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NEWS & NOTES
​about our work.
​
These stories highlight 
our endeavors to create 
ever-expanding circles
​of boundless belonging
​ in the places Durham hurts most.
‘This is not letting up’: Gun violence victims remembered in Durham.

Video news coverage of RCND's 2023 Annual Vigil Against Violence.

​By Hayley Fixler for CBS 17 News. 14 October 2023.
Justice that Restores: Faced with a violent killing, a family chooses forgiveness over prison. Donald Fields Jr faced a life sentence after he was charged with his father’s murder. Instead, his case became a pioneering instance of restorative justice.​ Feature article and accompanying podcast by Oliver Laughland for The Guardian.  26 June 2023.

​Photo: Alex Fields in the Courtroom. Photo by Cornell Watson for The Guardian.
Second chance:
Former inmates find support in Durham community. 

Video news coverage of RCND's
​2023 Reentry Homecoming Celebration.

By Jamiese Price for ABC11 Eyewitness News. 26 April, 2023
Welcoming Formerly Incarcerated People: “Justice Ministry Reimagined: Reentry Simulation” 
​at Duke University Divinity School. September 23, 2022.

Photo: Panel speakers Ben Haas, Bessie Elmore, and Rev. Dr. Louis Threatt. Photo by Duke University.
Gratitude on Giving Tuesday.  Notes from Ben Haas, Director of RCND. November 2022.
Durham Initiative Seeks to Understand and Repair Communities Harmed By Violence.​ Via Restorative Justice Durham, an initiative of the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham, all affected parties—including victims, offenders, community members, and law enforcement officials—create a plan to make things right. Feature article about Restorative Justice, Vigil Ministry, and Reentry by Akiya Dillon for The Ninth Street Journal. 5 October 2022.
Criminal justice leaders tout the benefits of ‘restorative justice’ at NCCU forum. Article featuring RJD leaders. By Joe Killian for NC Newsline. 26 April 2022. 

​Photo: Restorative Justice Durham's Elizabeth Hambourger and Aviance Brown (left), Police Chief Patrice Andrews (center), and Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry (right) discuss restorative justice at North Carolina Central University.
Photo credit: Joe Killian.
Coming home: A network of Durham organizations supports people returning from prison. Article featuring 2022 Reentry Homecoming Celebration. By Grace Abels for The Ninth Street Journal. 28 March 2022. 

​Photo: Drew Doll, R&R Coordinator. Photo credit: Josie Vonk for The 9th Street Journal 
Support beyond the court: A local non-profit’s work with homicide victims’ families. Article featuring Marion Bailey and Vigil Ministry. By Grace Abels for The Ninth Street Journal. 20 October 2021.

Photo: Teresa McCall, left, and Marion Bailey stand together at the 29th annual Vigil Against Violence. Photo by Grace Abels for The Ninth Street Journal.
A Prayer for our Community. Notes from Ben Haas, Director of RCND. October 2021.
Breaking the Cycle, Restoring Community. Letha Muhammad, director of the Education Justice Alliance in Raleigh, and Aviance Brown, case facilitator for Restorative Justice Durham, discuss their work around mass incarceration and young adults, and their faith perspectives on why justice matters. Conversation featuring Aviance Brown, leadership circle of RJD. For Duke Chapel Conversation Series. 18 March 2021.
Grieving Murdered Children During A Pandemic. Article featuring Vigil Ministry. By Jason deBruyn for North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC. 12 October 2020.

Photo: Renetta Shaw holds a resolution about her son A’mon Shaw at a vigil to honor him. He was shot and killed in Durham, North Carolina, in August. Photo by Jason deBruyn for WUNC.
Mourner's Bill of Rights.​ Notes by Allan Wolfelt, Ph.D., C.T. for The Center for Loss.
Building Restorative Community: Restorative Justice Durham During COVID-19. A Story of Bullets and Restoration. Notes on RJD by Ben Haas, Director of RCND. December 2020.
Good News from the Space Between: Reentry in the Time of Covid. Notes from Ben Haas, Director of RCND. December 2020.
On Violence & Beginning Again: Vigil Ministry in 2020. Notes by Ben Haas, Director of RCND. December 2020.
Every Life Sacred: The Urgency to End Gun Violence. "Bridge Panel" Highlights Gun Violence Suffering, Causes, and Deterrence. A panel conversation featuring Ben Haas, Director of RCND. Duke Chapel, Duke University. 17 October 2019.

Photo: Duke Chapel Dean Luke A. Powery moderates a discussion with panelists,
(left to right) : Ben Haas, RCND;  Rob Belcher, Chance2Change; Dr. Kristin Goss, Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke; Durham Police Chief C.J. Davis.
Poetic Justice Preview Held for the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham. Article about a Community Luncheon Roundtable featuring Poetic Justice. In Carolina Justice Policy Center News. 3 July 2019.

Photo: Danielle Cortez, also known as Blaize the Poet, performs original poetry. Photo by CJPC. 
In N.C., a religious coalition welcomes the formerly incarcerated home. The coalition currently has 20 faith teams that have signed one-year covenants with 20 former inmates to offer support, encouragement and friendship. Article featuring the 2019 Reentry Homecoming Celebration. By Yonat Shimron for Religion News. 26 April 2019.

Photo: Three formerly incarcerated neighbors perform songs they composed in prison at the Reentry Homecoming Celebration. Photo by Yonat Shimron for Religion News.
Seven Hundred People Return to Durham From Prison Each Year. A Homecoming Celebration Aims to Welcome Them With Open Arms. By Sarah Willets for Indy Week. 2 May 2018.

Photo: William Elmore speaks at Durham Reentry Homecoming Celebration. Photo credit: Sarah Willets for Indy Week.
Nonviolence Leader Effie Steele Remembered: Her daughter was murdered. The mother became a leader in Durham’s fight against gun violence.  Article in honor of beloved Board President Effie Steele. By Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan for The Durham Herald Sun. 24 July 2017.

Photo: Effie Steele, board chair of the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham, lights a candle at a vigil in 2016. Photo credit: HERALD-SUN file photo.
Giving ex-prisoners another chance.  Article highlighting Reentry & Reconciliation Ministry. By Todd Cohen for Triangle Business Journal. 8 May, 2015.
Made in Durham: Exploring the Effects of Homicide, Incarceration and Urban Renewal in Durham, N.C., Across a Decade. Feature article about the ways that homicide and violence impact families in Durham, mentioning RCND Vigil Ministry. By Justin Cook for The Bitter Southerner. 2015.
Marcia Owen: Affirming the dignity of our neighbors. Justice and healing from violence are best approached by simply being with those who are suffering, says a United Methodist layperson who directs a faith-based organization. Article highlighting Marcia Owen's leadership of RCND. In Faith and Leadership. 12 August 2013.

Photo: Marcia Owen and RCND volunteers at a community vigil. Photo by Lissa Gotwals.
Reconciliation and Reentry Reflections. Notes from a Reentry Team volunteer. By Ron Landfried. November 2010.
Reflection on Prayer Vigil.​ Reflection from a community vigil. By Laurie Maberry. August 2010.
Reconciliation and Reentry Ministry Reflection.​ Notes from a Reentry Team volunteer. ​Todd Maberry. August 2010.
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