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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Orla F., Youth Leader from Circle Keepers
7:30:25
ยท
131 sec
Orla F., a high school senior and youth leader from Circle Keepers, advocates for expanding restorative justice in schools by requesting $80 million in the FY 2026 budget to hire restorative justice coordinators in 500 schools. She emphasizes the importance of restorative practices over punitive measures and school policing.
- Shares personal experiences with the positive impact of restorative practices through Circle Keepers
- Argues against heavy policing in schools, stating it disrupts the dignity and safety of black and brown students
- Calls for divestment from school policing and investment in students' well-being, including expanding restorative justice programs
Orla F.
7:30:25
Hello, good afternoon.
7:30:27
My name is Orla Flynn, I am a high school senior from Queens and a youth leader of the Circle Keepers Restorative Justice nonprofit and the Dignity in Schools Campaign.
7:30:39
I have come here today to ask the city to expand restorative justice by $80,000,000 and the FY twenty six budget to go directly to 500 schools to hire restorative justice coordinators.
7:30:52
Schools should be sanctuaries of learning and community and we should strive to ensure that we live up to that standard.
7:31:00
When your school is equipped with restorative justice practices and social emotional supports, only then can we create a healthy and thriving community.
7:31:11
Throughout my time with the Circle Keepers, I have seen firsthand the power that restorative practices can have, bringing people together through peer mediations and mental health support.
7:31:23
I come from a school that is without cops and metal detectors, and I can assure you as a student we do not need heavy policing to keep us safe.
7:31:33
In fact punitive measures only ostracize and isolate kids from getting support.
7:31:39
Throughout high school I have skipped entire days of learning just to avoid the hours of detentions I would get for being late and those detentions never helped me solve my behavior.
7:31:53
These types of punitive measures, including suspensions and expulsions, only make kids fall behind in their learning.
7:32:01
And when it comes to school policing, it directly disrupts the dignity and safety of students who are black and brown.
7:32:09
Let us divest from school policing and invest in students' well-being and safety.
7:32:15
Redirect our city funding from surveillance to critical programs that are currently dependent on expiring city dollars and to expand restorative justice and create opportunities for youth to learn how to mediate challenges, take accountability and build community.
7:32:34
Thank you for your time.