5 Sessions

Rocking the Restorative Boat: Navigating the Realities of Anti-Racist Teaching

Led by

Nicole Lavonne Smith-Johnson

For teachers familiar with the basics of restorative practice, it's tempting to think of it like a fire extinguisher—a tool to be used only when things go wrong. But truly transformative justice is an intentional, daily commitment to anti-racist community building that happens before harm takes place. Designed for practitioners looking to move beyond the "introductory" phase, this session dives into the hard questions, practical challenges, and personal endurance required for this work. Together, we will examine the friction between institutional expectations and true community repair, unpack where traditional implementation falls short, and explore how to ground our daily teaching practices in inclusion, equity, and belonging. Most importantly, we will focus on how to sustain your own spirit and guard against burnout while doing this heavy lifting. Come ready to share your successes, dissect the sticky realities of anti-racist community-building, and replenish your motivation alongside a dedicated cohort of peers.

About Nicole Lavonne Smith-Johnson

Nicole Lavonne Smith-Johnson (she/her) is a restorative and transformative justice coach, trainer, and facilitator whose work centers on racial and social justice. She provides coaching and training to organizations, institutions, and communities looking to support relationships and community-building while deeply embedding belonging within their culture. Nicole works collaboratively with individuals, teams, and staff to sustainably build capacity around accountability, values alignment, rethinking systems and structures, repairing harm, and holding space for critical conversations. Prior to her work in restorative justice, Nicole was a dedicated New York City educator for two decades. She holds a Master of Urban Planning and International Development from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Howard University.

Select Sessions

Rocking the Restorative Boat Session A

Jan 20, 2027 · 5:00 PMRegister by Jan 140.5 credits

Session A: Why should a restorative approach always include anti-racism at its core?

To begin, we will explore the connection between anti-racism and restorative practices, and how that relationship informs our work.

Rocking the Restorative Boat Session B

Jan 27, 2027 · 5:00 PMRegister by Jan 210.5 credits

Session B: What are the challenges and rewards of countering racism through restorative practice?

In this session we’ll break the isolation of the work (itself a sustaining restorative practice) by sharing our frustrations, exchanging strategies, and celebrating victories to recharge our practice.

Rocking the Restorative Boat Session C

Feb 3, 2027 · 5:00 PMRegister by Jan 280.5 credits

Session C: What does authentic, cross-racial anti-racist collaboration actually look and feel like?

Joined by guest co-facilitator Suzanne Hitchman, Nicole will offer a look into their long-standing cross-racial partnership, sharing stories and offering real-world lessons on coalition building, trust, and staying true to shared anti-racist goals.

Rocking the Restorative Boat Session D

Feb 10, 2027 · 5:00 PMRegister by Feb 40.5 credits

Session D: How do your personal values around equity and belonging show up in your school community?

In this session we’ll use a restorative circle to reflect on our personal values and what it takes to (continue to) build personal and collective accountability around them.

Rocking the Restorative Boat Session E

Feb 24, 2027 · 5:00 PMRegister by Feb 180.5 credits

Session E: What commitments will you make to foster an anti-racist community today?

To end, we’ll share our intentions with one another, understanding that real, lasting change takes root through active listening and collective witness.

Credits are checked per session as you register — if your school's balance runs out partway through, you'll be told exactly which sessions couldn't be confirmed.

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