Restorative Approach to Intimate Violence (RAIV)

Program Designer & Director: Deb Witzel

"Domestic violence," "intimate partner violence," "family violence," no matter what words are used, the harm caused when loved ones hurt loved ones is a serious public health issue in the US according to the Center for Disease Control. The impacts on the people directly involved and the ripple effects into families cause serious health, economic, and mental health problems.

Growing out of years of direct experience working with responsible and harmed parties of domestic violence, this program is a comprehensive, holistic approach to domestic/intimate partner/family violence using restorative justice, creative processes drawn from artist/activist practices, and community engagement to address this public health concern.

This pioneering idea has the potential to reach people from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds and identities to help heal and restore individuals, families, and communities to a state of well-being. This project creates a ripple of healthy strategies, pro-social connections, and creative outcomes that have a positive effect for generations to come.

Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Movement & Framework

Dr. Gail Christopher, in consultation with the Kellogg Foundation, developed the original architecture of the TRHT movement in 2016 with the following purpose:

“To improve our capacity as communities and as a country to see ourselves in each other, so that we can shape a more equitable future with opportunities for every child to thrive.”

Established to dismantle the belief in a hierarchy of human value, the movement brings together a coalition of civic groups, community organizations, universities, faith leaders, and artists to effect change at the community and national level. The framework relies on the profound notion that it is our relationships with one another and the narratives we share that will ground the sustainability of racial equity as seen where it is institutionalized in the areas of Separation, Law and the Economy.

TRHT Framework:

Trained as Racial Healing Practitioners, 3SC integrates the principles of the TRHT Framework in its consulting work - one cannot separate the work of racial equity and racial healing from any aspect of organizational development.

For more information on TRHT, please visit the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Heal Our Communities and the AAC&U TRHT Campus Initiative websites.