Peacekeepers: Youth Empowerment with Jen Williams

Restorative Works!

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Jen Williams to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Jen joins us to share her journey of developing a restorative practices based program at her former middle school. The program was born out of a necessity to address conflicts and empower students. Through anecdotes and reflections, Jen illustrates moments where students used their voices, resolved conflicts, and became leaders. From addressing low-level incidents to fostering a culture of empathy and understanding, Jen's approach emphasizes the importance of giving students a platform to express themselves and take ownership of their actions. Discover how Jen's innovative Peacekeepers program not only equipped students with conflict resolution skills but also inspired them to become agents of positive change in their communities. From facilitating restorative conferences to fostering inclusive leadership, Jen's insights offer practical guidance for educators seeking to implement restorative practices in their schools. Jen is an educator with over 20 years of experience, spending most of that time as a middle school counselor in Pennsylvania. Recently, she published a workbook titled  Peacekeepers: Empowering Youth Using Restorative Practices, to help educators empower students to facilitate restorative conferences, based on a program she developed during her time as a counselor. She now runs her own consulting business and supports schools across the US with the implementation of restorative practices and student training. Jen earned her Master of Science in Restorative Practices from the IIRP in 2016. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, going on hikes, and is active in her church community. Tune in to learn more about Jen’s trajectory as a middle school counselor to becoming an advocate for student voice.