‘Restorative Justice’ focus of mediation center lunch series

The nonprofit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center is hosting a free talk from noon-1 p.m. Thursday as part of its “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace” Brown Bag Lunch Series in the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, 655 Kilauea Ave. in Hilo.

This month’s speaker is University of Hawaii at Hilo adjunct faculty member Tim Hansen, whose talk is titled “Restorative Justice: Ways to Restore Victims, Offenders, and Communities.”

“In honor of Restorative Justice Week 2016, come learn about restorative responses to harm that honor victims, hold offenders accountable and strengthen communities — leaving them stronger, rather than weaker, after crime occurs,” Hansen said. “Restorative justice is not a ‘new way’ of looking at crime but is based on the values that many indigenous cultures have practiced for centuries.”

Hansen has worked with victims, offenders and communities for nearly 30 years. He has a master’s degree in social work from UH-Manoa and degrees in psychology, speech/theater arts and sociology from the University of Minnesota-Winona. Hansen works in the UH-Hilo Sociology and Political Science departments and is working on his clinical social work licensure. As a survivor, he is passionate about the work of healing.

Ku‘ikahi’s Brown Bag Lunch Series is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch, enjoy an informal and educational talk-story session and meet others interested in “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace.”

This lunch-and-learn series is made possible in part to funding from the Atherton Family Foundation.

For more information, contact Ku‘ikahi administrative and program assistant Jenifer Aveiro at 935-7844, ext. 1, or jenifer@hawaiimediation.org, or visit www.hawaiimediaiton.org.