In this episode, we continue the shift from speaking to scholars across the country to speaking to young leaders who have decided not to wait for change to happen.

Dr. Joe Bishop explores restorative justice approaches with high school senior Alima Kassim and her experiences after a mass shooting close to home at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville native Alima and her sisters have been working for years on a restorative justice model to address the root causes of school conflicts. Instead of suspending a student, a practice that excludes students from their peers, their proposed strategies focus on strengthening the relationships between and the social connections within communities.

Is it possible to change “school safety” into a positive phrase? How would widespread student-led restorative justice committees impact students’ overall safety? Alima and Bishop answer these questions and discuss how a school safety agenda that centers on trust and belonging could radically change how we think about the topic. 

Special Guest: Alima Kassim is a student at the University School of Nashville in Tennessee, starting her senior year of high school. She enjoys running track and spending time with her friends. She’s been instrumental in getting a restorative justice project off the ground at her school, has served on with the Mayor’s Youth Council in Nashville and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. She hopes to spread love and make sure everyone feels comfortable in their environment.

Our Children Can't Wait is a podcast by the Center for the Transformation of Schools in the School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. Dr. Joe Bishop is the host. Elizabeth Windom is the Producer. Julia Windom is the Associate Producer. Geneva Sum is the Creative Director, and Senior Producer is Jay Woodward. Our Children Can't Wait is a companion to the book of the same name, Our Children Can't Wait. Available now from Teachers College Press and Amazon. Our Children Can't Wait is produced by Windhaven Productions and Bluejay Atlantic.

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