We equip young people and adults with the tools to navigate conflict, reduce violence and embrace their differences in order to positively affect their future – and ours.
About Us
Western Justice Center began in 1987 as a hub for mediation, dialogue and conflict resolution and has grown into the largest K–12 conflict resolution education provider in Los Angeles County. We put students in the driver’s seat at their schools, helping them own their power as conflict resolvers and leaders and reimagine classrooms as peacebuilding spaces.
Through student-led peer mediation, restorative circles and facilitated dialogue, educator training in conflict resolution skills and our whole-school restorative approach, we help schools replace punitive zero-tolerance discipline with inclusive practices that resolve conflict, improve academic achievement, strengthen relationships and build a culture of trust and belonging for every student.
Our Impact
Western Justice Center equips K-12 students and educators with conflict resolution skills and restorative practices to improve academic achievement, reduce suspensions and strengthen school safety. Our whole-school approach shifts school culture from exclusion to inclusion and builds a sense of trust and belonging for every student.
By fostering student voice and leadership in conflict resolution, we create what we call the Ripple Effect: expanding access to restorative practices and conflict resolution skill building so students from all backgrounds and learning styles have tools to navigate conflict, de-escalate tension and violence, promote dialogue and build inclusive communities that extend far beyond the classroom. Educators experience a similar shift as they learn to model these skills, respond to harm restoratively and create more supportive learning environments.
Our Reach
40+
Partner schools across
Los Angeles County
4,000+
Students, educators and volunteers trained and mobilized to use conflict resolution and restorative practices
25,000+
Young people are now in learning environments that use conflict resolution techniques
What We Do
Collaborative Partnerships
We build multi-year partnerships with school districts to make conflict resolution education a sustainable part of daily school life. Together, we develop the capacity and infrastructure schools need to replace punitive discipline with a viable alternative rooted in trust and belonging.
We put students in the driver’s seat at their schools. Through peer mediation and restorative circles, young people learn the tools, adapt them to real situations, and use them to shape the world around them.
We also partner with government agencies and local nonprofit organizations to expand access, align resources and build networks that sustain this work beyond any single school site.
Youth Peacebuilding Summit
Our annual youth summit, the Peer Mediation Invitational (PMI), brings together hundreds of student leaders, mediation mentors, educators, administrators, counselors and other school staff from across Los Angeles County. We provide live coaching and guidance to support youth as they sharpen their conflict resolution skills, build connections, and empower them to drive changes in school culture and climate on their campuses and beyond.
Conflict Resolution Training
We train and coach both youth and adults because lasting change takes a shared skill set. Students learn to become peer mediators and restorative circle leaders, building core social and emotional skills while connecting their leadership to equity, justice, and social change.
Adults learn how to teach conflict resolution skills, create and sustain student-led peer mediation programs, and facilitate community-building circles. Our training also equips adults to address implicit bias, bullying, and inter-group conflict so restorative practices are embedded across classrooms and school culture.
A Home For Nonprofits
Our historic Pasadena campus is home to nearly 20 local nonprofit organizations, offering affordable office and meeting space, shared resources, and a built-in community of partners working side by side.
The Maxwell House, which sits at the center of the campus, is a place for gatherings, trainings, and public events that strengthen the region and build connection. The Maxwell House is available for weddings and other life-cycle events with rental revenue helping to sustain the campus and WJC’s conflict resolution programs. WJC regards this space as a resource that serves the wider community, including to support Eaton Fire recovery efforts.
School Tools
Our online resource hub was built as a conflict resolution education toolbox for K–12 school staff and students.
Educators can access lesson plans for their peer mediation classes/clubs and find first-rate resources on a variety of conflict resolution topics. The site is enhanced with original videos for a rich and interactive learning experience.
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Our Funders & Partners
55 South Grand Avenue,
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 584-7494
  
  
#BuildingPeaceTogether