On the 15th February BLAM UK had the privilege of being invited by Young Minds to deliver a training session on Transformative Justice in the workplace. The session sparked engaging discussions and challenged everyone to consider the ways in which transformative justice principles can be included in their daily workplace practices.
In the session we delved into the essence of transformative justice, exploring its historical roots which are in Black and People of Colour communities with oppressed intersecting identities. And defining Transformative Justice as an approach aimed at healing, accountability, and transformation for all involved in addressing harm and conflict. We also highlighted the importance of recognising that transformative justice is completely against punitive justice systems, advocating for the dismantling of systemic power structures that perpetuate violence against marginalised communities
Drawing on the differences between transformative justice and restorative justice we highlighted how transformative justice takes a broader, systemic approach, seeking to address the root causes of violence and oppression. We also learned about key figures such as Ruth Wilson Gilmore and Mariame Kaba and highlighted them for their dedication and leadership in the transformative justice movement.
– Mariame Kaba
Through interactive discussions and real-life examples, we all explored how transformative justice could be applied within the workplace setting. We discussed strategies for accountability, holistic healing, and tools like pod-mapping for community building.
These are some of the key points & take aways highlighted:
Accountability: “the ability to acknowledge one’s role in impacting another person, and to take meaningful action to recognise and repair the harm one caused.”
Holistic Healing: Transformative Justice approaches harm as a complex process that requires holistic healing for all parties involved. Holistic healing and healing justice is a framework/set of practices for the whole self including emotional, psychological, and spiritual support as well as practical assistance.
Pod-mapping: This is a radical tool for community building. We used this as an activity to help the attendees to identify their community.
Steps for transformative intervention:
Strategies for addressing harm:
x Identify who has been harmed
x Find out and try to understand their needs
x Determine who is responsible for ensuring these needs are met
x Identify the culture and conditions that allowed for harm to take place
x Come up with methods to address the underlying cause in order to prevent future harm.
Acknowledging challenges in implementing transformative justice, some shared their difficulty in using these practices when faced with resistance from some individuals. This led to fruitful conversations on overcoming obstacles. Success stories shared during the session also demonstrated the positive impact transformative justice can have on individuals and communities.
Overall the training session was incredible, insightful and informative. The feedback that we received from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive with many insisting they wished they could have had more time with us. Reflecting on this training session it is evident that this training is necessary to revolutionise and reshape organisational perspectives and practices.
We would encourage and urge you to further explore transformative justice or book us to deliver our training at your organisation, and to consider how transformative justice can be applied in your everyday practices. We invite you to learn more about the work of BLAM UK and Young Minds, and how transformative justice lenses can enhance community engagement and social change.
To book BLAM UK for a Transformative Justice in the Workplace session, just email us at christivie@blamuk.org and our team will work with you to tailor the sessions to meet your organisation’s specific needs.
BLAM UK CIC 