Restorative Justice Movement
OUR MISSION
RJM’s mission is to promote healing, accountability, and reconciliation in our communities by providing a holistic and transformative approach to addressing internal and external harm and conflict. RJM’s vision is a liberated world of diverse individuals in an inclusive and just society.
The MOVEMENT
Restorative Justice Movement (RJM) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2014, dedicated to advancing healing, accountability, and community reconciliation. Grounded in Indigenous wisdom, RJM addresses harm through circles, authentic dialogue, and transformative practices to individuals navigating recovery from substance use, managing mental health challenges, or transitioning through life’s many stages. As forever students of restorative practice, RJM offers culturally responsive programs and training that support individuals, families, schools, and organizations in building equity and sustainable peace. Through outreach and partnership, RJM helps shape a more compassionate and accountable future.
Mental Health
24.5%
An estimated 1,149,000 Missouri residents (or 24.5% of the adult population ages 18 and older) had some degree of mental illness in 2021. Among these, 284,000 (or 6.1%) had a serious mental illness. Also among Missouri adults, 238,000 (or 5.1%) had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.
Investing in restorative justice not only leads to reduced incarceration rates and lower court expenses but also supports better mental health outcomes within communities. By fostering healing and reconciliation, these programs can mitigate the psychological impacts of crime, contributing to overall community well-being and reducing long-term mental health service costs.
Unhoused
17.2%
The share of the state’s homeless residents living unsheltered was 15.8 percent, while the share of chronically homeless people among the Missouri homeless population stood at 17.2 percent.
Since Jan. 1, 2023 it is a Class C misdemeanor for those experiencing homelessness in Missouri to camp on state-owned land. Cities that don’t enforce the ban, or that refuse to enforce existing local ordinances on public camping, can be sued by Missouri’s attorney general.
Critics say there is still a lack of clarity from the state surrounding its implementation — and a lack of resources to actually help unhoused residents.
Substance Use
$8.5B
In 2024, the Missouri Department of Mental Health estimated that the societal cost of substance use disorders in the state is approximately $8.5 billion annually
In 2023 alone, illicit opioids, primarily fentanyl, cost Americans an estimated $2.7 trillion equivalent to 9.7 percent of GDP. Of this total cost, 41 percent ($1.1 trillion) is attributed to deaths, 49 percent ($1.34 trillion) to lost quality of life, and 10 percent ($277 billion) to other costs such as healthcare, reduced labor productivity, and crime-related expenses.
African Americans comprise about 7% of the state's population and represent 13% of all drug overdose deaths.
Our Commitment
RJM is committed to healing, accountability, and collective transformation. We honor the power of restoration over punishment, connection over division, and justice rooted in love. We strive to live these values in our work, relationships, and everyday choices—building a world where all people, in their full diversity, can live with dignity and equity. ➝]
Programs & Impact
RJM provides healing-centered programs that address harm, build accountability, and support transformation. Through restorative circles, intergenerational engagement, and culturally rooted healing, we serve people in recovery, unhoused communities, and those facing mental health or life transitions. Our outreach offers vital resources, harm reduction, and education, while training and peer support help foster justice, connection, and collective healing
Education, Workshops, & Trainings
RJM offers dynamic, healing-centered trainings grounded in Indigenous practices, restorative justice, and trauma-informed care. Our workshops challenge historical narratives, address personal and collective trauma, and explore the impact of systemic oppression. Facilitated in schools, conferences, organizations, and communities, RJM creates culturally responsive spaces for learning, accountability, and transformation. With a focus on active listening, community agreements, and emotional safety, our trainings equip participants to restore trust, build equity, and foster meaningful change.
Join the Movement
The Movement is a growing network led by RJM, uniting grassroots organizations, justice-impacted individuals, educators, and community members committed to healing, accountability, and community reconciliation. Together, we work to restore relationships, repair harm, and build systems rooted in dignity, equity, and love.
Join us in the work to RESTORE, REBUILD, REPAIR, and RENEW