Restorative Practices

Restorative Practices (RP) at Middlebury is a set of principles and practices for:  

• Building community
• Leadership and leadership training
• Responding to harm when it occurs 

Community Building Circles

Restorative Practices circles can be used to build community, reflect, share and listen to each other. The goal is to make connections and deepen understanding. By developing relationships in this way, we are better able to address the inevitable harms that occur within a community or relationships. 

Leadership Training and Workshops

We offer a variety of training sessions for faculty, staff and students across campus. Most commonly we offer  introductory restorative practices workshops or trainings in community building circles. Each workshop or training is custom designed for individual groups. Feel free to reach out if you are interested in having us lead a training or workshop with a group on campus. 

Peer Conflict Coaches

We train and employ roughly 10 students each semester to be Peer Conflict Facilitators. 

Peer Facilitators play a critical role in supporting students through conflict resolution processes. Trained in multiple modalities, they assist, coach, and facilitate a range of peer conflicts. Whether through conflict coaching, mediation, restorative processes, or dialogue, Peer Facilitators help individuals navigate disputes with empathy and skill.

Internships 

Most semesters we have one or two RP interns. This is a chance to work with us and support RP work across the campus. 

Responding to Harm

Restorative Practices can be used to respond to harm. However, this requires extensive training. If you would like help supporting a harm you have caused or experienced, please reach out to one of the following Restorative Practices facilitators at Middlebury: Crystal Jones, Brian Lind, Noreen Pecsok and Lida Winfield. 

Adaptable Resolution

Adaptable resolution provides a structured, voluntary process for addressing harm within communities, emphasizing restorative justice principles. It seeks to balance support and accountability for both those who experience harm and those who cause it. 

For cases that fall under Title IX, a formal complaint must be filed before an adaptable resolution can begin.

All Title IX-related adaptable resolutions end with a written agreement that may include action steps. Facilitators don’t take part in hearings or investigations, except to confirm if someone didn’t follow through on the agreement after the process ends.

Facilitated Dialogue

Understanding is the cornerstone of resolution. We are committed to fostering open and constructive dialogue among conflicting parties. Through conversations guided by trained facilitators, we create opportunities for participants to share their perspectives, acknowledge each other’s experiences, and find common ground. Our goal is to de-escalate conflict, bridge communication gaps, dispel misconceptions, and build a foundation for sustained collaboration.