Meet Erica Lee | Restorative Justice Practice Facilitator & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, what is the most important factor behind your success?
As a communication, culture building, conflict transformation restorative justice educator and facilitator, trust & Relationships. In an entrepreneur incubator I took with Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute, I found one of my tag-lines: Cash is King, but Relationships are Queen.
In my work of conflict transformation, respect and enthusiasm around the importance of relationships and building empathy has been my biggest growth area, most humbling experience and biggest driver of success. Generally folks do not like to air their “dirty laundry” to just anyone. Having a baseline, referral based business model means that relationships drive success. From mentor opportunities, to understanding resources to get free tax help, from collaboration opportunities to referrals of conflict transformation processes, being disciplined about prioritizing the wellbeing of social interactions and mutual care is paramount.
I have been enamored by the goodness of humanity I get to see behind closed doors, as well as some of the most challenging growth edges of people in high-impact conflict. When trust can be built, honesty can ensue and open the door for genuine transformation and progress.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Restorative Justice Practice was born out of the idea that society is capable and with growing interest, inclined to fundamentally transform the way we handle crime, conflict, communication and culture building, I see in social movements that we can amplify our mission and purpose when our relationships are trusting and trustworthy.

What sets Restorative Justice Practice apart is that we are a business. Generally restorative justice is thought of a primarily volunteer run process. Trained facilitators typically volunteer their time and effort in to restore justice, supporting participants to develop, maintain and repair vital relationships. This is incredible and needed work. In earlier years as a program manager working for a revstoraitve justice non-profit, I had a challenge seeing that primarily, the folks who had the time and resources to volunteer their time were middle class, primarily European descended folks, which is great! What was missing for our community was how to recruit volunteers of diverse populations, who often do not have the privilege to volunteer time. Part of my mission is to support diverse populations to be able to contribute as restorative justice volunteers as a respectable livelihood and expand the capacity of our ability to restore justice in schools, workplaces, institutions and families.

We take an ecological approach to recognizing the inherent connection between planetary health and promote ways of being & knowing that have been historically undervalued in institutional structures. Practices like mindfulness, body-based movement practice or somatic exploration, herbalism, nutrition and arts engagement support participants to rethink justice as a homecoming as opposed to a punishment.
Being raised by entrepreneurs, I was raised to be an entrepreneur. It is not easy. I highly recommend small business support services such as Rocky Mountain Micro FinanceI Institute and African Leadership Group The romanticization of entrepreneurship is real. I am learning to love finding my flow and balance with the parts that do not come to me easily, like accounting. To stay balanced and overcome the challenges, I religiously take one day a week of mindfulness, that I call my Circling Day, as described in a business & Buddhism book, The Diamond Cutter, where I unplug from all technology and tune into silence, fasting, reading, cooking and enjoying healthy food, napping, getting a good workout, practicing a hobby and being of service without being paid for it. This day is my day for centering and refueling. While entrepreneurship is not always easy, nothing that is worth anything is. The rewards of knowing that I am supporting folks to utilize conflict, as African medicine man, Malidoma Some defined it, “is the spirit of the relationship asking itself to deepen.”

The lessons I learn along the way unravel like the fern plants in Spring time. It is an ongoing, continuous phenomena to realize the universal truths that underpin our deep and meaningful diversity as humanity. I continue to learn grace in the lessons that continue to come, even after we learn the lesson, the stimulus that used to cause us conflict or confusion keeps coming but I see these practices giving people the capacity to see their conflict and no longer be controlled by it. I am trying to emulate that and be a model of that lesson I see my greatest teachers demonstrate; the ability to hold contradiction, complexity and genuinely accept people and circumstances that are outside of their control, to process emotions and embrace the beauty, joy and awe inspiring wonder life has to offer.

I want the world to know that whatever ways you have been harmed, our caused harm, you are not beyond repair. The pain we face in life is capable of becoming our greatest medicine, I have seen redemption by the power of one person’s choice and determination to end the cycle of violence or harm in one generation. It is possible. I invite you to keep saying yes to the part of you that knows a better world is possible, and call me if you want to walk together a little while through your journey of restoring relationships in your work, life or community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Friday: -La Foret Restaurant for Dinner

Saturday:
-The Apothecary Tinctura for herbs, tea and a spa session
-Tattered Cover Bookstore for a good book & cookie
-MoBetta Green Farmer’s Market
-Denver Urban Gardens Vermi-Composting Class
-City O City for a great meal

Sunday:
-The Shop at MATTER Bookstore visit
-Urban Sanctuary Yoga Class
-SAME – So All May Eat Cafe for lunch

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ramone Sanders! Heyo! Ramone sees me and encourages my best self when I am feeling great about my work and I am down in the dumps. Friendship is a resource that can’t be underestimated. I am grateful to be able to have spaces of genuine insight, learning, collaboration, challenge and fun to keep me going. Thank you for supporting, coming along side in this journey and help keep my stride in the work.
All my best to you & Emma!

Website: www.rjpractice.com

Image Credits
Keana Culjak