Restorative Practices
for Individual, Teams, Institutions, & Organizations

Meet Our Team Leader

Richard Rivera

Under Richard’s direction, Full Circle offers a unique, culturally competent, holistic approach to its professional enrichment services and the implementation of restorative practice values for high-performance teams and organizations. Richard brings over 20 years of experience and expertise in professional training, facilitation, strategic planning, and leadership development to corporate, sports, and entertainment, as well as nonprofit entities.

Under Richard’s leadership, the Full Circle professional development team specializes in helping leaders and organizations address problems and challenges using a culturally-sensitive, restorative lens, i.e., applying root cause analysis, leveraging the power of relationships, cultivating empathy & self-reflection, and identifying restoratively oriented, strategic solutions that holistically address predicaments & critical incidents, stimulate innovation & creativity, improve communication & collaboration–thereby helping organizations amplify overall team synergy and enhance the workplace culture.

In addition to serving as the organizational development and restorative practice lead for Full Circle over two decades, Richard is also a senior, cultural competency facilitator on race conversations for the New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows Program at the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. He also teaches “Participatory Practices and Race Conversations” in the co-lab with New York University (NYU), Wagner School of Public Service, and is a senior facilitator for the College of Staten Island, Equity and Belonging Conversation for Change Project.

Richard has been invited to lead numerous race equity conversations with large nonprofit organizations, including the Guttmacher Institute, the Rochester Foundation, and Housing Works. He has also provided organizational change, technical assistance, and strategic planning consultation to Verizon, Bellevue Hospital, Montefiore Hospital, Big Brothers and Big Sisters National, and the Hispanic Federation.

Richard received his M.S.W. degree from Columbia University, School of Social Work.

Meet Our Team Leader

Marion Holley Smith

Marion Holley Smith is a nationally-recognized, certified life coach and seasoned education leader with a proven track record in implementing transformative restorative justice programs. With 15 years of experience as a Dean of Students, Marion is deeply familiar with the challenges associated with working across diverse stakeholder groups, including young adults, parents, coaches, educators, and leaders. Marion is highly regarded, not only as a top practitioner, but also as a motivational force and influencer in the field of restorative practices, earning admiration in educational circles, and beyond, for her tireless dedication and expertise. She champions these methods for their ability to cultivate positive relationships, resolve conflicts, and foster inclusive environments. Her compassionate approach and extensive background empower her to guide individuals toward personal growth and heightened awareness of their impact on others. Through innovative programs and workshops, Marion offers a fresh perspective on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, making her a dynamic and invaluable asset in any professional setting. Based in New York City, Marion holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Media Studies from Bennett College for Women.

Meet Our Team Leader

Jessica Prohias Gardiner

Jessica Prohías Gardiner is a trailblazing force in the realm of restorative practices, seamlessly integrating her expertise as a certified practitioner with a background in learning and education. Jessica’s educational journey includes a BFA in Dance from Florida State University and an MS in Special Education from St. John’s University. What truly distinguishes Jessica is her remarkable ability to orchestrate a seamless fusion of her diverse education, extensive training, and rich experience within the restorative justice space. Jessica combines significant experience in delivering cutting-edge restorative consultation within the educational system with her fervent dedication to cross-cultural community-based programs. In high-pressure environments, Jessica’s unique amalgamation of expertise, empathy, and innovation inspires individuals and organizations alike, nurturing a culture of inclusion, equity and empowerment.

A Full Circle Approach

Our team of diverse, educational, mental health and restorative practice
consultants offer culturally competent, conflict resolution & crisis
intervention, deep listening & communication skills training, proactive &
emotion-focused coping skills training, proactive stress and anger
management training and restorative community building.

Full Circle’s proactive approach to Restorative Practices goes beyond
standard training to examine the role relationships, resilience, and respect, play in your organization’s repair, response, and reintegration strategies, especially when faced with conflict, stress, or challenging situations.

Why Restorative Practices Matter

By moving your team towards investing in Restorative Practices (RP), you meaningfully enhance your organization’s culture, capacities, and competitive edge.

A RP-driven culture creates opportunities for open communication, increased empathy, conflict resolution, unbridled creativity, and collaborative problem-solving that spark higher team engagement, job satisfaction, and overall well-being.

Current research shows that organizations and teams that employ RP demonstrate increased productivity, performance, retention, positive word of mouth, improved brand reputation, and business growth.

Benefits of Implementing
Restorative Practices

1. Improves Conflict Resolution & Communication:

  • Provides a structured & supportive framework for resolving team conflicts.

  • Encourages restorative dialogues, empathy, and active listening.

  • Identifies underlying issues & needs of individual team members.

  • Promotes development of sustainable & reparative solutions that foster long-term harmony.

2. Encourages Accountability & Responsibility:

  • Less focus on punishment which only breeds resentment & avoidance of responsibility.

  • Strong focus on each team member taking personal accountability & responsibility.

  • Through face-to-face meetings and open dialogues, team members encouraged to take ownership of their actions, understand the consequences, and actively work towards restoration by repairing what has been harmed or broken.

3. Amplifies Trust & Positive Relationships:

  • Encourages a culture that embrace open communication as a core value.

  • Provides a safe space where any member of the team can express their concerns, feelings, and perspectives without fear of retribution.

  • Encourages authentic trust among team/colleagues and a more positive work environment.

  • Leads to Increased team synergy, collaboration, cohesiveness, & productivity.

4. Increases Well-being & Retention:

  • Acknowledges the emotional impact of workplace conflicts that reduces stress and promotes optimism, healing and support.

  • Focus is on the overall well-being and team feels prioritized thereby increasing job satisfaction.

  • Decreased absenteeism, and turnover. Increased retention.

PRINCIPLES OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICE

Why Choose Full Circle?

Full Circle has over 100 years of combined expertise and experience in providing organizational development and restorative practices, and over two decades of providing state of the art mental health, executive leadership coaching, high performance and technical support to various for profit and nonprofit organizations.

Our consultants are uniquely qualified to offer culturally competent and restoratively sensitive, technical assistance and strategic planning. We are especially adept at using a holistic and restorative approach to conflict, critical incidents, and change or predicament management.

Full Circle goes beyond one-time interventions to establish longer term relationships through leadership and executive coaching & counseling, as well as the implementation of a restorative practices culture within high performance teams and organizations.

By partnering with Full Circle, investing in trainings, establishing clear policies, creating a supportive environment, and utilizing our skilled facilitators, your team will be positioned for remarkable success as they integrate advanced skills, practical strategies, and restorative practices into everyday operations.

Restorative Practices & Mental Health Connection

Restorative practices positively impact mental health outcomes for all parties involved in a disagreement, dispute, critical incident, or conflict. By emphasizing restorative-oriented healing, prioritizing relationships, and promoting empathy, at individual, interpersonal, and institutional levels, Full Circle offers a unique approach to healing, recovery, reparation and restoration.

Full Circle has a 20-year history of providing restorative justice, mental health consultation for social services, educational, and justice involved agencies. The core restorative values of relationship, respect, responsibility, repair, restoration, and reintegration inform our mental health programs and court-involved counseling services below:

  • • Restorative Anger Management Counseling

  • • Restorative Domestic Violence Counseling

  • • Restorative Parenting Skills

  • • Restorative Trauma Informed Care

  • • Restorative Resiliency, Mindfulness & Self-Care

  • • Juvenile Accountability Counseling

Our Restorative Practices Implementation Process

Our Restorative Practices Implementation Process

Phase 1: Assessment and Evaluation

Our proprietary culturally competent, evaluation tool is used as a part of a comprehensive assessment, which helps us understand organizational core values, agility, culture, and readiness for implementation of Restorative Practices.

Phase 2: Implementation Plan

Based on the data collected from our assessment and evaluation process, we design a customized Restorative Practices implementation that contemplates the unique organizational culture.

Phase 3: Training & Education

A series of 4 trainings and workshops covering the fundamentals, best practices, facilitation techniques, and relevant restorative circle procedures, including do’s & don’ts will be offered.

Phase 4: Rollout & Application

Participants will be given roadmap to implement on site as part of a homework assignment to help them apply what was learned in the trainings.

Phase 5: Reassessment & Recalibration

Participants will participate in feedback coaching circles to review successes and challenges encountered during the Rollout & Application phase.

Phase 6: Sustainability & Legacy

Participants work with leadership to integrate Restorative Practices into the vision, mission & core values, and policies to ensure fidelity & sustainability of restorative-centric organizational practices.

Full Circle Trainings & Workshops

Here are a few of the workshops and professional trainings that we are able to offer:


Effective Communication for Building Collaborative Workplaces

Goals & Objectives

Goal: Promote team communication skills to enhance collaboration & cohesion.



Objectives:

  • Explore the advantage & benefits of effective communication in the workplace

  • Develop active listening skills and practice empathetic communication

  • Learn techniques to express thoughts and ideas clearly and respectfully

  • Explore strategies for resolving conflicts through open and honest communication

Outcomes

– Improved communication skills leading to enhanced teamwork & collaboration.

– Reduced misunderstandings and conflicts in the workplace.
– Increased team engagement and interpersonal satisfaction.


Managing Conflict & Promoting Restorative Solutions in the Workplace

Goals & Objectives

Goal: Equip team to tack conflicts using restorative skills & tools.



Objectives:

  • Understand different conflict resolution styles and their impact on workplace dynamics

  • Learn techniques for managing and de-escalating conflicts in a restorative manner

  • Explore restorative strategies for fostering a culture of open dialogue and conflict resolution

  • Practice mediating conflicts and facilitating restorative conversations

Outcomes

– Improved conflict management skills leading to reduced workplace tension and improved relationships.

– Enhanced problem-solving abilities to address conflicts effectively.
– Increased trust and respect among team members.


Racial Trauma & Building Racial Equity in the Workplace

Goals & Objectives

Goal: Raise team awareness of racial trauma & promote racial equity and inclusivity within the workplace.



Objectives:

  • Understand the impact of racial trauma in the workplace

  • Explore concepts of privilege, bias, microaggressions, and systemic racism

  • Learn restorative strategies for creating a racially inclusive and equitable workplace

  • Foster cultural competence and sensitivity in interpersonal interactions

  • Increased awareness and understanding of racial trauma and its impact on individuals and teams.

Outcomes

– Increased awareness and understanding of racial trauma and its impact on individuals and teams.

– Enhanced cultural sensitivity and ability to engage in open and respectful dialogue about race.


Achieving Restorative Work-Life Balance through Mindfulness & Self-Care

Goals & Objectives

Goal: Enable team to find balance and prioritize self-care amidst their work responsibilities.



Objectives:

  • Understand the importance of restorative work-life balance and its impact on well-being and productivity

  • Explore mindfulness techniques to manage stress and increase focus

  • Learn strategies for setting boundaries and managing time effectively

  • Develop self-care practices to promote physical and mental well-being

Outcomes

– Improved work-life balance leading to increased team satisfaction, reduced burnout, personal and professional restoration.

– Enhanced mindfulness skills for stress management and improved focus.

– Adoption of restorative self-care practices to support overall well-being.

Coping with Grief and Loss in the Workplace

Goals & Objectives

Goal: Provide support and tools for employees dealing with grief and loss in the workplace.


Objectives:

  • Understand the impact of grief and loss on individuals and the workplace

  • Learn active listening techniques and empathy-building exercises

  • Practice collaborative problem-solving strategies

  • Develop strategies for managing conflicts constructively

Outcomes

– Improved communication and teamwork among athletes.

– Reduced instances of conflicts escalating into detrimental situations.

– Enhanced ability to address conflicts in a fair and respectful manner.

Building High Performance Resilience & Athletic Mental Well-being

Goals & Objectives

Goal: To enhance athletes’ resilience, mental well-being, and coping mechanisms to navigate challenges and setbacks effectively.


Objectives:

  • Increased psychological resilience among athletes

  • Improved ability to manage stress and adapt to challenging situations

  • Enhanced overall mental well-being and performance.

Outcomes


• Increased psychological resilience among athletes.

• Improved ability to manage stress and adapt to challenging

situations.

• Enhanced overall mental well-being and performance.


Restorative Justice in Sports Workshop

Goals & Objectives

Goal: To introduce athletes to the principles of restorative justice and promote accountability, forgiveness, and healing within the sports community.



Objectives:

  • Increased awareness of the consequences of one’s actions

  • Strengthened sense of responsibility and empathy among athletes

  • Improved conflict resolution skills and ability to repair relationships

Outcomes


– Increased awareness of the consequences of one’s actions.

– Strengthened sense of responsibility and empathy among athletes.

– Improved conflict resolution skills and the ability to repair relationships.

Are you interested in learning more about Full Circle’s technical assistance, professional development, or restorative practices programs?

CONTACT US TODAY