Dean of Students | University of Wyoming

Contact Us

Dean of Students Office
Knight Hall 128
Dept. 3135, 1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-3296
Fax: 307-766-3298
Email: dos@uwyo.edu

Community Matters, Talking Circles, and Resources

Community Matters:

Community Matters is a program offered by RJUW to help facilitate community building, problem solving, or other community based conversations. Whether the community you are a part of is looking for ways to help explore impacts and needs, problem solve, or engage in collaborative decision-making, Community Matters can help create the space to meaningfully collaborate to navigate these types of topics. Community Matters through RJUW has collaborated with groups such as the Diverse Grad Student Mentorship Program, Associated Students of the University of Wyoming, Multicultural Affairs and others in various capacities to help meet individual group needs.

Talking Circles:

A facilitated conversation or series of conversations using the restorative practice of the community talking circle. The talking circle consists of intentionally designed prompts to explore community connection, give each participant a chance to voice their responses to a prompt, and each member the space to listen, learn, and respond to one another. The use of a talking piece empowers the one holding it to speak, and the others in the circle to listen as each participant gets their own opportunity to hold the talking piece and topic at hand.

Interested communities may reach out to RJUW to explore a Community Matters collaboration. We use the words collaboration, because the Community Matters facilitator works with your community to share responsibility in the design, implementation, and facilitation of the talking circle, and find that most meaningful processes come when the community itself also plays this integral part in the process.

Resources:

Testimonial from Morgan Lu, Facilitator of the Diverse Grad Student Mentorship Program 22-23

“I had the wonderful privilege and opportunity of working with Connor Novotny and the whole Restorative Justice team. I participated in one of their Community Matters circles. This circle was for our diverse graduate students and faculty/staff members here at the University of Wyoming. It was an extremely moving experience where harms were shared, community was built, and voices were made known. Having participated in two RJ circles now, I can honestly say that these experiences have fostered some of the most authentic conversations I’ve ever had. I believe RJ is the starting point for healing to occur. I cannot say enough good things about this program and recommend everyone do an RJ circle if given the opportunity.”