International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP)

International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) The IIRP is the world’s 1st accredited grad school specializing in the field of restorative practices. This is the foundation for all of our work.

The International Institute for Restorative Practices (the IIRP), located in Bethlehem, PA, is the world’s first accredited graduate school that specializes in studying the field of restorative practices, providing education, research, and collaborative application services. At the heart of restorative practices is the understanding that human beings are instilled with the need to connect and grow

with each other. The IIRP supports students and community leaders with the tools they need to transform relationships and effect change within their own lives as well as within public and private K-12 educational institutions, public and private four-year residential colleges and universities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs). Through strong academic offerings combined with a real-life approach to education, the IIRP helps build communities and makes resilient and meaningful relationships thrive. Mission
The mission of the International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School is to strengthen relationships, support communities, influence social change, and broaden the field of restorative practices by partnering with practitioners, students, and scholars. Our Work
Living Restorative Practices — We model a relational approach and honor human dignity in all that we do. Education — We provide advanced education, professional development, and transformative learning experiences. Collaborative Application — We leverage our trusted expertise with institutions, organizations, and schools to build stronger relationships and more inclusive and healthy communities. Research — We generate and disseminate knowledge regarding the influence of relationships on social health.

🏖️ Looking for some great summer reads? Then swipe to see current offerings from our bookstore!📖 Visit our website and p...
06/06/2026

🏖️ Looking for some great summer reads? Then swipe to see current offerings from our bookstore!

📖 Visit our website and place an order today by clicking the link in the comments section!

06/05/2026

🎙️ In this episode of the , host Claire de Mezerville Lopez is joined by Deanna Zilske, school leader, theater director, and restorative practitioner, to explore the powerful intersection of restorative and embodied theater practices.

🎭 Deanna shares how integrating narrative practices, such as compassionate witnessing and reauthoring maps, with movement, voice, and improvisation can deepen storytelling, empathy, and connection. When words are not enough, the body becomes a powerful tool for expression, allowing individuals to explore lived experiences, trauma, and preferred futures in ways that feel both accessible and transformative.

🎧 Tune in to discover how embodied theater practices can expand restorative work! Stream online wherever you get your podcasts, or click the link in the comments section.

🥇 Proud to be part of the #1 Main Street in America! Join us here in Bethlehem for one of our professional development ...
06/04/2026

🥇 Proud to be part of the #1 Main Street in America! Join us here in Bethlehem for one of our professional development events and strengthen your skills. Click the links in the comments section to register for upcoming events, and learn more about our beautiful historic city.

💡 Conflict in the workplace can seem wasteful, tedious, and distracting, but it also creates opportunities to establish ...
06/02/2026

💡 Conflict in the workplace can seem wasteful, tedious, and distracting, but it also creates opportunities to establish new understandings and innovate dated processes. Leaning into and preparing for conflict will make you a better leader and teammate overall.

🤔 So how do you “lean in” to conflict with confidence? Start here by downloading our Guide for Address Conflict in the Workplace! Click the link in the comments section now.

📣 Professor Fernanda Fonseca Rosenblatt recently participated as a keynote speaker at the 7th Biennial Alberta Criminal ...
06/02/2026

📣 Professor Fernanda Fonseca Rosenblatt recently participated as a keynote speaker at the 7th Biennial Alberta Criminal Justice Symposium, held in Canada and organised by the John Howard Society of Alberta in partnership with MacEwan University and the Alberta Ministries of Justice and Public Safety. The John Howard Society is one of Canada’s most longstanding organisations in the field of criminal justice, with a historic commitment to social reintegration, crime prevention, human rights, and penal reform.

⚖️ In her keynote, “What Kind of Justice System Are We Building Through the Expansion of Restorative Justice? Between Diversion, Transformation, and Co-optation”, Fernanda explored contemporary challenges surrounding the expansion and institutionalisation of restorative justice across different countries. Her presentation reflected on the risks of managerial co-optation, the limits of efficiency-driven models, and the challenges posed by contexts marked by structural inequality, coloniality, and gendered violence.

🌎 In addition to her keynote, Fernanda also participated in the closing plenary “Justice Reimagined: Global Perspectives”, which brought together all keynote speakers for a broader discussion on contemporary perspectives on justice around the world. The panel included Canadian Senator Kim Pate; Rachel Melnychuk, Assistant Deputy Minister of Alberta Mental Health and Addiction; Jill Rogers of the New Zealand Police; and Howard Sapers, Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Also pictured from International Institute for Restorative Practices Canada Executive Director Pat Lewis and Instructor and Implementation Coach Caroline Gosling!

🕊️ Remembering Jean Schmitz, IIRP Latinoamérica representative 2011-2016 and beloved trainer. He will be remembered for ...
06/01/2026

🕊️ Remembering Jean Schmitz, IIRP Latinoamérica representative 2011-2016 and beloved trainer. He will be remembered for his dedication, long hugs, and commitment to making a difference. Thank you, Jean, for all of your wisdom and love.

💬 "His contributions left a lasting impact, and it is difficult to fully grasp just how many people and how much good work he inspired across this globe. He was a gem of a person and an exceptional restorative practitioner. I will miss him." —President Linda J. Kligman.

🌈 Happy Pride Month! We have a new Spotify playlist for you to enjoy all month long. Respond to the prompt to have your ...
06/01/2026

🌈 Happy Pride Month! We have a new Spotify playlist for you to enjoy all month long. Respond to the prompt to have your song added to the list! Click the link in the comments section to access our Pride 2026 playlist now.

💙 Proactive circles BUILD community; they allow us to express our feelings and truly hear one another, and they help people gain a shared sense of understanding and emotional connection. Leave a comment and share this with your community!

📖 The book "Universidades restaurativas: Guía básica para su desarrollo en España", by Esther Giménez-Salinas i Colomer,...
05/30/2026

📖 The book "Universidades restaurativas: Guía básica para su desarrollo en España", by Esther Giménez-Salinas i Colomer, Alberto José Olalde Altarejos, Mònica Albertí i Cortés and Ana Ruiz-Sánchez, explores the application of restorative practices in Higher Ed in Spain, as part of new disciplinary norms and legislations, in substitution of previous laws established during the dictatorship.

🆕 Our Provost, Michael Valdez Raffanti released a book review, which was recently published by The International Journal of Restorative Justice, 9(1), 156-161. https://doi.org/10.1163/25890905-bja10020

🎉 We celebrate how the field continues to grow! Click the link in the comments section to learn more.

05/29/2026

🎙️ This week on the , we are joined by Harvard researcher, author of "The Win-Win Workplace", and founder of Future Forward Strategies, Dr. Angela Jackson, to discuss how organizations can redesign work to strengthen both employee well-being and business performance.

🎧 Tune in to hear real-world examples that shift toward more inclusive, responsive, and adaptive workplace cultures where well-being, performance, and innovation are mutually reinforced. Stream online wherever you get your podcasts, or click the link in the comments section!

☮️ Thinking about starting a Peacekeepers program in your school? Choosing the right students is more than filling seats...
05/28/2026

☮️ Thinking about starting a Peacekeepers program in your school? Choosing the right students is more than filling seats; it’s about intentionally building an empathetic group of student leaders who can model and support restorative practices across your community.

✅ With the end of the academic year approaching, now is a good time to strategize recruiting students to join your Peacekeepers for next year! Click the links in the comments section to order your copy of "Peacekeepers" and to read this article.

Address

531 Main Street
Bethlehem, PA
18018

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16108079221

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