We bring those who have been harmed together with people who have harmed them for intentional conversation that leads to compassion, understanding, and empathy.
TPP’s founding work was in the prisons, and these models remain central to our work. We believe that Restorative Justice belongs everywhere. And since 2020, we have expanded to reach even more members of our community. Here is a snapshot of who we serve and the programming we offer.
Incarcerated Individuals |
Our founding program, we work to help incarcerated individuals understand how trauma has impacted their lives and led to their criminality. We offer opportunities to connect with survivors/victims, make amends, and
heal from their traumas. Reading Group: Learn - Working through the curriculum and the book Teens Who Hurt by Dr. Ken Hardy and Dr. Tracey Laszloffy, small groups gather to learn about and study restorative justice. VOEG: Understand - The Victim Offender Education Group fosters empathy and responsibility through mutually compassionate conversations between survivors and the men and women in prison, based on the work of the Insight Prison Project. VOEG: Maintenance - The VOEG Maintenance Program serves to further deepen participants' understanding of their responsibilities to their victim(s), their families, their communities and to themselves. This group allows the incarcerated to further integrate restorative justice practices into their everyday lives. We at the Transformational Prison Project (TPP) understand that this commitment is a life-long journey. Mindfulness: Connect - In this trauma-informed group, participants learn about the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit while practicing yoga and engaging in facilitated conversations. Current partners: We are excited to be working with the MA Department of Corrections to bring this work back into the prisons.erience. |
Youth/Young Adults in Need |
We know that youth need support to understand how trauma has impacted their lives. We work with youth to let them know that there are adults who have been through what they’ve been through, and that healing is possible.
Reading Group – A circle process that includes material for participants to read and discuss. Topics include community, grief, rage, loss, abusive powers, etc. Circles – A circle is a less formal process, where topics are pre-determined based on identified needs, and participants guide the conversations. Current partners: Department of Youth Services Roxbury District Court CHOICE Program (for young adults on probation) Turn it Around Charlestown / Charlestown Coalition Revere Cares |
Communities in Need of Healing |
TPP also works with communities that are hurting. Particularly those who are experiencing trauma related to criminal, gang, drug, and violent activities in their communities. We offer healing circles to bring communities together to process and heal from trauma.
Current partners: Maverick Landing Community Services |
Systems |
TPP recognizes that we must address systems that cause harm. As such, we are working to bring Restorative Justice into criminal justice, legal, social work, and healthcare systems. TPP reaches practitioners as well as students at various institutes of higher education. Our goal is to build an understanding of trauma and how these systems have the potential to cause harm. We seek to educate and empower current and future stewards of these systems to end the cycles of harm and become agents of healing.
Current partners & Recent Presentations: Columbia University School of Social Work Harvard Business School Harvard Kennedy School of Government Harvard Law School Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Northeastern University School of Law Vermont Law School |