January 20

2013

22nd Edition

LARJP C HRONICLES
Stephanie Haider, Program Director

Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project 218-568-4145 info@larjp.org

4638 County Road 11 Pequot Lakes, MN 56472

Inside This Issue
Who Are We? Expanding Beyond Our Borders New Face at LARJP Meet Taylor Stevenson, Executive Director Competition and Rewards From the Interim Executive Director Ever wonder if it was worth it? Trust the Circle Process 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5

Who Are We?

Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project is an organization that offers the legal system an alternative for good kids who make poor choices. If the juvenile offender and their victim(s) agree, they sit down with family, community members, and facilitators in a safe and structured setting. The offender will have the opportunity to address the impact his/her behavior (crime) has on the people they harmed. Victims will have the opportunity to express their feelings about what happened and how it affected them and their family. They will have the chance to ask the offender questions and to get answers. Offenders will see and hear the true impact of what they did while being held accountable for their actions. The conference will end when all participants agree on how the offender can repair the harm that was done. Many times the offender is required to do community service

or pay restitution.

Our success rate is very

high which results in the victim getting their financial loss returned to them along with piece of mind. This is a great way to save the county money while helping the community! If the offender completes the program, no criminal juvenile charges offenders are recorded. go Very few our who through

program are known to reoffend.

If you choose the behavior, you choose the consequences.

-Dr. Phil

Expanding Beyond Our Borders

By Stephanie Haider, Program Director of Services

At the request of Aitkin County, we have agreed to accept a limited number of juvenile referrals as long as they are able to cover LARJP staff and mileage costs. They will also be recruiting their own community volunteers for the roles of community members and

conferencing in Crosby.

facilitators.

Training

for

facilitators is planned for April 26-28, 2013, Interested Aitkin residents can apply to Kameron Genz, Senior Corrections Agent (218 927 7281) or at KGenz@cmncc.org

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LARJP Chronicles

New Face at LARJP

By Cheyenne Velasquez, Volunteer Facilitator

Please say hello and welcome to our new administrative assistant, Dea EschenbacherHondl. Dea was raised in Baxter but left to attend college in Moorhead and to teach marketing in St. Cloud. After 11 years she returned with her family to her home roots and began volunteering for Sexual Assault Services. Through hard work and dedication, Dea wound up as their Education Director. After a few years, Dea decided to work for herself and began providing seminars in schools and businesses in a four state area. After ten years of helping others get organized, Dea decided to share her knowledge in a brick and mortar environment. She began teaching first as an adjunct instructor at CLC in Brainerd, then as a marketing teacher in the High School. With her guidance, students were

taught to design, promote, sell, and price items in the school store while learning valuable insights into the world of employment and marketing. As you can see, Dea brings a wealth of information to our program. Her passion for helping to guide our youth has brought her to us. Dea is not only our Administrative Assistant, but a volunteer. Many of you have met her at one event or another as she is very much a hands on individual. She strives to make our jobs easier, will stay on top of us with friendly reminders, and always has a smile. She is dedicated, quick witted, and a real pleasure to share a space with.

By Dea Eschenbacher-Hondl, Administrative Assistant

Meet Taylor Stevenson, Executive Director

A few short weeks ago Taylor Stevenson was hired as LARJPs executive director. Tay brings numerous valuable traits, skills, and experiences that can only help LARJP develop and grow in a positive manner. Taylor is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a Major in government and philosophy. He has run for public office on two separate occasions where he developed great working relationships with many people in our county. Problem solving and a strong work ethic combined with polished communication skills make Tay an asset to our organization. He has jumped into this position with both feet and is determined to guide us in a positive manner.

Tay was raised in Brainerd where he continues to substitute teach and coach athletics.

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Page 3

Competition and Rewards

By Terri Nault

On Sept. 19, 2012 the Brainerd Mall was teeming with non-profits and businesses vying for the best chili award. All vendors interpreted the theme, Live United: Hollywood Style, featuring Hollywood glamour, humor, and horror. Your LARJP volunteers chose the horror genre. Kathy Pietz, Dea EschenbacherHondl, and Terri Nault were the brides of Dracula, aka Jason Fristedt. Participation would not be possible without the planning, decorating, and cooking. A huge thank you goes to Kathy Pietz, Cheyenne Velazquez and Cindy Moore. Special thank you to Patty Buell who graciously offered the use of a commercial kitchen at Pequot Lakes High School in which to cook the chili meat. Competition was keen among the 34 booths. A

Dracula and his brides support United Way and Restorative Justice.
record 669 people attended the cook-off. LARJP did not win any award, but were able to participate in a worthy community event and spread the word about LARJP. We filled many a sampling cup and graciously accepted praise for our chili. Because our traditional chili was so good (some folks came back for seconds),
Please see Competition and Rewards on page 4

From Our Interim Executive Director

By David Slipy, Interim Executive Director

We have experienced some significant personnel changes as we come to the end of 2012. We have a new Administrative Assistant, Dea Eschenbacher-Hondl. Dea knows the organization and the philosophy of restorative justice. She has been a great addition. Our new Executive Director is Taylor Stevenson, a local Brainerd resident. Taylor was selected after our committee looked at roughly 20 resumes and interviewed 8 candidates. He joined us on December 10th. There are changes taking place in the services we provide. Sharing our expertise and resources with Aitkin county and Crow Wing Family Services is an excellent way to reduce costs to taxpayers. Funding continues to be an ongoing challenge, although we have received a significant grant from the Bremer Foundation for $26,000 per year for two years. We continue to be supported by the United Way, Crow Wing Power, BLADC, and Essentia
Please see From Our Interim Executive Director on page 4

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From Our Interim Executive Director from page 3

LARJP Chronicles
Our own fundraising

Health Care.

Ever wonder if it was worth it?

By Cheyenne Velazquez, Facilitator 5 yrs

efforts have been successful in bringing in small amounts of money. This year our Spring Gala and our golf outing brought in roughly $6,000. currently at least involved another in a We are GiveMN The up

I have often wondered if volunteering for LARJP was really worth it. I am thinking that perhaps there are others who have asked that same question. Well I would like to share a story about a young man, that will answer just that question. A few years back I was given a case, where two teenage males had destroyed private property. We went to the pre-conference with both families and both young men and their families agreed to participate in the program.. When all was said and done, and the contracts written, we all wished the young men good luck for a positive conclusion of the contract and hoped that they had understood and learned from their mistakes. With a feeling of accomplishment we all departed to our respective homes. Other than the contact needed to ensure the fulfillment of the contract, we as facilitators really never know what has happened to these kids as they move on. Well the other day I felt like a proud Momma, when one of the kids mentioned above sent an e-mail, telling us how much our program helped him, and that he was now in law school. BUT wait there is more.This young man wanted to know if he would be able to come and volunteer with us during his summer break, that he wanted to be a part of helping others, like we helped himSo back to Is it worth it you bet it is. We do make a difference in the lives of these young people, yes.. most times we will not hear about it, but oh when we do, what a great feeling it is. So when the question comes up, put a smile on your face, look in the mirror and say You Bet Ya.

campaign which we hope will produce $6,000. made fundraising committee

primarily of board members has a goal of $15,000 a year in local non-grant funds. They and the Public Relations committee work hard and jointly to ensure we have a fair amount of local support. support and Fundraising will continue to We receive no unit to of local from any be a challenge for us.

government and so must rely on grants fundraising activity support ourselves. I look forward to going back to my role on the Board of Directors and working with a new Executive Director! I firmly believe 2013 is going to be a very interesting and productive year for the Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project.
Competition and Rewards from page 3

we ran out early. Despite the many hours of work (56 hours) participants enjoyed the light heartedness of the cook-off. Feeling bad that you missed out on a fun event? Well, next year in mid September, consider becoming a part of the United Way Chili cook-off. Its something you can sink your teeth into.!

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Page 5

Trust the Circle Process

By Stephanie Haider

Thirty eight people sat in a circle early that November morning wondering what kind of training this was. There were no power points; just our trainers, Sharon Hendrichs and Julie Marthaler from Yellow Medicine County leading us through an activity examining group values- respect, confidentiality, compassion, humility, honesty, equality- the qualities necessary for the circle to have meaning. The participants represented the community, schools, social service organizations, youth-serving agencies; all present to find out how this process could help our community. They learned that circles are a new/old way to bring people together towards sharing, understanding, solving community and individual problems. Speaking is governed by the use of a talking piece, an object of value passed around the circle. Decisions are based on consensus, that is, a common agreement that all can live with. Circles are not new nor are they untried. They are used all over the world, our country and our state. They have proven successful at bringing resolution, understanding, growth and healing in communities, schools and places of work. In Crow Wing County we believe circles will contribute to a safer, more connected community. The new collaboration between Crow Wing County Community Services and Lakes Area Restorative Justice

Circles are not new nor are they untried. They are used all over the world.

Without justice, courage is weak.

- Ben Franklin

Project, called Family and Community Circles, arose out of a need to use existing resources in a more creative and economical ways. The Family Circle will provide a strength-based process to truancy and other unsafe youth behaviors. LARJP will be providing the coordination and community members who will volunteer to meet in circle on a regular basis. Community Services will provide the referrals and will cover much of the training and ongoing circle expenses. This is truly a win-win collaboration.
Please see Trust the Circle Process on page 6

Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project

Trust the Circle Process from page 5

Over the course of three days, nearly forty people participated in some part of the Circle training. Of those nearly twenty people agreed to participate as community members. Eighteen people attended the four hour Circle Keeper training, learning the techniques involved in facilitating Circle dialogue, setting the tone, protecting the integrity of the process, and opening and closing the Circle. Some of those volunteers will begin our first two Circles in January with two families participating initially and more to be added. If you missed the November training but are interested in helping in this new initiative, please contact Lakes Area Restorative Justice at 218 568 4145 or office.assistant@larjp.org. We do not plan any additional formal training at this time but would be pleased to speak with those interested in being Community Members.

4638 County Road 11 Pequot Lakes, MN 56472

218-568-4145
We are on the web! Visit us at larjp.org
Due to the generous financial support of these organizations, we are able to help the victims, the families, and our youth: John Larsen Foundation Otto Bremer Foundation Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation Blandin Foundation Essentia Health Foundation

Crow Wing Power Community Trust

LARJP 4638 County Road 11 Pequot Lakes, MN 56472