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Mission, History, and Accomplishments of Turning Point Partners
Turning Point Partners (TPP), now in its fifth year of operation, is confronting major challenges as a result of the changes in its environment caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Its mission had been and remains to develop and establish restorative, strength-based systems in schools, courts, and communities. Inherent in the mission statement is the need to have healthy systems with members healed from the trauma of their daily lives exacerbated by the natural disasters. The TPP approach focuses on the talents and gifts of young people and their families to overcome the high-risk conditions under which they live and it draws upon the inherent power of communities to facilitate systemic change. TPP integrates three powerful models – Community Building Circles, Mindful/Non-violent Communication (M/NVC), and Restorative Justice (RJ) – to design and implement innovative programs that model systemic change.
Community Building Circles are experiential workshops in which participants join together to overcome cultural, political, racial, and economic differences by developing trust, risk-taking, and shared leadership. Mindful Communication develops a consciousness and offers practical skills that promote clear communication, deep understanding, and vital compassion with oneself and between people. Restorative Justice is a systemic response to wrongdoing that emphasizes healing the wounds of all those impacted by a crime: victims, offenders and communities. In schools this response, termed Restorative Discipline, offers educational institutions a process that allows differences to be resolved nonviolently while reconciling relationships.
Our three staff members have diverse professional backgrounds that include experiences and certification where applicable as counselors, teachers, community organizers, drama therapists, and restorative justice practitioners. Volunteers include a lawyer, accountant, and grass roots community leaders. Four years ago, very few people in our region were aware of Restorative Justice or Nonviolent Communication. Our efforts to educate and outreach through workshops and trainings have contributed to these philosophies and practices becoming recognized for their effectiveness and humanness. The social and political climate of our institutions is slowly transforming due in part to the models TPP has developed in such diverse venues as the Orleans and Jefferson Parish Juvenile Courts, Bridge City Center for Youth, and Marion Abramson Senior High School.
The most immediate accomplishment is spearheading a coalition of nonprofit agencies and academic institutions to respond to the long-term trauma evoked by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Turning Point Partners brought leaders from the effected areas to Eastern Mennonite University to adapt EMU's Strategies in Trauma Awareness and Resiliency (STAR) program. STAR was originally designed with the support of Church World Services to respond to the World Trade Center tragedy. The coalition in association with EMU is adapting the training for natural disasters with focus on a culturally sensitive approach. The work will continue over the next five years.
Turning Point Partner's presence in the Orleans Parish education system was steadily increasing prior to the hurricanes. Although no public schools are currently open, TPP is part of a coalition that has received a city charter for three schools, one of which is A.P. Tureaud elementary where the organization has been active for the last two years. In addition, our organization's leadership serves on the Education Committee of the Mayor's Commission. The committee’s mission is to use the devastation of the system to vastly improve the public schools.
Our most significant accomplishment, however, remains the growth of TPP as an authentic, peace building, and restorative model. Our presence and influence has contributed to the transformation and further development of our partners as they respond to the needs of their communities.