To help organizations plan safety strategies that promote functionality and wellness.
Neighborhood organizations play a vital role in supporting, empowering and educating community residents. IPSSJ helps organizations to strengthen their public safety programming, assisting with their strategic planning and evaluation. We focus on partnerships with innovative organizations that have a demonstrated commitment to partnering with the families and leaders in the areas where they work.
Current projects:
Community Restorative Justice Hubs
We collaborate with six neighborhood organizations, and a number of other thought partners, to offer trauma-informed alternatives to detention for youth and emerging adults in some of the most criminalized communities in Chicago. These organizations are:
- Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) located in border of the Back of the Yards and Englewood neighborhoods. PBMR provides expertise in restorative justice circles and programming.
- Urban Life Skills (ULS) located in North Lawndale/Little Village. ULS offers mentoring programs and employable skill building to youth.
- Lawndale Christian Legal Center (LCLC) located in North Lawndale. LCLC specializes in providing legal services and representation to court-involved youth.
- Circles and Ciphers located in Rogers Park, they offer community circles and arts-based programming to youth, some of whom are DCFS-involved.
- Alliance of Local Service Organizations (ALSO) located in Humboldt Park, ALSO provides restorative justice programming and conducts street outreach to engage youth in the community.
- Target Area Development Corporation located in the Auburn-Gresham area, Target provides restorative justice programming and education and re-entry services for youth.
IPSSJ serves as the evaluator and data coordinator for the Community Restorative Justice Hubs and provides training and technical assistance to the collective. Additionally, IPSSJ coordinates a “Learning Academy” where hub members educate other hubs on their areas of expertise. Click here to learn more about the Community Restorative Justice Hub network, and find out about upcoming information sessions for those organizations interested in becoming a hub.
Community Anti-Violence Education Project (CAVE)
This initiative was spawned through work with the Education Justice Project of the University of Illinois. Through this effort, Dr. Quintana works in collaboration with inmates as co-faciliators inside Danville Correctional Center. IPSSJ was instrumental in creating a program in Chicago, held weekly in two Adult Transition Centers. CAVE allows participants to address trauma as a main trigger before engaging in violence. Inmates and former inmates teach current inmates about brain science & emotional management in order to recognize and redirect trauma triggers.
Social Justice Simulations
Two experiences have been developed to help people understand the experiences of marginalization: one emphasizes the barriers and challenges faced by people reentering society after incarceration and the other is an exploration of income inequality. Both allow groups of up to 25 individuals take part in a 3-hour experience that promotes discussion and a need for solutions to two major crises of our time. These simulations can be provided to interested organizations for a fee. Please contact us for more information and pricing.