Supporting neighbors you may never meet.
Helping in community can take many forms. Some serve on boards, committees, coalitions. Others volunteer, lending time and talents to promote and support key causes. Another way is to donate financially or attend fundraising events. Non-profits depend on the support of all types of helpers. As I was drafting up the program for the upcoming Restoring the Fabric of Our Community event. I realized the program audience will likely not meet those they support. The work of SCVRJP reaches far and wide. Prevention and diversion work, isn’t always obvious. We don’t get to ever know how many people decided good choices after attending a SCVRJP session.
We do know that our community has continued to embrace our work and even asks for more. We have a steady stream of volunteers, referrals for programming and feedback that our work has touched and changed lives. Programming at SCVRJP continues to grow and respond to community needs. Recent additions include a Guide for Grieving Families, a resource for law enforcement and first responders. We’ve expanded our offerings for survivors of un-natural death. Some insights in how supporting SCVRJP, supports neighbors includes . . .
- High school students hearing first hand from a Mother, the pain she has survived after her daughter decided to drive, impaired, text and speed. All students in the Circle made a specific committment to reduce their risk for a fatal crash.
- Providing retired community members a place to volunteer, engage with a younger generation and offer support, wisdom and accountability.
- Volunteer fireman pass a talking piece and process painful incidents, the impact and the resilience skills they use to deal with fatal crashes, death and survivors.
- Young people processing what happened, how they impacted others, and how they can move ahead without causing further harm.
- I’ve watched the person who caused a fatal crash of 3 be forgiven by a family member of the deceased. They hugged and embraced and humanity filled the room.
- Evalution forms consistently read things like: eye-opening, life changing, everyone should have to attend, the stories made a difference.
This event is both a celebration and a fundraiser. St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program (SCVRJP) provides Restorative Justice services in Pierce & St. Croix Counties, and accepts requests outside the region as well. The mission: To Build a Culture of Peace & Belonging Using Restorative Justice Principles and Programs in our Community, is helping those directly served (nearly 3,000 annually), while providing safety for all community members and all guests in our neighborhoods. By supporting SCVRJP you might never meet the person you have supported and helped. You can make a life changing impact, I can assure you, having the honor of seeing lives changed.
Please enjoy a safe Halloween. If you attend the Chamber Business Expo Saturday, please say hello at the SCVRJP booth!
If you are interested in supporting SCVRJP or attending Restoring the Fabric of Our Community, we have extended our RSVP deadline to Monday at noon. You can call the Restorative Justice Center at 715-425-1100 or email me at scvrjp@gmail.com. thank you!
