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Restorative Works

Restorative Works

IIRP 182 Episodes Oct 8, 2026

Restorative Works, hosted by Claire de Mézerville López, focuses on restorative practices—the study of building relationships and community. Through conversations with global guests, the podcast shares transformational stories from restorative practitioners, community leaders, and researchers. Listeners can learn practical solutions for addressing harm and trauma while increasing a sense of belonging in schools, communities, and homes. The show also explores methods for facilitating meaningful conversations that foster understanding and positive impact.

Episodes

Music, Meaning, and Collective Healing with Cindy Doire
Music, Meaning, and Collective Healing with Cindy Doire Oct 8, 2026 26:23 What happens when music becomes a space for healing and connection? On this episode of Restorative Works!, host Dr. Claire de Mézerville López is joined by singer-songwriter and registered psychotherapist Cindy Doire, founder of Chorus of Courage and Dare to Defy Records, about the transformative potential of creativity and relationships in responding to harm.  Cindy shares the story behind Ch
The Power of Student-Led Restorative Practices with Erin Chávez
The Power of Student-Led Restorative Practices with Erin Chávez Oct 1, 2026 23:21 What happens when schools move beyond punishment and create meaningful opportunities for accountability, repair, and belonging? On this episode of Restorative Works!, host Dr. Claire de Mézerville López speaks with Erin Chávez, the restorative practices coordinator at Garfield STEM Magnet and Community School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, about building a safer, more connected school community thr
Building Trust: The Foundation of a Positive Work Culture with The Behaviorist
Building Trust: The Foundation of a Positive Work Culture with The Behaviorist Sep 24, 2026 42:01 What does it take to build a workplace culture where people feel safe, valued, heard, and able to do their best work? In this collaborative episode of Restorative Works! and The Behaviorist, Dr. Claire de Mézerville López is joined by IIRP Instructor and Implementation Coach Jennifer Hiestand and Founding Partner at Work Wisdom, LLC, Sarah Colantonio, for a roundtable conversation about trust as
Literacy and Wellness: Reading as a Restorative Practice with Stephanie Affinito
Literacy and Wellness: Reading as a Restorative Practice with Stephanie Affinito Sep 17, 2026 22:39 What if reading could do more than build literacy skills? What if books could help us regulate stress, strengthen empathy, foster connection, and support our overall well-being? In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Dr. Claire de Mézerville López speaks with literacy and teacher educator Stephanie Affinito about the connection between literacy, wellness, relationships, and restorative practi
Leading with Belonging: Restorative Practices in New York City Parks
Leading with Belonging: Restorative Practices in New York City Parks Sep 10, 2026 22:07 From personal and communal grief to creating a workplace that works for everybody. In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville López welcomes Assistant Commissioner for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Dr. Iyana Titus, to explore how restorative practices can transform workplace culture and strengthen communitie
The Human Side of Change Management with Dr. Doug Judge
The Human Side of Change Management with Dr. Doug Judge Sep 3, 2026 27:12 What does it take to move restorative practices from an idea into sustainable, meaningful change? In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Dr. Claire de Mézerville López welcomes back IIRP Associate Professor Dr. Doug Judge for a conversation about the structural, cultural, and emotional dimensions of implementing restorative practices in schools and other organizations, as outlined in his re
Joy as Resistance, Community as Practice with Dr. Tahirah J. Walker
Joy as Resistance, Community as Practice with Dr. Tahirah J. Walker Aug 27, 2026 22:55 In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Dr. Claire de Mezerville López speaks with Dr. Tahirah J. Walker, Chair of the Department of Community Engagement and Leadership at Point Park University, about the connections among restorative justice, community, education, writing, and joy. A writer, teacher, restorative justice practitioner, and scholar, Dr. Walker challenges the idea that writing an
The Garden of Joy: Empowering Students Through Culinary Skills and Restorative Practices
The Garden of Joy: Empowering Students Through Culinary Skills and Restorative Practices Aug 20, 2026 20:30 Food has the power to nourish more than our bodies; it can also strengthen relationships, build community, and create opportunities for healing. In this episode of Restorative Works, host Claire de Mezerville López speaks with Ali Rizvi, LSW, volunteer executive director of Garden of Joy Culinary Academy and school social worker with Cincinnati Public Schools, about how restorative practices, shar
Creating the Conditions for Change: Restorative Practices and Collective Care
Creating the Conditions for Change: Restorative Practices and Collective Care Aug 13, 2026 25:52 How can schools move beyond reacting to harm and instead create the conditions that help prevent it? A continuation of the conversation started in the episode, The Sustainability Myth: What Schools Get Wrong About Restorative Practices, host Claire de Mézerville López welcomes back Lan Nguyen and Jennifer Vermillion of the San Diego County Office of Education to explore how restorative practices
Beyond Behavior: Restorative Practices for Every Student
Beyond Behavior: Restorative Practices for Every Student Aug 6, 2026 22:18 In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville Lopez welcomes Dr. Layla Dehaiman, assistant professor of special education at the University of New Mexico, to explore how school communities can become more equitable, inclusive, and transformative. Fresh from defending her doctoral dissertation with distinction, Dr. Dehaiman shares insights from her research examining how educato
From Conflict to Community: Intentional Connection in Academic Environments
From Conflict to Community: Intentional Connection in Academic Environments Jul 30, 2026 20:25 In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville Lopez welcomes guest Melkam Tesfaye for a grounded conversation on restorative practices in higher education and student affairs. Tesfaye draws on her background in law, mediation, and conflict resolution to explore how approaches that are rooted in restorative practices take shape inside complex university systems, particularly wit
Beyond the Stage: Joy, Imagination, and Restorative Practices
Beyond the Stage: Joy, Imagination, and Restorative Practices Jul 23, 2026 20:45 In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville López welcomes Assistant Director of Learning and Community Engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club, Gabbie Ballesteros. Together, they explore the powerful intersection of art, advocacy, and restorative practices, revealing how creative expression can strengthen relationships, amplify voices, and inspire meaningful social change.  D

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