Building a Trauma-Informed Community: Applying Community Building Circles to an Academic Health Research Setting.

Problem: Within health science disciplines, power dynamics exist that can not only perpetuate harm but also foster feelings of powerlessness and disengagement. Although diversity, equity, and inclusion approaches have been prioritized by many institutions to improve student and staff recruitment, few effective structures exist to promote the retention, support, and inclusion of these individuals.

Approach: Restorative justice circles facilitate a collaborative and personal exercise that welcomes the input of all members, thus acting as a catalyst toward broader and more deeply rooted culture changes and conflict resolution.