Longmont Community Justice Partnership

I want to share with you the story of Julio and Marco and their mothers, Angela and Alba. This was a complex case in which both boys had experienced harm by the other; involving mono-lingual immigrant  families working to support their sons while learning a new and complex system; and an educator that rose to meet the challenge of supporting these young men and their families. 

What I want to share with you now is how their story encapsulates the impact and importance of our community restorative justice work! While working on this case, we were able to meet the unique challenges and needs of this family through the dedication and lived experience of our talented staff and volunteers. We are proud to share:

- Our bicultural and bilingual staff were able to develop rapport and trust with these families in ways that helped them feel less isolated and alone. “You tried to understand us as parents and did the same with the children. You supported us so we didn’t feel alone. You talked to us in a way that was easy to understand and were very patient with us.” ~Alba, Marco’s mother

- Our staff developed a conference process to help address the fact that both young people had experienced and caused harm. This process created a safe environment for both of them to take responsibility, get grounded in their strengths and share what they needed to move forward. “My son very much appreciated the opportunity that you gave him. He learned to control his impulses, now he thinks twice before doing something. You helped us express our emotions without judging us.” ~Angela’s, Julio’s mother

- We helped shift dynamics in a family that were  impacting relationships. “In my case, your help meant a complete shift in our family and in my son. My relationship with my son is totally different now; before he used to walk away from me whenever I tried to hug him, now he actually comes to me and hugs me. Some days ago, he came to me and gave me some money, because he has a job now, and told me “Mom, buy something for yourself!” ~Alba, Marco’s mother

By providing a space for dialogue, understanding, and healing, we've seen firsthand the transformative power these processes have on individuals, families, and the broader community. Over the years, our organization has dedicated itself to fostering a more just and inclusive society through community-based restorative justice and restorative practices; and the work with these youth is our organization at its very best. 

Yet, we face an ever-increasing challenge. The rising cost of everything from basic necessities to essential services has led to a significant increase in what it costs us to run our vital restorative justice programs. LCJP works to ensure there are no barriers to our programs by offering families financial aid to cover the cost of $125 program fee. Approximately 75% of families asking for financial assistance to cover this fee. Families who need our support the most are the ones hardest hit by these economic pressures, exacerbating already existing inequalities. We intend to maintain our commitment to no barriers in accessing our programs and we need your help to do that. 

Your generous contribution can make a significant difference. With your support, we can ensure that families, regardless of their socio-economic status, have access to the healing and transformative power of restorative justice. Your donation will directly impact:

- Providing essential restorative justice programs without financial burden to families.

- Offering training to our local schools to empower communities with the tools of conflict resolution and reconciliation to further prevent people from being impacted by the life altering criminal justice system.

- Expanding community engagement efforts to connect with more of the community who may not be aware of the restorative justice process that is available to them to help them repair the harm they have experienced or caused. “I wish you could help more members of the community. Hopefully, you could assist people who have not reached our point yet, families that could get some help earlier.” ~Angela, Julio’s Mother

Your gift, no matter the size, is an investment in our future. It is an investment in empathy, understanding, and the belief in the potential for positive change in fellow members of our community.

With sincere gratitude,

Shalene Onyango

Executive Director