Weaving Together Retreat

California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) is a nonprofit organization based in Long Beach. CCEJ has been building a world where people live free of oppression and thrive.  Our mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to lead change for equity and justice in our communities. CCEJ provides Restorative Justice training and coaching to a range of partners, including K-12 schools, colleges & universities, nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and community groups. CCEJ also provides a Restorative Justice-based diversion program for Los Angeles County youth 18 and under to take accountability for their harmful impact, receive support to reflect on the root causes of their choices, and develop plans for healthier futures.

The Retreat is an opportunity for experienced Restorative Justice practitioners and facilitators to rest, reflect, and re-engage. Participants will have the chance to engage with their knowledge, feelings, and skills to identify what is the next level of their Restorative Justice practice and make realistic yet challenging plans to move towards that level. The Retreat will also explore pressing challenges facing Restorative Justice such as working within inequitable and punitive systems, confronting systemic inequities like White Supremacy and CisHeteroPatriarchy, and navigating the current political and cultural backlash against efforts to end injustices. Participants will form a community of practitioners to serve as supporters, thought partners, and colleagues at the Retreat and beyond.

The Retreat is designed for individuals engaged in ongoing Restorative Justice practice that are ready to grow  and engage with complex challenges in their individual practice and the overall movement for Restorative Justice. CCEJ strongly encourages and welcomes applications from Black people, Indigenous people, LGBTQI+ people, women, people of color, people from working class backgrounds, religious minorities, people with disabilities, and people with lived experience of the criminal legal system. 

We hope to have participants with a range of experiences and practicing Restorative Justice in different kinds of settings, such as - facilitating Restorative Justice community building in a workplace, providing harm processes in a K-12 school, leading trainings on Restorative Justice practices in a college or university, or implementing Restorative Justice accountability processes in a community space, to name just some examples.

The Retreat is not meant to serve as an introductory training for people new to Restorative Justice, but individuals looking for training can explore CCEJ’s training offerings to find opportunities for learning: https://www.cacej.org/transformation

Interested individuals should complete the online application thoroughly, paying close attention to the open-ended questions. Completed applications are due by Friday, March 21, 2025 by 5pm. All participants will be notified of their application status no later than Friday, March 28, 2025 by 5pm. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Accepted applicants must respond to CCEJ confirming their attendance and paying a non-refundable deposit by Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

There is limited space at the Retreat, so CCEJ will work to balance making this space accessible for as many people as possible. Participants will be selected based on the clarity of their goals for attending the Retreat, their readiness to put into action learnings after the Retreat, and depth of experience as a Restorative Justice practitioner. The way these qualities can look is a wide spectrum and we are excited to build a Retreat community that is intentionally diverse in identities, experiences, and kinds of Restorative Justice practices folks are engaged in. If you’re unsure if this is the right Retreat for you, reach out and let’s have a conversation! You can contact Daniel Solis, Vice President of Institutional Transformation at 562.435.8184 or dsolis@cacej.org.

The total cost per participant is $900. This fee covers housing for 3 days and 2 nights, 6 meals, and all Retreat materials. Participants are expected to pay a non-refundable deposit fee of $200 by Tuesday, April 8, 2025 to secure their place in the Retreat. Participants must pay the remaining amount no later than Friday, May 2, 2025 by 5pm to be able to attend the Retreat. Participants can pay through credit card or check, and participants having their organization support them can also request an invoice.

If you have questions about the cost, or want to explore setting up a payment plan, please complete the application and then contact Daniel Solis, Vice President of Institutional Transformation at 562.435.8184 or dsolis@cacej.org

The Retreat will be held at Luther Glen Retreat Center, which is located in the San Bernardino National Forest -  39136 Harris Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399. Participants will be sleeping in fully heated rooms shared with another participant, with each room having its own bathroom and shower.

Meals will be provided throughout the Retreat, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. Unfortunately, the Retreat site can’t provide halal or kosher meals.

Luther Glen also has a working farm and participants will have time to explore the farm throughout the Retreat. You can learn more about the Retreat site at: https://lrcchome.com/retreat-center

Participants will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to the Retreat. CCEJ can connect participants interested in carpooling with each other. There is plenty of parking for cars at the Retreat site.

CCEJ’s Institutional Transformation team will be planning and facilitating the Retreat. The Institutional Transformation team uses training, coaching, and conflict facilitation to build the capacity and readiness of organizations and teams to make real changes in their policies, practices, and shared culture. CCEJ has worked with thousands of people since 2013 to deepen their engagement and alignment with Restorative Justice values and practices, working with individuals, schools, universities, nonprofits, community groups, government agencies, and businesses. To learn more about the team, go to: https://www.cacej.org/transformation

If for some reason you can no longer attend the Retreat, please immediately notify CCEJ. Please note that cancellations after Friday, May 2, 2025 will not receive any refunds. If you cancel before this date, you will receive a refund, minus the $200 deposit fee.

If the Retreat must be canceled or postponed by CCEJ, participants will be notified immediately by email and phone call. If CCEJ has to cancel the Retreat, CCEJ will refund participants’ payments.

Participants will be asked to attend an online Orientation prior to the Retreat. During the Orientation, participants will get to meet each other and CCEJ staff, discuss Retreat logistics and goals, and begin to create community with each other. The Orientation will be online and held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm.

Participants will also receive pre-Retreat activities to help them prepare for attending. These self-directed activities will be mailed out to participants 2-3 weeks before the Retreat. 

CCEJ will also send a Retreat Info Packet that contains important details like a packing list, site map, request for medical information, details on ways to pay for the Retreat, among other things.