Credible Messengers: the Super Power of being Bicultural
Have you heard the concept of “k’e” in Navajo? It’s loosely translated as “what I do has an impact on you and what you do has an impact on me.” The heart of Teaching Peace, LCJP, BRITE and Restorative Justice is built on these indigenous technologies and we strive to keep them alive.
And today, we live into that heart by growing Restorative Justice efforts in Lafayette, and we need your help.
Data continues to show disparities in how youth, with less social power, experience policing and the justice system–often facing higher levels of interactions with police and harsher disciplinary actions.
Together with grassroots community partners we are building a network of Restorative Justice and wraparound support services that help young people realize the interconnectedness of their actions, repair harm, strengthen relationships, and stay connected to their community.
This is a dream realized in our mission to Bring Restorative Interventions to Everyone, and requires us to expand our capacity to serve even more bilingual and bicultural youth and families.
Being bilingual and bicultural is a superpower. The ability to move between languages, cultures, and perspectives creates connection where there might otherwise be misunderstanding.
For restorative justice to work, young people and families must feel seen, heard, understood,and that requires facilitators who share and can empathize with their lived experiences.
One of those facilitators is Daisy. For more than a year, Daisy has volunteered as a bilingual, bicultural restorative justice facilitator.
“I grew up bicultural, so when I facilitate bilingual conferences, there’s an understanding of how the youth are raised culturally. I remember how it felt to be a young person navigating authority and family systems.”
She understands the balance of family dynamics, cultural values, and the restorative process.
“I understand the cultural upbringing of the youth, and I see the value in creating a space for the youth to talk. At first parents want to take charge, so I remind them gently ‘this is an opportunity to hear from your youth.’”
Daisy’s identity supports her ability to create trust and rapport allowing young people to speak honestly about their actions while helping families move toward healing while also navigating the justice system.
Daisy knows that meaningful restorative justice requires more than simple translation. For true impact, the entire process must be culturally adapted. Training materials, volunteer preparation, and restorative conferences must be offered in the language participants are most comfortable using. Only then can everyone fully engage in the process and achieve the best outcomes.
Your support will help make that possible. Your gift today will build capacity by:
Refining the cultural adaption of restorative justice scripts and training materials into Spanish.
Offering more monolingual Spanish-language volunteer trainings.
Ensuring 16 hours of facilitator training continues to be available in Spanish.
Providing fully Spanish-language restorative conferences and youth interventions for EVERYONE.
Continuing to offer stipends to bilingual and bicultural volunteers whose skills and lived experiences strengthen outcomes for youth, families, and communities.
Most importantly, your gift will help create a community where every young person has the opportunity to learn, grow, and move forward after a mistake.
When youth work with credible, culturally relevant mentors and facilitators who understand their experiences and advocate for their success, they are more likely to recognize the impact of their actions, take accountability, and make positive choices moving forward.
And right now, your impact will go twice as far.
Will you help expand the heart of Restorative Justice?
Your matched donation today will train more bilingual and bicultural volunteers, expand restorative justice services, and ensure more young people have the opportunity to repair harm, rebuild trust, and create a brighter future.
Thank you for bringing restorative interventions to everyone.
In Solidarity,
Shalene Onyango
P.S. Every gift made by June 30th, 2026 will be matched, doubling your impact for local youth and families. Your support at any level helps build a stronger, more restorative community for all.
