April 2022  |   Message from NACRJ Executive Director Joel Friesz: 

I experienced my first circle in 2008 and have been an avid student and advocate of the process ever since. Circle is where I feel most comfortable and its teachings of equality and non-hierarchical worldview is, for me, somewhat at odds with being an Executive Director. Prior to applying for the Executive Director position in summer 2021, as well as at each step of the interviewing process, I spent much time discerning if this was the right position for me. I fear(ed) that being in this type of position would limit the time I got to spend in Circle and doing the work of restorative justice (e.g., facilitating restorative conferences) that I’d grown accustomed to doing the past 17 years. I onboarded in the Executive Director role in January 2022 and I accept that this new position will limit my availability to facilitate restorative conferences but I won’t accept that it has to limit my time in Circle. If I am to serve the field of community and restorative justice in the ways I am hoping, I will need to be in Circle as much as possible to listen, learn, and connect with our NACRJ members and wider community. Every time I’ve sat in Circle, I’ve learned. Every time I’ve facilitated a restorative conference, I’ve learned. In my role as Executive Director, I strive for the same: to learn. Prior to the COVID pandemic, I would not have envisioned the elements of Circle could be effective via video (i.e., a virtual space). However, over the past couple years I’ve learned many elements of Circle are indeed effective via video. With NACRJ being a national organization with wide geographic reach of members, I am utilizing Zoom to host periodic Circles with the primary intent to 1) hear directly from NACRJ members on how I (and NACRJ) can be of service to them and 2) provide a space where NACRJ members can come together to connect with one another. Above all else, this is simply a time for people to step away from the busyness of life and be in circle with one another.  

Please note: 

• There is no cost to attend. We are utilizing Ticket Tailor simply for sign-up purposes.  
• A zoom link will be emailed on the day of the circle.  
• Circles will be limited to 8 attendees with the hopes of having time for 3-4 go arounds.  
• Due to the limited # of attendees, we ask that you sign up only if you are certain you can attend. Additionally, if you sign up and need to cancel, we ask that you email joel.friesz@nacrj.org as soon as possible. These steps will help Joel know if he can release these dates on his calendar if no one is signed up for a particular circle.  
• In addition to NACRJ members, we extend this invitation to anyone who is looking to be in circle with others to connect on the topic of community and restorative justice.  

Please click "Join the Guestlist" to sign up for one of the upcoming options in May:

Friday, May 6, 2022   |   10:30a-12:00p (Central Time) 

Wednesday, May 18, 2022    |   12:00p-1:30p (Central Time)

Please check back for addition dates to be scheduled monthly.