"Restorative practices builds the container of strong community with connection and a sense of belonging so that when harm and wrongdoing occurs, we can respond in meaningful and healthy ways," Conflict Resolution Center's Alaya Vautier said.
Responding to formal charges filed this week by the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office, a 49-year-old man pleaded not guilty Thursday to vandalizing a street mural last year.
"It's getting easier to do the work because it's not just a couple of voices, it's lots of voices," said artist Abi Mustapha. "It's certainly not perfect and there's certainly a lot of burnout and a lot of ways to go but I think it's the mess of the middle, which is better than the start."
A local artist and social justice activist behind the downtown Black Lives Matter street mural is expanding her focus to include another weighty local topic: homelessness.
“What I know after living here in Santa Cruz for 21 years, . I can’t say it enough: Santa Cruz, y’all gotta step it up,” Santa Cruz NAACP President Elaine Johnson said.