John Gehm's Page

School / Work Affiliation

University of Notre Dame / Owner, Restorative Practices Group

Blog

http://www.Restore-SD.org

Website

http://JohnGehm.com

Favored IM Account

yahoo

About Me

John Gehm offers more than three decades of leadership, accomplishment and experience in the areas of forgiveness, mediation, and restorative practice. A published author, poet and playwright, John’s career path—writer, researcher, trainer, consultant, non-profit director, college professor—has helped him to cultivate an attitude of tolerance and a practical appreciation of diversity: to ground in real-world experiences a lifelong commitment to the ideal of social justice through grass roots change. Throughout his career, he has attempted to weave his passion for social and restorative justice, his interest in reconciliation, and his belief in the critical role that stories and narratives play in transforming the human situation. John believes that providing people with safe places to engage in authentic dialogue opens possibilities for discovering life-changing pathways to peace, justice, and conflict resolution. John became drawn to the topic of forgiveness through his involvement in over 200 face-to-face encounters of mediation and restitution between victims and offenders as researcher, trainer, and executive director of the non-profit organization “Prisoner & Community Together” (PACT, Inc.) in Indiana . His interest in social justice issues led him to the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Theory. He obtained his undergraduate degree at Valparaiso University and studied at the Yale School of Drama. A Michigan native, John taught at Central Michigan University and the University of South Dakota before moving to the University of Sioux Falls, where he now teaches Sociology and criminal justice and directs the department’s growing internship program. As a strong believer in the healing power of authentic dialogue, through the company called Restorative Practices Group, which he founded and operates, he welcomes the opportunity to speak and offer workshops on forgiveness, conflict resolution, victim-offender mediation and other restorative practices. He serves as a consultant and expert witness to the justice system—especially in the area of community based restorative corrections. A founding member of the Restorative Justice Association, he was recently named Director of the South Dakota-based Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP). Active in the church and many volunteer organizations, John and his wife Julie live in Sioux Falls and have six children, ages 27 to 16.