Why I am writing a book on Safe Teen Driving Circles.

I had to title the blog in present tense.  To say I am doing this.  I am writing a book on Safe Teen Driving Circles.
The number one cause of death for people 16-24 is car crashes.  Depending on the study 40-60% of those crashes involve alcohol.  The other 40-60% involve other factors.  For example distracted [...]

Twitter as a restorative community, get in action to make it happen.

I am a twitter-er.  A twitterbee.  Right now I am following 600 people and I have almost 400 people following me.  I follow people based on interests in Bikram Yoga, Nonprofit, Restorative Justice and personal growth.   I have few writing and public speaking connections as well.
The thing I like about Twitter – is that you [...]

On the Road Together: Safe Teen Driving Circles engaging law enforcement

Written for the upcoming book: On the Road Together: Safe Teen Driving Circles.
At SCVRJP as part of a Driver Improvement Class, which is a diversion course for traffice violation, a Safe Teen Driving Circle is held and a River Falls Police Officer is part of the Circle process.  The only difference between this class and [...]

I want to pick up my childs life, right where they left off. – surviving parents

Parents who have lost a child are my friends.  Not lost, like I don’t know where they are.  Lost as in deceased, suddenly from a car crash, deceased.  I want the future book “On the Road Together: Safe Teen Driving” to be for these parents.  I have an allegiance, a care, a concern for parents [...]

The powerful experience of a ’safe teen driving’/restorative justice Circle.

I have to be honest. 
This morning I told a friend I wasn’t really looking forward to my days agenda.  She called me at 7:30 AM and we got to visit before my day started.  I explained that I was doing three Safe Teen Driving Circles, two back to back at the high school and one this [...]

Great article explaining Restorative Justice – Marilyn Armour

I met Marilyn while I was taking Mark Umbriet’s week long severe crime and violence training.  That was in 2005.
When I saw her again in 2007, I reinforced how much her presentation on “meaning making” shaped my work.  At the most recent meeting, I asked her to write an essay in the upcoming book “On [...]

Writing restoratively, and changing the world.

I didn’t know how focusing on writing was going to change me.  It’s been a huge impact to try and develop writing skills.  It’s been a process of uncovering something that’s been there all along.  Kind of a paradox, something new and something old at the same time.  It’s reinforced and shaped who I am. 
Being [...]

Writing a book, one draft at a time.

I thought I knew better.
I wrote a grant for a major project.  I know when you get the grant money that means you do the project.  I got a grant to write a book.  I hadn’t written much since college.  That was over 10 years ago.  I didn’t put that part in the grant.  : [...]

Six tips from the last 6 Circles, what every Circlekeeper should know!

You can thank a marketing tip I read, used and seen time and time again.  Use numbers to catch someones attention.  I’ve also read (or interpreted) this: people are more likely to read your communitication  (blog/email, newsletter) if you tip them off how long the committment is.
For example I had free time to catch up on [...]

Blogging and Bookwriting – making progress

The photo:  Today I worked at home, and my cat sleeping on my bed, which is typically NEVER allowed was something different for me.  Just like hammering out over 3,00 words for the upcoming book On the Road Together:  Safe Teen Driving Circles.
I love blogging, it is something I get to do.  The blog is [...]