Restoring relationships, community building: from social inclusion to wellbeing

This article is placed in the topic of Restorative Justice Beyond Law (Restor- ative Living), with regard to the first and last generative question of the interna- tional conference Restorative Approach and Social Innovation: From Theoret- ical Grounds to Sustainable Practices (Padova, November 2018): a) Restorative Approach as a cultural paradigm. Is it possible to expand restorative justice beyond its usual fields of application (legal systems)? b) Is it possible to delin- eate restorative ways of dealing with conflicts in our everyday life? Is it possible to intend restoration as a way of living (contra retributive way of living)? In this article we will discuss these questions. In the article, the role of restorative elements will appear more evident in the sphere of education and social work.
In Tempio Pausania, we started from a conflict that has seen a mutually opposing territorial community and that of prisoners. A new prison was built for inmates with life sentences for mafia crimes. The citizens of Tempio imme- diately feared mafia infiltration in their local community. The prisoners were worried about the great distance from their families. So, in agreement with the direction of the prison and the municipality, we started our pilot experience of a restorative community: Study and analysis of restorative practices for creating a model of restorative community. The aim of the action research is to experience restorative practices that can involve the whole community: schools, families, police, courts, municipalities, associations, on the model of the English restor- ative city of Hull and Leeds.