A newly formed non-profit organization, known as Together We Can of Venango County, has been working in collaboration with the Oil City Area School District in an effort to help students learn how to respect diversity and cultural differences represented by the myriad of students at the Junior and Senior High School. The 501(c)(3) organization created a diverse Board of 14 active members with the mission to build a community of Acceptance – focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Their program, the Restorative Justice Program is convened whenever students violate policies that involve hate speech or some other disruptive and disrespectful act against another student. Restorative Justice is a philosophy and practice that addresses the harm caused and restores relationships. It promotes healing and reconciliation through direct communication, victim-offender mediation, and community involvement. This is an alternative to requiring the student to stay out of school at home with no other consequences as compared to attending sessions where they can discuss why they acted out and how their negative behavior affects others.

TWCofVC board member, Michelle Jones has taken the lead in this effort. She prepares, coordinates, and facilitates the discussions at each session which occurs each week for 90 minutes over a six-week period. To ensure continuity and consistency, other board members are attending the sessions so that they too can act as facilitators at future Restorative Justice sessions. The first session was held on November 21, 2023, during which board members Major Smith, Denise Jones, Beverly Lawrence and Barbara Rumore also attended. Oil City School administrators, High School Principal Sara Haupt and Junior High Principal Natalie Miller, have been supportive and also joined in the discussion with the students. Parents that may wish to attend the sessions are also welcome.

Together We Can – Make a Difference!

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s December 2023 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.