Family Engagement Pop-Ups Summer Secondary Transition Professional Learning Series Board of Directors Circle Up DC Summit College & Career Readiness Fair Circle Up DC Podcast JumpStart FAQs for Youth and Families Get Connected Careers JumpStart College & Career Readiness InclusiveDC RestorativeDC About SchoolTalk Arts to Advocacy Secondary Transition Community of Practice InclusiveDC Workshop Series Donor Dashboard Districtwide Secondary Transition Capacity Building Institute 2023 Voices of Change Creative Careers Training Program Protected: Restorative DC Consultants, Trainers & Partners Staff RDC Professional Development and Community of Practice Schedule Fall 2019 Donation History Transaction Failed Donation Confirmation Donate About Restorative DC Special Education Conflict Resolution

Vision

School communities where every youth is honored and self-determined.

Mission

We tackle complex problems that impact marginalized youth and the schools and systems that support them.

Background

Founded in 2008, SchoolTalk, Inc. is a District of Columbia-based nonprofit that supports the D.C. education community in collaboratively addressing complex challenges and creating practical solutions for assisting youth of all abilities to achieve success. SchoolTalk’s programs actively work to improve postsecondary outcomes for youth through both proactive initiatives—such as youth leadership and mentoring, skill-building, and workforce development—and direct intervention to resolve issues in productive ways, such as mediation and restorative justice. SchoolTalk has two key program areas: Inclusive Education and Restorative Justice.

InclusiveDC
SchoolTalk’s InclusiveDC initiative supports youth with disabilities and their peers in the D.C. schools, community organizations, and systems that serve them. InclusiveDC programs are focused on College and Career Readiness and Arts to Advocacy and designed to elevate youth voice and promote inclusion.
RestorativeDC
SchoolTalk's RestorativeDC initiative supports public and public charter schools in the District of Columbia in whole-school implementation of Restorative Justice practices and culture change. It does so through intensive, trauma-informed, collaborative, customized, onsite, and locally-based technical support in order to lower incidents of conflict and harm, reduce the use of suspensions and expulsions, increase school performance, and center the school community around relationships, inclusivity, and accountability.
  • DC high school special education teacherSpeaking about the VSA SmART Skills residency

    "The kids had a great time! Thank you for the opportunity!"

  • Youth leader Speaking about the youth-led workshops at the Annual Voices of Change Conference

    "It's fun to do something with your peers and learn from peers because they understand where you are coming from."

  • High school principalSpeaking about a SchoolTalk special education conflict resolution training

    "I thoroughly enjoyed the training.  It gave me some additional tools to effectively communicate and manage conflict.  It was one of the best trainings that I have ever attended."