A great time by all! More info on the Bash will be coming!

Listen to an interview by L. Jaye Bell on Destination Maine Radio Show, broadcast on June 8, 2012 with Midcoast Community Chorus Director Mimi Bornstein, and Wendy Watson of the Restorative Justice Project.

Buddy’s Story: An Unforgettable Mentoring Experience

By Lincoln County Mentor, Bobsy Dudley Thompson

My most meaningful Restorative Justice mentoring experience involved a pale, thin quiet 18 -year-old prisoner in Two Bridges Jail, Wiscasset, Maine.  He was nearing his court hearing and probation date, one of many in his life.  I’ll call him “Buddy,” (In my home I call him my beloved jail-bird.) my buddy, as in a swimming buddy. You know, someone you keep track of, you stand by him.  You make sure his head is above water, at least most of the time.  We met twice in the cold, gray, airless, metallic arraignment room.  I listened to his stories—he told them haltingly, inarticulately, incomplete mumblings.  Sometimes just a quiet moan or groan.  Usually his head was down, his eyes on his feet.

As the Restorative Justice Project enters its seventh year, the time seemed right to embark on the design of our very own logo that reflects and embodies the dynamic nature and mission of the organization. Our new logo is now on our website and you’ll start seeing it more as we begin to incorporate it on all of our materials.

The new logo is made up of two (moving) parts:

The first is the circle, which reflects a circle or group of connections that come together to achieve RJP’s important mission. “It takes a village” is a statement that encompasses the core values, programs and activities of RJP. It takes many different people to work together to help program participants achieve success. Notice that the circle is unfinished, not dissimilar from RJP’s work in that it is never finished. There is a need to continue the work over the long-term and again, it takes the efforts of many to ensure long-term success. Note also that the circle comes from organic roots. It is a paint stroke, with some depth and movement, created by hand, and that speaks to the grassroots, community-based nature of RJP.