Youth from limited-opportunity communities are disproportionately affected by perpetration, victimization, and witnessing of community violence. Restorative justice, which involves community-engaged conflict resolution and reconciliation, along with mindfulness, which enhances in-the-moment  awareness, present opportunities to transition from punitive responses after community violence occurs to strength-based prevention strategies that empower youth and communities.

Between October 2024 and January 2025, Weitzman worked with community partners and stakeholders in New Britain, Connecticut to pilot Heal Our Youth, a 10-week mindfulness and restorative justice program for at-risk youth. Participation, feedback, and outcomes illustrate the intervention’s strengths as a promising anti-violence initiative.

Read the research brief to learn more: Heal Our Youth:  A Promising Restorative Justice and Mindfulness Intervention Pilot 

For a quick summary, view our short blog summarizing program implementation, evaluation findings, and recommendations.

This project was made possible by support from the Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation.