Voices of Restoration Project
Project Lead: Laura Cottrell-Atekwana
Location: Iowa City, IA
Project Sponsors:
Johnson County Human Rights Commission & Johnson County Interfaith Coalition (JCIC)
Summary:
Restorative Community Works proposes Voices of Restoration, a public storytelling initiative that centers the lived experiences of justice-involved adults in Iowa City. This project invites participants aged 18 and older who are formerly incarcerated, system-impacted, or currently impacted by the judicial system to share their stories of restoration, healing, and reintegration. Through guided storytelling, workshops, and a public forum, Voices of Restoration will create powerful opportunities for civic learning, human rights education, and public empathy.
Statement of Need:
Iowa City, like many communities, continues to grapple with issues of mass incarceration, stigma around reentry, and the marginalization of justice-impacted individuals. While restorative justice practices are gaining traction, the voices of those most affected by the justice system are often excluded from public dialogue. This erasure contributes to misunderstanding, policy gaps, and a lack of community support for second chances.
Voices of Restoration seeks to directly address these challenges by positioning impacted adults as educators, advocates, and agents of community healing.
Goals & Objectives:
- Educate the public on the realities of reentry, restorative justice, and personal accountability through lived experience.
- Empower formerly incarcerated or diverted adults to develop storytelling and civic dialogue skills.
- Engage the broader community in a public event that fosters empathy, learning, and restorative values.
Project Activities:
- Recruitment & Preparation
We will invite 6–8 justice-impacted adults, ages 18+, to participate in a structured storytelling workshop series. Participants will receive writing tools, coaching, and reflection materials. - Storytelling Development
Over four weekly group sessions, participants will build and refine their narratives, focusing on themes such as harm, healing, personal growth, reentry, and hope. These will be recorded in audio, video, or written formats. - Stipend Support
Participants who complete the program and share their story will receive a stipend in recognition of their civic contribution to community education and engagement. - Community Sharing Event
We will host a free, public forum featuring participant stories via live reading, video screenings, and or discussion. Community members, students, and local stakeholders will be invited to attend and engage. - Digital Access
All recorded stories will be edited and housed on a publicly accessible page of our website to continue serving as a resource beyond the event.
Target Population:
Adults (18+) in Iowa City area who have been impacted by incarceration, probation, or by the judicial system in some way. The project will prioritize individuals from historically marginalized communities, and those who have experienced economic and systemic barriers to reintegration.
Community Impact:
This project promotes human rights by restoring voice, dignity, and agency to marginalized individuals. It transforms participants into educators while allowing the public to see beyond stigma and toward shared humanity. It also complements Iowa City’s broader goals around equity, inclusion, and restorative practices.
Evaluation:
- Pre- and post-program surveys to assess participant empowerment and skill development
- Community feedback collected at the public event
Sustainability:
Voices of Restoration will serve as a pilot for an annual storytelling series and be integrated into our broader restorative programming. We will seek future support through local partnerships, restorative justice networks, and storytelling collaborations.
Looking for formally incarcerated voices ready to share their story ages 18-26 years old willing to add to the current project. If you believe you have a powerful story of reintegration, rehabilitation or lessons learned, please contact me.
Donate to the Cause:
We are on a journey to explore what is necessary to further support transformative rehabilitative services in Johnson County and beyond. Your donation will help further the Voices of Restoration Project, as well as wrap around services for formally incarcerated adults and young adults who are on the path of incarceration due to behavioral decisions.
Restorative Community Partners 