Forgiveness: How Libraries Can Host Programs on Restorative Practices - An Interview with Azim Khamisa

We've posted a new blog post and video interview from Dr. Steve Albrecht in our "Library Service, Safety, & Security" section of Library 2.0:

Forgiveness: How Libraries Can Host Programs on Restorative Practices
An Interview with Azim Khamisa

In 1995, Azim Khamisa, an investment banker living in San Diego, lost his son, Tariq, a 20-year-old college student, who was shot and killed while delivering pizzas by a 14-year-old gang member named Tony Hicks. Azim created the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (www.TKF.org) as a learning place to teach non-violence to school children. 

He partnered with Plez Felix, Hicks' grandfather, to give presentations to schools around the US. Azim has presented over 700 educational sessions and keynote speeches around the world. He helped to get Tony Hicks released from prison last year and Hicks now works as a speaker at the Foundation. Azim’s story is powerful, thought-provoking, and touching.

Azim is a leading advocate of Restorative Practices (RP) and a facilitator-led process known as Restorative Justice (RJ) (www.RestorativeJustice.org).

Libraries around the US have begun to host RP and RJ programs. The International Institute of Restorative Practices (www.IIRP.edu) offers multi-day facilitator training. 

Azim spoke with Steve Albrecht about his work and what libraries can do to participate in these programs that will benefit the community in general and 4th through 9th-grade students in particular. Please watch this video to see how your library can help the RJ and RP coalitions by hosting awareness-building and interactive sessions in your community. 

You can view the video here.

Other recent podcasts episodes from Dr. Albrecht include "Spirit of Service," "Library Civility: A Code for How We Treat Each Other," "The Code of Quality Service," "The Power of Surveys," "Working with Elected Officials," "A Guided Meditation for Stress Management and Relaxation," "Stop Apologizing for Library Security," "Let's Talk About Talking," and "Guns in Your Library." You can listen directly on the site or you should also be able to access the podcast in SoundCloud here or in your own podcast app using the RSS feed here.

Other recent blog posts are available here, including: "Do Your Library Employees Have the “Spirit of Service?,” "Library Civility: A Code for How We Treat Each Other," "The Code of Quality Service for Library Employees," "The North Vancouver Library Stabbing Attacks: Edged Weapons Awareness," "Managing the 'Champion Employee' at the Library: The Need for Management Courage," "Some Leadership Truths for Library Leaders," "Helping Library Patrons with Autism: Start with Understanding," "The Perils of the Parking Lot: Parts 1 and 2," "Schedule Regular Inspection Days," "The Need for a Library Vendor/Visitor Policy," and "Creating the Perfect Library Security Officer." 

Click here to let us know what topics you'd be particularly interested in having us cover in the Library 2.0 webinars, blog posts, and podcast series.

While Dr. Albrecht's twice-monthly podcast and blog posts are available for free, as are our regular mini-conferences and all the conference recordings, we also offer a series of paid webinars with Dr. Albrecht which are available for individual or group viewing.

More information is available here.

DR. STEVE ALBRECHT

Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 25+ states, live and online, in service, safety, and security. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons. In 2015, the ALA published his book, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities. He is currently writing the sequel, The Safe Library: Keeping Staff and Patrons Secure in a Changing World.

Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment.

He has written 24 books on business, security, and leadership topics. He lives with seven dogs, two cats, and three chickens.