Pasadena Restorative Justice Center Bolsters Racial Reconciliation Efforts With Thursday Event

As some parts of the federal government have reportedly moved to discontinue departmental Black History Month celebrations, the Center for Restorative Justice in Pasadena is expanding its mission of creating “soft places for hard conversations” with an important community event this week.

The Center, which transformed from its church-based origins to an independent nonprofit in November 2023, will host a free community dialogue at Washington Park in Pasadena this Thursday, February 6, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

It will be led by John M. Williams Jr., Executive Director of the Center for Restorative Justice and a 30-year veteran in peacemaking and racial reconciliation work.

“We’re living in a country that doesn’t share a common language in terms of defining racism, defining race, defining injustice. They don’t share a common memory,” he explains.

The Center’s evolution mirrors the complexity of its mission. Founded in 2016 as the Center for Racial Reconciliation at Fellowship Monrovia Church during a period marked by police shootings and heightened racial tensions, the organization has developed a comprehensive approach to community healing, Williams says.

“For us, when we think about restorative justice… it means restoring history. For us, it means restoring relationships. For us, it means restoring cultures and communities that have been negatively impacted by systemic racism and systemic oppression,” Williams articulates, defining the organization’s expanded vision.

The Center’s methodology combines educational initiatives with direct community engagement. Their programs, which they call “pilgrimages” rather than tours, traverse Pasadena’s historical sites, connecting past events to contemporary issues. These experiences are enriched by collaborations with local community members, public historians, and academics who illuminate the connections between historical and current policies and practices.

Since achieving independent nonprofit status, the Center has implemented progressive workshop modules on systemic racism and reconciliation, and has, Williams says, witnessed instances of profound community impact.

“We’ve seen transformations ranging from individuals changing careers to organizations modifying policies,” Williams reports.

Their flagship initiative, “Reconcile Pasadena,” operates as a five-month cohort program addressing three critical areas: housing and homelessness, schools and children, and faith community engagement. This structured approach allows participants to focus on specific aspects of racial justice while maintaining a comprehensive view of community needs.

“History rhymes, which makes it predictable and allows for us to not be shocked every time some sort of pattern of racism or racial prejudice repeats. It allows us to focus not just on the actual act, but to focus our attention on disrupting those types of patterns,” Williams observes.

Looking ahead, the Center, headquartered at 75 N. Marengo Ave. Ste. 314, has scheduled two major programs: the Southern Pilgrimage in June 2025 and the Asian American Pilgrimage in July 2025.

Williams, whose credentials include degrees from UC Berkeley and USC Law School and current positions as an adjunct professor at both Azusa Pacific University and Life Pacific College, emphasizes the fundamental communication barriers in current racial discourse.

Those interested in participating in Thursday’s event, which is sponsored by Pasadena Village, can register through the organization’s website at https://pasadena.helpfulvillage.com/events/2921-village-connections:-center-for-restorative-justice.