How do you know what you do not know? This is the question many individuals and
organizations grapple with when it comes to accessing information, services, or
programs. The lack of information and education about what is available hinders
community empowerment and well-being. 

As GCC has partnered with Clarke County School District and the Western Judicial
Circuit District Attorney’s Office to advance restorative justice within schools and the
juvenile legal system over the years, we noticed a lack of community awareness and
education about these programs. This is significant, because many do not request
restorative justice pathways when conflict ensues in school or when
interacting with the juvenile justice system. School-based restorative practices can
address disproportionate outcomes in academic achievement and in discipline for
minoritized students, especially students of color with developmental disabilities.
However, when community members do not request these restorative pathways, they
are more likely to interact with the traditional school discipline methods and legal
system. As a result of those interactions, individuals and families participate in a system
that disproportionately affects people of color and those who have disabilities.

With the support of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), GCC is
planning a community education campaign to promote restorative justice as an
equitable and inclusive approach to school culture, conflict, discipline, as well as certain
criminal offenses and harm. 

Through this education campaign, GCC aims to create opportunities for the community
to deepen their knowledge and understanding related to restorative justice approaches
in schools and the juvenile legal system as a step toward increased community
advocacy, inclusion and access. The goal is to raise awareness and knowledge among
parents, educators, and community leaders in Athens-Clarke County about the impacts
of exclusionary discipline, particularly for students with developmental disabilities, and
to promote restorative justice approaches as a more just practice
in our schools and in the criminal legal context. The community’s knowledge and
awareness will allow potentially impacted individuals and families to ask for and
participate in restorative justice approaches within Clarke County schools and
restorative justice diversion within the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office
(WJD DOA). 

Beginning in 2026, GCC will implement this education campaign by facilitating
presentations and sharing materials at community and partner events. GCC will also
conduct a social media campaign to create awareness among community members of
restorative justice as an alternative to current ways to interact with the school and
juvenile legal systems. 

GCC will consider this education campaign as a success if community members begin
to request and advocate for restorative justice responses to conflict, crime, harm and
wrongdoing, and if the use of restorative justice approaches increases within Clark
County School District schools and within the WJC juvenile justice system. However, we
recognize the change we are seeking does not happen overnight. We hope this
community awareness and engagement campaign will be a launching pad for continued
and ongoing community conversations. As part of that effort, we ask our
community and supporters to remain engaged as we embark on this education
campaign in the new year. 

With the support of donors, partners, and friends like you, we want to make sure more
and more community members know what they do not know.

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