2022 Spring Community Event Wrap-Up

May 9, 2022

GCC’s Spring Community Event & Fundraiser on April 21st was a huge success! We enjoyed soulful Balkan and Appalachian music performed by the Athens Mountain Singers, followed by upbeat traditional Latin American tunes from Beto Cacao and Incatepec. Our Executive Director Danny Malec took to the stage to speak about our progress and partnerships in the Athens community along with Julita Sanders from Juvenile Offender Advocates. To wrap up the evening we had Commissioner Mariah Parker aka Linqua Franqa join us for a special a’cappella performance centered around social justice and awareness. After all was said and done, we raised just over $2,000 to support GCC’s work in Athens and beyond!

A huge thank you to Terrapin for graciously allowing us to host our event in their space, Montu Miller for keeping the show flowing, Homero and Vieney Elizalde for providing delicious food, all of our talented performers, and finally to all of you. Without the support of our community the work done by the Georgia Conflict Center and Juvenile Offender Advocates would not be possible. 

Our Board President Caroline Sharkey said it best by stating, “When we’re in community with one another, we have real conversations about how people feel so we can work towards not just justice, but a sense of togetherness.”

Enjoy these photos from the event and click here to see some videos of our performers and speakers!

Beto Cacao and Incatepec

Athens Mountain Singers

Linqua Franqa

other blogs and recommended reading

What GCC Means to Me

A parent shares how restorative practices enhanced his relationship with his child and students.

Read full article (LINK OPENS IN A NEW TAB) →

NYC Expands RJ programs

The Bronx community center is one of 16 organizations in New York City receiving a combined $6.5 million over the next year for programs to bolster public safety using restorative justice — a philosophy that aims to build community and mediate arguments through conversation, rather than through discipline or criminal charges. It’s sometimes used as a way for crime victims and perpetrators to make peace. But it can also be used as a tool to help people feel comfortable having difficult discussions. Some New York City school administrators, court officials and nonprofits are already using restorative justice to mediate disputes.

Read full article (LINK OPENS IN A NEW TAB) →

Remembering How to Be Friends: After COVID, One School Uses Talking Circles to Help Kids Reconnect

That predictable, structured place to safely share is critical, especially for students who want to take on society’s bigger challenges, Swearingen said. “It puts us in a spot where we can be vulnerable with each other, and because we can be vulnerable together we can be productive.”

Read full article (LINK OPENS IN A NEW TAB) →

Opinion

Where Is the Forgiveness and Grace in Cancel Culture?

A link to an editorial written on 12/28/21 in the New York Times from Michael Eric Dyson, reflecting on Bishop Tutu's approach to apartheid and the limited value of punishment or banishment.

Read full article (LINK OPENS IN A NEW TAB) →

GHC to offer courses for RED Restorative Justice Program

Georgia Highlands College has partnered with Rehabilitation Enables Dreams to offer college access to students in the RED Restorative Justice Program.

Read full article (LINK OPENS IN A NEW TAB) →