorative justice practitioners from 91短视频 (91短视频) and James Madison University (JMU).

Among those endorsing the program and expressing support were Marsha Garst, Rockingham County Commonwealth’s attorney, 91短视频 president Loren Swartendruber and JMU president Jonathan Alger.

Garst, who spoke of her reputation for being “hard” on crime, said that restorative justice should not be misinterpreted as being “soft on crime.” The victim-offender meeting is a difficult and emotionally challenging task for both parties, she added, but the process offers the offender the possibility of moving back into a positive role in our community.

鈥淲e kind of get to the point where we believe that the criminal justice system is the only thing that鈥檚 going to work,鈥� said HPD Lt. Kurt Boshart, a 26-year veteran of the force who led the initiative from within his department. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to see where this program could go. I can foresee it catching on pretty quickly.鈥�

Backed by veteran officer

The idea began several years ago, when Sue Praill with the Fairfield Center first proposed it to the HPD. Praill directs restorative justice services at the Harrisonburg nonprofit, which has been offering them in the community for nearly 20 years.

Eventually, a broader advisory group began meeting with Boshart to plan the program in more detail. In addition to Praill, the group included Fairfield Center Executive Director Tim Ruebke and Bacon 鈥� an associate dean of students at James Madison University who has overseen wide implementation of restorative justice practices on that campus. Also participating have been , co-director of the at 贰惭鲍鈥檚 (from which Praill and Ruebke hold master鈥檚 degrees, and where Bacon has also taken graduate-level coursework) as well as defense attorneys, a representative from local prosecutor鈥檚 office and other community representatives

鈥淚t鈥檚 been exciting to have partners from the police department who are so committed to [the program],鈥� said Praill.

More effective, affordable possibility

While change can be a slow process within the protocol-bound world of law enforcement, Boshart said reaction to the new program within the HPD has been generally positive. So far, five officers have taken a restorative justice training. By this summer, he hopes that most or all of the department鈥檚 94 sworn officers will be trained to identify specific crimes or conflicts that might be best handled through a restorative approach that focuses on victims鈥� needs and holds offenders accountable to meeting them.

One of the larger challenges facing the new program is communicating the fact that restorative justice emphasizes offender accountability, and isn鈥檛 simply a get-off-easy approach to criminal justice. Boshart said that as people learn more about restorative justice concepts, they understand how it can offer police more effective and affordable ways of dealing with some crimes than the traditional criminal justice system.

鈥淔or us to turn our head from that is a disservice to our community,鈥� he said.

While the program remains a work in progress, its broad parameters have been established by the advisory group. After police officers refer cases, a committee from the advisory group will screen them to ensure they鈥檙e appropriate for the program. Depending on a case鈥檚 specifics, facilitation would be handled either by the Fairfield Center or staff from Bacon鈥檚 office at James Madison University.

One of the main benefits of restorative justice is the way in which it humanizes both victim and offender, giving each a better understanding of how and why one hurt the other. Praill points out that under the new HPD program, officers who refer cases for restorative justice will participate in the group conference and benefit from this humanizing process as well.

鈥淣obody calls the police and says, 鈥楬ey, we鈥檙e having a great time,鈥欌�� said Boshart.

Improved relationships for all

Instead, officers generally show up when things have gone wrong and often interact with people during their not-finest moments. By being a part of the restorative justice conference, he hopes officers will be able to see these same people in better light. At the same time, people whose interactions with law enforcement are often negative will have new opportunity to develop better relationships with police officers.

For now, these conferences will be led on a volunteer basis by trained facilitators like Bacon, Praill or others from 91短视频. If the caseload grows beyond volunteers鈥� capacities, the program may need to find new sources of funding. At this point, however, all involved are concentrating on laying the foundation for a successful, sustainable program.

鈥淧art of the idea is to go slowly enough that the program is organic to this area, and so that there鈥檚 confidence in the community that this is a good program,鈥� said Ruebke.

As that happens, and as the caseload grows, figuring out funding 鈥渃an be a good problem to have later,鈥� added Boshart.

Off to good start

Later will come later; for now, the new program is off to a remarkable start. During the conference for the first case, the offender told the employer he鈥檇 stolen from about the desperate circumstances in his life that had encouraged him to steal.

The employer, in turn, talked about how he鈥檇 once found himself in a very similar situation. After he committed a similar crime, though, there wasn鈥檛 this sort of alternative. He was convicted of a felony, served time in jail, and after getting his life back in order, didn鈥檛 want his employee going down the same path. They agreed on a plan for restitution. The employee was paired with a mentor. The employer volunteered to become a mentor for someone else in the community.

鈥淭his process allowed for the victim and the perpetrator to come together and tell their stories, said Bacon. 鈥淣one of this it would have happened if it just went through the normal criminal process. I was just blown away 鈥� It鈥檚 why I love doing restorative justice.鈥� In his opening remarks at the press conference, Bacon credited 91短视频’s 鈥� who is known internationally as the “grandfather of restorative justice” (and who will be honored at a ) 鈥� for mentoring Bacon when he took courses at 91短视频 and began implementing restorative justice practices at JMU.

All of 贰惭鲍鈥檚 first-semester, first-year students are required to attend the festival 鈥� surely one of the most fun 鈥渞equirements鈥� a student could have. The university is providing free shuttle transportation from the Campus Commons to the festival site at every half hour, from the time the festival opens at noon to its 6 p.m. closing. (On-site parking is restricted 鈥� check the for more details.)

鈥淲e believe your hearts will be enlarged with the love you will find here, where smiles and hugs and beats that set your feet to dancing will re-energize your spirits in the beauty we share together,鈥� say the festival co-chairs, Vauna Brown and David Kreider, on the event website. (Kreider, who has been a festival organizer for a number of years, holds three degrees from 91短视频.)

In this, its 17th year, the festival is recognized as an annual tradition in Harrisonburg, perhaps the most ethnically diverse city in Virginia. Harrisonburg is also one of the most harmoniously livable cities in America by . Festival organizers believe this is not a coincidence.

鈥淲e have a lot of refugees in our community because of the Anabaptist movements and the responsibilities they feel to help refugees settle here in our community,鈥� explains Brown. In the early years of refugee re-settlement, 鈥渟ome of the churches had monthly potlucks and during those potlucks they would sit around and have a brainstorming about what they could do to [further] help.” From this brainstorming came the idea of a festival.

Local civic leaders 鈥� from the hospitals to the educational systems to city government 鈥� have not only endorsed the festival, they have stepped up to help create a hospitable climate in Harrisonburg. This year鈥檚 list of reads like a business and non-profit 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Who鈥� of Harrisonburg, with two of the top eight sponsors being 91短视频 and the , founded and directed by 91短视频 alumni.

鈥淭his year we are really focusing on unity and on the richness of our differences, which bring us together into a whole,鈥� says Heidi Jablonski, an 2014 91短视频 grad who is assisting Brown and Kreider. 鈥淭hese differences draw people together to make the valley such an interesting and dynamic place.鈥�

贰惭鲍鈥檚 with a renowned children鈥檚 performer, Jose-Luis Orozco, at 2:15 p.m. This is one of the eight musical performances of the day, which wraps up with the dance-rhythms of a new Eritrean band, Zara.

of 贰惭鲍鈥檚 is coordinating the making of unity flags, which are somewhat akin to Tibetan prayer flags. 鈥淭his is a community art project for anyone 鈥� children, teenagers, adults 鈥� anyone is welcome at the 鈥榩eace and justice area鈥� close to Pavilion 12,” she said.

鈥淧articipants will get a blank square of fabric and they will be able to put on symbols or prayers or poems that talk about unity,鈥� said Amstutz. 鈥淭hen, if they want, they can take them with them. Or they can pin them on pieces of string, which will be hung around the pavilion.鈥� She noted that this activity fits with 贰惭鲍鈥檚 focus on .

The festival also provides opportunities for fledgling entrepreneurs to get their start, says Brown, pointing out that at least three restaurants 鈥� the , , and 鈥� got their first exposures at past festivals.

Orozco, who performs internationally before enthusiastic crowds, will be appearing on the invitation of the SVCC, and Harrisonburg City Schools. 鈥淗e is our gift to the community,鈥� said SVCC artistic director , who has prepared nearly 40 students to sing with Orozco at the festival in Hillandale Park.

Orozco and SVCC share the goal of gathering children, families, and communities around a singing culture, Hostetter said. Orozco鈥檚 performances employ a singalong style, through which he engages people of all ages.

鈥淗e鈥檚 like an Hispanic Raffi!鈥� said SVCC assistant director Joy Anderson.

SVCC begins its 2014 season with Hostetter stepping into the artistic director position; a renovated office location in an 91短视频-owned house on campus; and aspirations for a new set of uniforms to replace the children鈥檚 20-year-old outfits.

To usher in the upcoming term, SVCC held a group retreat at on Sept. 13. Choristers became acquainted with some of this season’s repertoire, while building bonds among themselves and with staff. Rehearsal time, games, dramatic sketches, s’mores, and scampering about the woods packed the 11-hour day at the camp.

Hostetter’s passion for musical education is rooted in her own experiences as a high school chorister. 鈥淚 learned much about listening and connecting to the people around me in those years,鈥� said Hostetter. 鈥淚 experienced the way community can be built through the members who give, based on what is needed for the good of the group.鈥�

As a musical instructor, she fondly remembers the transformation of in Dayton (Va.) during her years teaching there. Singing 鈥渨as not cool鈥� when she arrived, but both attendance and camaraderie burgeoned under her tutelage.

Transposing these experiences into her new position with SVCC is akin to 鈥渟tepping off a plane into a beautiful flowering field.鈥�

Hostetter is familiar with said field in her prior roles of SVCC parent and guest conductor, but now assumes full responsibility for nurturing SVCC. Studying the choirs inside and out helps her 鈥渆nsure the ongoing success and continued growth of an already strong and flourishing organization.鈥�

SVCC’s strength and prolificity are evident in their history. They have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, two Mahatma Gandhi Global Nonviolence Award ceremonies, and the Tuscany International Children鈥檚 Chorus Festival in Italy, among other illustrious venues.

鈥淧eople are always shocked when they hear us,鈥� said Anderson. She says it is 鈥渦nheard of鈥� to be this well known, given that SVCC is not based in a major urban area.

There are currently 157 students enrolled for the school year in and performing choir programs. Music Explorers consists of students in kindergarten through third grade, with an emphasis on basic choral education. The performing choirs, made up of the preparatory, treble, and concert choirs, are divided based on age and singing prowess. Preparatory choir eligibility begins in second grade, and students must audition for acceptance into each level. Concert choir, with students from sixth to twelfth grade, is the longest-distance touring group of SVCC.

Participants come from families of Mennonite, Jewish, other Christian, and no religious inclination. This diversity of faith tradition is key to SVCC’s character. 鈥淲e want this to be a very inclusive atmosphere,鈥� said Anderson.

鈥淐ultivated properly,鈥� Hostetter said, 鈥渃horal ensembles can give students a place of learning and belonging.鈥�

Other upcoming SVCC performances include:

• JMU’s production of 鈥淟a Boh茅me鈥� by Giacomo Puccini, in which nine concert choir students will make up the 鈥淩uffian’s Chorus.鈥� Performances on Nov. 7, 8, and 9 in the Forbes Center, Harrisonburg.
• A fall concert in tandem with the , with the treble and concert choirs each having their own sets as well as two songs in conjunction with the orchestra. This is the first time the orchestras and choirs have collaborated on stage. Performance on Nov. 23, 4 p.m., in Lehman Auditorium.
• A Christmas Concert including all three performing choirs performing a collection of Celtic-themed songs. Performance on Dec. 7, 4 p.m., in Lehman Auditorium.

PARKING ALERT: Parking on campus will be extremely limited this night due to a local public high school graduation ceremony in the University Commons. Please find a spot in any lot on campus (you will not be ticketed for illegal parking). We trust your walk to the building will be well worth the effort!

The play, starring Ted Swartz and Tim Ruebke, allows audiences to laugh at themselves while raising important questions about the place of the U.S. in the world, confronting the fear that is such a large part of contemporary culture and exploring ways to honestly work for peace and justice in this country 鈥� and just maybe in the larger world!

Sketches include: “I’d Like to Buy an Enemy,” “Why Can’t I Get My Money Back?”, 鈥淭he Reptilian Brain Speaks: We鈥檙e late! We鈥檙e late 鈥� are we late?” and 鈥淵ou Started it! 鈥� a treatise on the cycles of violence.鈥�

Tim Ruebke will lead a discussion following the play.

Ted Swartz is a writer and actor who has been mucking around in the worlds of the sacred and profane for over 20 years. He is the creator or co-creator of over a dozen plays, including “FishEyes,” “Creation Chronicles,” “DoveTale,” “What Would Lloyd Do?” with Trent Wagler, “Tattered and Worn” and” Just Give 鈥楨m the News” with Jeff Raught, “I鈥檇 Like to Buy an Enemy,” “Excellent Trouble” with Ingrid de Sanctis, “Live at Jacob鈥檚 Ladder” and others. Ted is a theologian of a different sort. Both theater and seminary trained, he has found a unique, and entertaining, discovery: at the intersection of humor and biblical story is often a greater understanding of the text. Or, at the very least, a different understanding.

Tim Ruebke is executive director of the Fairfield Center in Harrisonburg. Since 1992, he has extensive experience mediating and facilitating general community, family, workplace, group/multi-party, and criminal circumstances. He is certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia as a mentor mediator and trainer and has been an adjunct faculty member for James Madison University and 91短视频. He earned a BA degree in social work and an MA degree in conflict transformation from 91短视频.

Admission is $10at the door.听 For more information, contact the SPI office at 540-432-4653.

For more information on Ted & Company, contact: agent@tedandcompany.com or call 540-421-1716.