NACRJ 10th National Conference Was More Than a Conference
For four days in New Orleans, nearly 1,700 people came together from across the country. Restorative justice practitioners. Educators. Judges. Community organizers. Youth leaders. Survivors. Researchers. People who have spent decades doing this work and people attending their very first NACRJ conference.
“Attending the NACRJ Conference was an incredibly valuable experience. I left feeling inspired, challenged, and more connected to a community of practitioners who are deeply committed to restorative justice. The sessions offered practical strategies and I gained new ideas that I can immediately apply in my work. I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from so many knowledgeable and passionate leaders, and I look forward to attending future conferences.”
There were conversations that started in workshops and continued over coffee. Strangers became collaborators. Ideas became plans. Tears were met with understanding. Laughter echoed through the hallways.
That is what makes NACRJ different.
Yes, there were inspiring keynote speakers such as Sister Helen PreJean, Danielle Sered and Dr. Fania Davis. Powerful breakout sessions led by Rise Collective, University of Vermont Law, Common Justice, The Blue Shield Foundation and The Visiting Room Project. A Cultural and Ceremonial Space, curated by Amanda Mitchell, brought culture, healing, and connection into the heart of the conference. The dedicated Cultural Ceremony Floor created space for ceremony, plant medicine, grounding, reflection, and community connection, alongside a Memorial Room that offered attendees a quiet place to honor, remember, and simply step away when needed.
Throughout the conference, the space also came alive through sessions guided by Indigenous and culturally rooted practices, creating opportunities to experience restorative justice through traditions, teachings, and ways of gathering that have sustained communities for generations. More than a conference space, it was an intentional reminder that culture, ceremony, healing, and relationship are deeply connected to the work of restorative justice.
But what people will remember most are the moments in between the conversations outside the breakout session rooms, the circles that ran long because no one wanted to leave, the introductions that turned into new partnerships.
This was more than a conference. This was a community gathering.
“The NACRJ Conference was an inspiring and meaningful experience that strengthened my professional commitment to RJ. What stood out most was the opportunity to learn from people doing this work in many different communities and settings.”
The good news is you don't have to wait until the next national conference to be part of it.
NACRJ is a year-round community network of people committed to building safer schools, stronger communities, more responsive systems, and a future rooted in accountability, healing, and repair. Membership keeps those conversations going long after the conference ends through learning opportunities, professional connections, and a community that continues to show up for one another.
The conference may be over but the movement isn't. If you're looking for a place where your work is understood, where your ideas are welcomed, and where the relationships are just as valuable as the sessions, we'd love to welcome you into the NACRJ family.
Become a member. Stay connected. Help shape what's next.
If you have any questions about NACRJ membership, please reach out to membership@nacrj.org.
Lucinda Cross
Conference and Events Director
NACRJ
