CHASI research supports restorative justice work in Abbotsford

When Taylor Wilson was studying philosophy and political science at UFV, one idea in particular stuck with him, shaping the course of his career. One of his professors, Ron Dart, taught him that in order to live a “good life” from a philosophical point of view, one needs to actively participate in the common life of the community.

“Once I had that idea, I was just like, ‘Okay, so in order to be a good, contributing member of the community, I need to have a vocational type of work where I’m actively engaged in it.’ That’s when I started looking for organizations where I could do that. I found the Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association, (ARJAA), and I started there as a volunteer mentor,” Taylor recalls.

Taylor Wilson (fourth from the left) and his team at ARJAA worked with CHASI to improve their community services.

Years later, he is now ARJAA’s director of programs andoperations. The organization provides a holistic, relational approach to crime and conflict as an alternative to the criminal justice system. Restorative justice focuses on wraparound support, repairing harm, and building empathy. Research shows that people who go through a victim-centred restorative justice process are less likely to offend again.

“The idea is getting away from a model where we just punish behaviour that doesn’t fit with the community, and rather we bring people into community and we have conversations about how people are impacted and how we can make it right,” Taylor explains.

In 2023, the organization reached out to UFV’s Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) hub to collaborate on a grant proposal, marking the start of a multi-year partnership.

“Part of the importance of the grant was exploring how we could tell the story of what ARJAA is doing, and how evaluation can play a part in supporting that story. So, looking at what types of programs ARJAA is providing, what impacts those projects are having, and what ways can we support them,” says CHASI’s lead researcher, Chelsea Klassen.

CHASI’s research and knowledge mobilization teams collaborate with local organizations doing work that supports our community.

CHASI aims to help community partners do their work as effectively and efficiently as possible. To that end, Chelsea, a team of research assistants, and CHASI’s Knowledge Mobilization Team (including student interns and CHASI’s communications and design specialist Jeff Mijo-Burch) analyzed the effectiveness of ARJAA’s referral system and mentorship program, and created a new database for case record management. This makes it easier to find information and evaluate their impact over time.

“The work itself had a really large impact in changing the way we think about our organization, and the way that we want to communicate who we are to others,” Taylor says.

For Chelsea, this collaboration is an excellent example of how research done at UFV can be directly applied for real-world positive impact. The partnership between CHASI and ARJAA was a natural fit, aligning ARJAA’s mission of restoration and repair with CHASI’s focus on supporting community.

“Community itself is built on relationships, and relationships are something that continuously need to be tended,” Taylor says. “Having a relational approach that addresses conflict, that tries to make things right, really makes for a better and more thriving community. And I think that’s really important about the work that we do.”

“Our work supports the wellbeing of our community by assisting organizations like ARJAA to secure the funding they need,” Chelsea explains.

With CHASI’s help, ARJAA continues to provide resources, mentor youth, and resolve conflict in our local community. By conducting applied research in partnership with local organizations, CHASI supports the people who are making the Fraser Valley a better place to live.