OUR VISION 

The Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice envisions a world that cultivates just and healing  approaches to interpersonal, historical, and societal harm.  

Grown by communities directly impacted by violence and oppression and grounded in  movements for social justice, these approaches lead to cultural and political  transformation and healthy ways of being with one another. 

 

OUR MISSION 

The Zehr Institute shapes the development of restorative justice as a global social justice  movement.

As an innovative faith-based, movement-building think tank on restorative justice: 

We promote research and scholarship.  

We provide education and resources. 

We connect people, and build networks. 

Our unique approach reflects our location at a faith-informed university that values social justice. 

 

OUR VALUES 

Our values are informed by the legacy of Dr. Howard Zehr and the social movements that inspired his  work.

For example, Black freedom movements had a significant influence on the early formation of Dr.  Zehr as a white student who graduated from Morehouse College, a historically Black college, in 1966. 

        1. Grassroots leadership - Grassroots social justice movements are incubators of new  knowledge, ideas, analysis, and vision. We value perspectives and approaches developed by grassroots justice movements and indigenous communities around the world.  
        2. Racial justice - We value racial equity and the leadership of Black, Indigenous, People  of Color including women, gender-non-conforming, LGBTQ, and youth BIPOC leaders. 
        3. Prophetic faith - We value vision and practice for justice and healing rooted in prophetic  faith and spiritualities that call forth hope, inspiration, wholeness, and sustainability. 
        4. Global community - We value global community, and a relational concept of the world. 
        5. Healing - We value healing and healthy relationships, interpersonally and systemically. 
        6. Arts and media - We value creativity and the imagination, as well as the power of the  arts to communicate our stories, foster holistic connection, and facilitate healing.
        7. Collective praxis - We value the integration of theory and practice; reflection and action.

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