Circles & Trainings
Circle Practice
Gathering in circle is an ancestral practice rooted in the values of interdependence and collective care. Circles are spaces where we practice slowing down, building relationships, sharing our stories and listening deeply. When we sit in circle, we honor the many indigenous communities from whom we learn about restorative justice and about the sacredness of our relationships – including the Maori, Tlingit, and Métis peoples.
At Restore Oakland, we also strive to build solidarity and reciprocity with the Ohlone communities whose unceded land we occupy. Learn more about and support the revolutionary work of the Ohlone women-led Sogorea Te’ Land Trust here.
HOPE Circles
Healing, Organizing, & Political Education – HOPE Circles unite our Healing Justice program’s two areas of work – cultivating deep relationships through circle practice, and building power with impacted community members to build grassroots power for for decarceration and collective care.
As summer is coming to an end, students (and teachers) are returning to the classroom, and September HOPE Circles will be a space to explore our complicated relationships with the school/education systems we grew up in.
We know that our lives, senses of self, and opportunities have been deeply shaped by our experiences at school — from the relationships we built, to the careers we pursued, to our understanding of who is ‘smart’ or ‘competent’ and who is funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline… Outside of textbooks and equations, what did school teach us about ourselves and our communities? What have we carried with us from our days in school, and what lessons are we unlearning? What do we wish could have gone differently about our journeys through the school system — and what went right? How do we find joy in the process of learning (and/or teaching) now?
HOPE Circles prioritize building power with folks who have been impacted by policing or incarceration, mental health crisis, as well as with care workers/service providers who support impacted folks. All community members are welcome. Email kari@restoreoakland.org to RSVP.
Every Wednesday, 6:30-8pm, in Restore Oakland’s Peace Room, 1419 34th Ave. Oakland, CA 94601
Access Info: Our space has elevator access and is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair accessible all gender, single-stall restrooms are available on each floor.
Additional Circles & Healing Spaces
We update our offerings on a monthly basis. If you would like to share an offering here, please let us know!
Additional Circles & Healing Spaces
We update our offerings on a monthly basis. If you would like to share an offering here, please let us know!
Tuesday
Weekly
Community Healing Circles @ Community Resource Initiative
6:30 – 8pm
Contact Rigo (all pronouns)
QTPOC Circle with RJOY (Online)
6 – 8pm
Contact Charles (he/him)
Healing Justice Trainings
We’re committed to building our community members’ capacity to cultivate strong relationships, prevent harm, and practice accountability with one another. We envision a world where we all have the skills to care for each other and to navigate harm when it occurs. By providing free training opportunities for Oakland residents and by prioritizing Black, Brown, low-income, and systems-impacted Oaklanders, we aim to make these skills accessible to all.
Want to know about upcoming trainings?
Training Offerings
If your group/organization is interested in receiving a private training, please reach out to Kari. We provide training at a sliding scale to BIPOC-led grassroots organizations, which allows us to provide these resources to the community free of charge.
Training Offerings
If your group/organization is interested in receiving a private training, please reach out to Kari. We provide training at a sliding scale to BIPOC-led grassroots organizations, which allows us to provide these resources to the community free of charge.
Intro to Restorative Practices &
Circle-Keeping
Restorative practices help us to deepen trust, understand each other’s stories, facilitate healing, and prevent harm.
Participants will gain an understanding of restorative justice as both a framework and set of practices. Participants will learn about community-building and healing through circle, learn experientially by sitting in circle, and build their own circle-keeping skills.
Holding Healing Circles & Practicing Accountability
Healing circles are processes that help community members come together after harm has occurred to explore needs, work toward accountability, and find healing.
Participants will strengthen their capacity to facilitate these processes and navigate harm within their own communities.
Participants will use reading, discussion, and experiential learning. Participants will also receive Restore Oakland Inc’s Healing Circle Handbook.