Certificate in Restorative & Democratic Circle Leadership

The Certificate in Restorative and Democratic Circle Leadership is designed to prepare participants to lead Circle Processes — structured, relational practices rooted in shared humanity, accountability, and collective responsibility — across relational, conflict, and civic contexts.

Organizations, schools, and communities are increasingly navigating complex interpersonal conflict, polarization, and systemic inequities. Traditional approaches to communication and conflict resolution often fall short in addressing these layered challenges. Circle Processes offer an alternative.

Grounded in trauma-informed restorative justice and transformative justice, the program equips participants with the skills, mindsets, and ethical frameworks necessary to build trust, address harm, and facilitate dialogue across difference.

This program responds to a growing need for facilitators who can hold space for meaningful dialogue, navigate power and identity dynamics, and guide communities through conflict toward repair and transformation. This program positions Circle facilitation not only as a conflict resolution approach, but as a foundational leadership practice for building relational, organizational, and civic capacity.

Participants progress through a three-part developmental pathway:

  1. Building psychologically safe and relationally grounded communities
  2. Facilitating circles that address conflict, harm, and accountability
  3. Designing and leading dialogue processes that strengthen democratic practice

Through experiential learning, reflective practice, and applied facilitation, participants develop the capacity to design and lead Circle Processes that strengthen organizational culture, support healing, and contribute to more inclusive and resilient communities.

Certificate Structure

The certificate requires 48 total hours of instruction and experience, split into three levels.

  • Level I: Community-Building Circles (15 hours)
  • Level II: Peacemaking Circles (21 hours)
  • Level III: Circle Processes for Healing Democracy (12 hours)

Together, these three levels form a continuous facilitation development pathway. Completion of Level I (or equivalent experience) will be required for progression into Level II. Participants move from foundational relational practice to advanced facilitation of conflict, and ultimately to leading dialogue in complex civic and organizational environments.

As participants progress, their scope expands from building trust within groups to facilitating repair and accountability in moments of harm and to holding space for democratic dialogue across difference. Each level is delivered as a discrete course within the broader certificate pathway.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the certificate, participants will be able to:

  • Design and facilitate community-building circles that cultivate trust and belonging
  • Analyze conflict and harm through restorative and transformative justice frameworks
  • Facilitate peacemaking circles that promote accountability, repair, and dignity
  • Navigate power, identity, and trauma dynamics in complex dialogue spaces
  • Design and facilitate circles addressing difficult civic and organizational topics
  • Develop an ethical and sustainable facilitation practice aligned with restorative values

Program Details

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  • Level 1: Community Building Circles

    This level introduces participants to Circle Processes within a Restorative Justice framework and serves as the foundational entry point into the full Certificate in Restorative & Democratic Circle Leadership pathway.

    Through experiential learning, critical reflection, and practice, participants will cultivate the knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary to build relational, inclusive, and accountable communities. Emphasis is placed on shared power, dignity, collective responsibility, and the ethical practice of holding space in professional and community settings.

    • Duration: 15 hours (3 hours per week for five weeks)

    Weekly Structure

    1. Introduction to Circle Processes
    2. Foundations of Circle Processes
    3. Roles and Mindsets of the Circle Keeper
    4. Planning and Practicing Community-Building Circles
    5. Reflecting on Community-Building Circles and Circle Forward

  • Level 2: Peacemaking Circles

    This level prepares participants to serve as circle keepers for peacemaking through the lens of trauma-informed Restorative Justice and Transformative Justice. Completion of Level I (or equivalent experience) is expected for participants entering this level, ensuring a shared foundation in Circle Processes and facilitation practice.

    Participants will examine the deeper roots of conflict and harm — interpersonal, cultural, and systemic — and develop the skills necessary to facilitate processes that move communities toward accountability, repair, and transformation.

    • Duration: 21 hours (3 hours per week for seven weeks)

    Weekly Structure

    1. Understanding Conflict & Harm through a Restorative/Transformative Justice Lens I
    2. Understanding Conflict and Harm through a Restorative/Transformative Justice Lens II
    3. Developing Skills for Peacemaking Circles
    4. Designing Peacemaking Circles
    5. Practicing Peacemaking Circles
    6. Facilitating Peacemaking Circles
    7. Reflection and Circle Forward

  • Level 3: Circle Processes for Healing Democracy

    This level explores Circle Processes as a practice for healing democracy in polarized and fractured communities. Completion of Level II is expected for participants entering this level, ensuring readiness to facilitate complex dialogue across difference.

    Drawing from Restorative and Transformative Justice frameworks, participants examine how power, identity, historical trauma, and systemic inequities shape public discourse and civic engagement. Through dialogue, reflection, and design practice, participants develop the skills to facilitate circles that address difficult social and political topics while maintaining dignity, inclusion, and relational accountability. The level positions Circle not merely as a conflict resolution tool, but as a democratic practice rooted in shared humanity and collective responsibility.

    • Duration: 12 hours (3 hours per week for four weeks)

    Weekly Structure

    1. Reflecting on Democracy and Polarity
    2. Exploring Power, Identity, and Democracy
    3. Designing Circles for Difficult Topics
    4. Moving Forward: Healing Democracy

Level-Aligned Badges

Earn the Community-Building Circle Facilitation Badge

Community-Building Cricle Facilitation badge

Students who complete the Community Building Circles course successfully will earn the Community-Building Circle Facilitation badge. Once earned, you can share this badge on your website, digital resume and social media profiles to demonstrate to employers and colleagues that you’ve completed the program’s outcomes.