Date
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Session Type
General: 60 min
Name
Fostering Trust and Strengthening Community between Library Employees with Restorative Justice Circles.
Description

Trust forms the bedrock upon which thriving communities are built. Moreover, when an organization breaches trust with its employees, instigating any form of cultural transformation becomes a formidable challenge. The successful integration of IDEA strategies within your workplace community hinges crucially on the foundation of employee trust. Human nature inclines us to steer clear of conflicts or situations that push us beyond our comfort zones. This tendency is exacerbated when a cloud of mistrust looms over the organization. Enter Restorative Justice Circles (RJC), a powerful tool for building, reestablishing, or fortifying trust and community within your organization. These circles can be deployed in both reactive and proactive ways. In the proposed session, attendees will learn about RJC, gain insights from Virginia Tech Libraries' experiences in implementing them, explore feedback garnered from our employees, and actively participate in one of these circles. These Restorative Justice Circles serve as sanctuaries for safe and open dialogue, healing, and mutual understanding among all participating employees. Our overarching objective is to cultivate an environment where every voice is not only heard but valued, where we collectively confront challenges, celebrate achievements, and contribute to fostering a positive and harmonious atmosphere. Together, we can learn, grow, and create a workplace that truly embodies the principles of trust, inclusivity, and mutual respect.

Track
Community