Restorative Community Service is a constructive, team approach to community service, which is based on restorative justice principles. The project was developed by the Benedict Center and implemented under direction of the Community Justice Program in 2007 at the Milwaukee County Day Reporting Center.Whether court-ordered or voluntary, participants prepare for service by participating in lessons in team building, civic responsibility and the harm caused by crime. They learn about the mission and goals of the organizations they will be serving, and receive training and information about the purpose and value of the work they will do. At the beginning, during, and end of their service, participants reflect with the project facilitator on their experiences, reactions, and understanding of the work they are providing and its value to their community and themselves.Most projects are in neighborhoods seriously affected by crime, so the work done is intended as indirect restitution to support the work of religious and nonprofit community organizations serving those neighborhoods. In the process, participants have opportunities to make positive neighborhood connections that may lead to paid employment and future involvement.Partners receiving service from the Restorative Community Service teams have included:
• Habitat For Humanity
• The ReStore
• Umos Food Pantry
• Mother Scott's Christian Youth Center
• Interchange Food Pantry
• Milwaukee Hunger Taskforce
• Growing Power Urban Farm
• Dominican Center
• John Muir Middle School
• SHARE
• Hope House Food Pantry
• Urban Ecology Center
• Wisconsin Humane Society
• Wisconsin/Milwaukee Red Cross
• Inner City Arts Council
• Esperanza Unida
• West Corps Salvation Army
• City of Milwaukee Graffiti Removal
• Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful
• V. E. Carter's Childhood Development
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