Restorative Justice Practices: Beyond Punishment, Towards Repair

Restorative Justice Practices: Beyond Punishment, Towards Repair

What if justice didn’t have to mean punishment? In this episode of the Be Well Podcast, we challenge one of the most deeply ingrained assumptions in our culture — that accountability must come through retribution. In this episode, “Restorative Justice Practices: Beyond Punishment, Towards Repair,” we explore a different path: one rooted in healing, relationship, and the possibility of transformation. Our guest, Lynn Morton, founder of Women of God’s Design Ministry, brings decades of experience applying restorative justice practices in schools, communities, and organizations. Through powerful stories — from advocating for students pushed out of classrooms to walking alongside families navigating profound harm — Lynn invites us to reconsider what it means to repair, to take responsibility, and to rebuild trust. Together, we examine restorative justice not as a one-time intervention, but as a daily practice and way of life—one that calls us to tell the truth, build relationships, and believe that even in the aftermath of harm, something more whole is possible. You’ll hear about * Why punishment alone fails to address harm — and how asking “why” opens the door to healing and accountability. * How restorative justice reframes “reaping and sowing” to include redemption, repair, and community responsibility. * What it actually looks like to practice restorative justice in schools, organizations, and everyday life — not just in crisis moments. * The courage it takes to own harm, seek repair, and stay in the long, often uncomfortable process of healing together. Who this is for This episode is for pastors, educators, community leaders, organizers, and anyone wrestling with how to respond to harm in ways that are both just and life-giving. It’s especially for those who are tired of cycles of punishment and are seeking more faithful, human-centered approaches to accountability — whether in classrooms, congregations, families, or neighborhoods. If you’re longing for tools to build stronger relationships, navigate conflict with integrity, and imagine justice that heals rather than divides, this conversation is for you. Listen, share, and subscribe—because we believe that we can be well.

Story Linking: Connecting Across Time, Pain, and Resilience

In a world marked by division, disruption, and deep emotional and spiritual fatigue, how do we keep showing up—with purpose, compassion, and hope? BE WELL is a monthly exploration of trauma healing at the intersections of faith, justice, and education, created by the Trauma Healing Initiative at McCormick Theological Seminary. Each episode gathers theologians, practitioners, educators, and artists to explore how trauma-informed approaches help us teach, learn, lead, and live with greater wholeness. About this episode: In this episode of the Be Well Podcast, we explore the sacred act of story linking — how stories carried across generations, communities, and lived experience become pathways for healing. Guests Rose Archer and Iris Reddick Manburg reflect on storytelling not as abstraction, but as embodied practice: a way of making meaning in precarious moments, witnessing one another’s vulnerability, and honoring truths that are still unfolding. Together, they examine how stories can help people survive, heal, and imagine otherwise—while also asking hard questions about safety, consent, contested narratives, and the responsibility of those who listen. You’ll hear about: * How storytelling can become a lifeline in moments of fear, uncertainty, and grief—not just reflection, but a means of survival and meaning-making. * Why telling a story is also an act of witness, and how being truly seen can be both freeing and emotionally weighty. * How theology, womanist thought, music, and creative practice can help people voice stories that are still unfolding. * What it means to protect storytellers, especially when their truths are contested, vulnerable, or at risk of being consumed or erased. Guests: Rose Archer is a PhD candidate in African American Studies at Emory University, with a focus on Black feminism, literary studies, and the history of medicine. Her research explores how Black women's narratives, particularly in the realm of health and healing, connect across generations and societal shifts. Rose's work emphasizes the power of storytelling as a tool for understanding intergenerational trauma and fostering resilience within Black communities. Her academic pursuits are deeply rooted in a commitment to illuminating voices often marginalized in historical accounts, bringing a rich, analytical lens to the discussion of narrative as a healing modality. Iris Reddick Manburg is a seasoned psychotherapist, clinical social worker, and educator with extensive experience in trauma recovery, grief counseling, and family systems. Her practice often involves guiding individuals and communities through the process of articulating their personal narratives as a central component of healing. Iris is passionate about the therapeutic power of storytelling, recognizing how shared narratives can build bridges of empathy, validate lived experiences, and facilitate profound personal and collective transformation. She brings a practical, compassionate, and deeply client-centered perspective to the discussion of how stories shape our understanding of pain and pathways to resilience. Who this is for: This episode is for pastors, chaplains, educators, caregivers, artists, and anyone who wants to understand how stories shape healing in both personal and communal life. It will especially resonate with listeners who are navigating grief, identity, faith, or justice work and are looking for deeper ways to listen, witness, and create space for truths that are tender, unfinished, and profoundly human. Listen, share, and subscribe—because we believe that we can be well!

Identity in These Bodies: Trauma, Wisdom, and the Sacred Self (Part Two)

In a world marked by division, disruption, and deep emotional and spiritual fatigue, how do we keep showing up—with purpose, compassion, and hope? BE WELL is a monthly exploration of trauma healing at the intersections of faith, justice, and education, created by the Trauma Healing Initiative at McCormick Theological Seminary. Each episode gathers theologians, practitioners, educators, and artists to explore how trauma-informed approaches help us teach, learn, lead, and live with greater wholeness. About this episode: In Part Two of Identity in These Bodies, we move from reflection to practice. How can classrooms, congregations, and communities create spaces where people’s stories are honored without being consumed? Guests Rolf Nolasco and Najeeba Syeed explore how collective trauma lives in our bodies—and what it means to build communities that hold those stories with care. Together, they share practical frameworks for teaching, ministry, and community life that prioritize embodiment, hospitality, and grace. From creating “awkward spaces” where honest learning can happen to recognizing every body as sacred, this conversation invites us to imagine healing communities where people are truly seen, supported, and nourished. You’ll hear about: * How queerness, migration, race, religion, and gender converge in the body as both burden and blessing. * Why poetry, art, and storytelling can express truths about embodiment that ordinary language cannot. * What it means to live as an “embodied interruption” in spaces shaped by whiteness, bias, and exclusion. * How belovedness, sacred texts, and creative practice can help reclaim the body as a vessel of wisdom and healing. Guests: Dr. Rolf Nolasco is a distinguished academic and pastoral theologian at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. His work extensively explores the intersections of trauma, embodiment, and theological anthropology, with a particular focus on how lived experiences of race, gender, and sexuality inform our understanding of the sacred. Rolf brings a compassionate and incisive lens to the ways bodies carry both profound suffering and inherent wisdom, offering insights into theological responses to trauma and the journey toward embodied healing. He is the author of several influential books and articles that bridge psychology, theology, and the lived reality of diverse human experiences. Dr. Najeeba Syeed is an acclaimed scholar, mediator, and advocate whose work bridges the fields of interfaith studies, conflict resolution, and social justice. Her expertise encompasses the complexities of identity, particularly how race, gender, and religious affiliation intersect with experiences of trauma and resilience. Najeeba approaches the body as a site of profound meaning, exploring how both historical and contemporary injustices impact our physical and spiritual selves. Her contributions emphasize the power of dialogue, empathy, and collective action in fostering healing and justice across diverse communities. She is recognized for her pioneering work in peacebuilding and restorative justice, bringing a unique blend of academic rigor and practical engagement. Who this is for: This episode is for pastors, chaplains, educators, and community leaders seeking deeper ways to understand how identity and embodiment shape the experience of trauma and healing. It will also resonate with listeners navigating the intersections of race, gender, faith, migration, or queerness in their own lives—especially those looking for language, theology, and creative practices that affirm the body as a sacred site of wisdom, resilience, and transformation. Listen, share, and subscribe—because we believe that we can be well!

Identity in These Bodies: Trauma, Wisdom, and the Sacred Self (Part One)

In a world marked by division, disruption, and deep emotional and spiritual fatigue, how do we keep showing up—with purpose, compassion, and hope? BE WELL is a monthly exploration of trauma healing at the intersections of faith, justice, and education, created by the Trauma Healing Initiative at McCormick Theological Seminary. Each episode gathers theologians, practitioners, educators, and artists to explore how trauma-informed approaches help us teach, learn, lead, and live with greater wholeness. About this episode: From race and gender to queerness, migration, and religion, our bodies carry the marks of what we’ve survived—and the wisdom we’ve gained along the way. In Part One of Identity in These Bodies, guests Drs. Rolf Nolasco and Najeeba Syeed explore the body as both a site of trauma and a source of sacred knowing, reflecting on how embodiment shapes identity, resistance, faith, and belonging. Together, they invite us to see our bodies not as problems to solve, but as living texts that hold pain, beauty, memory, and possibility. You’ll hear about: * How queerness, migration, race, religion, and gender converge in the body as both burden and blessing. * Why poetry, art, and storytelling can express truths about embodiment that ordinary language cannot. * What it means to live as an “embodied interruption” in spaces shaped by whiteness, bias, and exclusion. * How belovedness, sacred texts, and creative practice can help reclaim the body as a vessel of wisdom and healing. Guests: Dr. Rolf Nolasco is a distinguished academic and pastoral theologian at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. His work extensively explores the intersections of trauma, embodiment, and theological anthropology, with a particular focus on how lived experiences of race, gender, and sexuality inform our understanding of the sacred. Rolf brings a compassionate and incisive lens to the ways bodies carry both profound suffering and inherent wisdom, offering insights into theological responses to trauma and the journey toward embodied healing. He is the author of several influential books and articles that bridge psychology, theology, and the lived reality of diverse human experiences. Dr. Najeeba Syeed is an acclaimed scholar, mediator, and advocate whose work bridges the fields of interfaith studies, conflict resolution, and social justice. Her expertise encompasses the complexities of identity, particularly how race, gender, and religious affiliation intersect with experiences of trauma and resilience. Najeeba approaches the body as a site of profound meaning, exploring how both historical and contemporary injustices impact our physical and spiritual selves. Her contributions emphasize the power of dialogue, empathy, and collective action in fostering healing and justice across diverse communities. She is recognized for her pioneering work in peacebuilding and restorative justice, bringing a unique blend of academic rigor and practical engagement. Who this is for: This episode is for pastors, chaplains, educators, and community leaders seeking deeper ways to understand how identity and embodiment shape the experience of trauma and healing. It will also resonate with listeners navigating the intersections of race, gender, faith, migration, or queerness in their own lives—especially those looking for language, theology, and creative practices that affirm the body as a sacred site of wisdom, resilience, and transformation. Listen, share, and subscribe—because we believe that we can be well!

Healing Historical Trauma: Truth-Telling, Theological Reckoning & Repair

In a world marked by division, disruption, and deep emotional and spiritual fatigue, how do we keep showing up—with purpose, compassion, and hope? BE WELL is a monthly exploration of trauma healing at the intersections of faith, justice, and education, created by the Trauma Healing Initiative at McCormick Theological Seminary. Each episode gathers theologians, practitioners, educators, and artists to explore how trauma-informed approaches help us teach, learn, lead, and live with greater wholeness. About this episode: What does it take to tell the truth about the past so real healing can begin? In this episode of the Be Well Podcast, writer, chaplain, and clinical social worker Kenji Kuramitsu helps us name how historical harms don’t stay “back then”—they live on in our bodies, our families, and our faith communities. From Japanese American incarceration to the wider “wake” of slavery, colonization, and racialized violence, Kenji invites us into truth-telling and theological reckoning not as an exercise in despair, but as a pathway toward repair—and a more just, healed future. You’ll hear about: * How inherited history can become “barbed wire” that must be untangled. * How historical trauma can restrict our emotional range —because expressing rage or grief was once dangerous for survival.  * Why embodied practices like music, dance, worship, and play can help people express big emotions safely and communally. * What it means to bear witness without being “sterile” or detached — and how the work can “prick” us when we’re close to suffering.  Guest: Kenji Kuramitsu is a writer, chaplain, clinical social worker, and educator committed to the intersections of faith, healing, and justice. Kenji brings deep insight into the legacies of historical trauma and the theological imperative for truth-telling and repair. He has served in clinical, congregational, and campus ministry settings, and his work often explores themes of race, memory, and resilience. Kenji holds degrees from the University of Chicago, McCormick Theological Seminary, and Loyola University Chicago.  Who this is for: This episode is for pastors, chaplains, educators, therapists/caregivers, organizers, and anyone trying to hold grief, anger, memory, and hope at the same time—especially if you’re wrestling with the “echoes” of historical harm in your community, your family system, or your own body. It’s also for leaders who want trauma-informed, faith-rooted language and practices that don’t bypass the pain, but help make space for truth-telling, dignity, and repair. Listen, share, and subscribe—because we believe that we can be well!