Sharon Press, DRI Director presented at the 2018 International Conference on Restorative Practices on Saturday, August 1 with John Thompson, Director, Fight for Justice LLC: Community Activist and friend of Philando Castile and Elizabeth Dressel, graduate Research Assistant, Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Community Conversations: A Case Study
John Thompson, Elizabeth Dressel and Sharon Press
On July 6, 2016, Philando Castile (an African American male), was shot and killed by a police officer after being pulled over in a routine traffic stop. The shooting took place in Falcon Heights and the community was shocked and outraged. In response, the City Council established a Task Force on Inclusion and Policing to 1) articulate community values; 2) identify community needs; and 3) recommend programming and policies that would make Falcon Heights a more inclusive and welcoming place for residents and guests. To help develop the recommendations on policing and inclusion, the City Council, worked with a consortium of professors of public engagement and conflict resolution to convene five community conversations. Another goal of these conversations was to promote healing.