UJI Programs
The Bridge Builder Initiative
The Bridge Builder Initiative is UJI’s cornerstone program — connecting justice-involved youth with pathways to healing and purpose. Through mentorship, skill-building, and community service, participants learn that responsibility is not the end of the story but the beginning of a new one.
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This initiative provides both structure and support: youth work directly with mentors and case coordinators who help them develop goals in education, employment, and relationships. Each “bridge” is built on accountability and compassion, ensuring participants leave stronger, wiser, and more engaged in their communities.
The Restorative Justice Community Partnership
This initiative expands restorative justice capacity across Colorado Springs by recruiting, training, and deploying community-based restorative justice advocates. These trained facilitators — representing the cultural and faith diversity of our city — work with courts, schools, and neighborhoods to resolve harm through dialogue rather than punishment.
The program offers certification workshops, mentorship from experienced practitioners, and real-world practice opportunities. Each advocate becomes a living extension of UJI’s mission: helping others move from conflict to connection, from isolation to restoration.
Uplifting Justice Development Program
The Uplifting Justice Development Program serves as the Institute’s consulting, training, and leadership division. Through workshops, the Speakers Bureau, and Justice Working Groups, UJI equips organizations, churches, and government agencies to integrate restorative and trauma-informed practices into their daily work.
We provide keynote speakers, curriculum development, and customized technical assistance for partners who want to create lasting change in how their systems respond to harm. This work ensures that restorative justice principles move beyond individual cases and become a framework for policy, leadership, and culture.