RP@P Mission and Values

The term Restorative Practices describes an approach to healing, accountability and community building rooted in a set of values and principles which emphasize the importance of involving those most affected in any given situation, the inherent worth of all individuals and our interconnectedness. Drawing from a diverse web of roots, including practices of various Indigenous peoples of North America, Australia, and New Zealand, Restorative Practices work to promote right relationships between people.

RP@P is dedicated to bringing these values and practices to all corners of the University. In situations of interpersonal harm, RP@P can provide safe, confidential, supportive resources to help the harmed party access healing and support, and for the responsible party to work toward accountability and repair. RP@P also implements proactive measures to build supportive communities and strengthen our collective capacity to handle harm when it inevitably occurs. RP@P aims to institutionalize, centralize, and support RP as a core aspect of the Penn community and culture.

Values
  1. Community
  2. Healing
  3. Accountability
  4. Dignity
  5. Self-Determination
  6. Humility
  7. Vulnerability
  8. Growth Orientation
  9. Curiosity
  10. Imagination
Core Beliefs
RP@P Core Beliefs
  1. All people are capable of both doing harm and working to make repair when harm is done
  2. Everyone has value and we all have needed contributions to make to our communities
  3. Healing, Accountability and Community are of central importance and are all interconnected
  4. Those closest to a problem are closest to the solution
    1. Those directly affected by an act of harm, or a harmful system/dynamic should play a central role in determining what is needed to move forward in a good way
  5. Harm may not be undone, but it can be addressed
  6. Accountability means acknowledging the harm, taking action to remedy the consequences of one’s actions and working to prevent the harm from happening again
  7. One person’s healing is not contingent on another person’s actions or inaction. However, healing can be accelerated and supported when those responsible take accountability
  8. Suffering does not lead to healing
Principles
  1. The safety needs of those who have experienced harm are paramount
  2. The parties have the right to come to consensus about what the needs are and what the process should look like
    1. The facilitator is a party to the process
  3. Whenever possible the needs of and impacts on the larger community should be considered and addressed
  4. When addressing harm, seek out the root to the greatest extent possible
  5. Prioritize the scheduling needs of those affected while ensuring that the process “moves at the speed of trust” (adrienne maree brown)
  6. Processes we design should always be supportive of full and authentic engagement, and not impediments to participation
  7. Trust participants to know what is important to them
  8. Always ask questions that support exploration and deepened reflection
  9. Consider the layered power dynamics at play in situations of harm and address them as directly as possible to invite all participants in in their fullness
  10. Recognize and honor the difference between harm and pain – a process or conversation may be painful and an essential part of a pathway toward healing