Concordian Jack Casey Jr. qualified for the United States Snowshoe Association National Championships. The Nationals are the weekend of March 11-13 and will take place in Cable, Wisconsin. Jack qualified for the men’s 55-59 division, in which he placed first in the qualifying race at Center Sandwich, N.H. We'll be cheering from here, Jack!
When Marjie Cahn was a schoolgirl in her native West Virginia, she touched a friend’s desk in the classroom. The simple, innocent and probably absent-minded gesture led to not just an uproar in the classroom, but within the school, which evoked a lifelong memory that now prompts Marjie to analyze from all perspectives an act that may be considered offensive.
“The girl screamed, ‘Don’t put your dirty Jewish germs on me,’” Marjie wrote in her recollection for the Community For Restorative Justice 2010 fall newsletter, “Talking Piece.” To Marjie’s surprise, the teacher ignored the outburst, but later the principal intervened. Marjie was the only Jewish student in the West Virginia school.
Marjie’s touch on the student’s desk led to a classroom lesson on the history of Christianity and Judaism. The girl apologized to Marjie and they remained friends. All was well and Marjie was awakened to the importance of learning the background of people’s behaviors. What makes them tick? Why do they act they way they do?
Marjie’s view was reinforced years later when her late husband, Stephen, a lawyer who represented troubled children in legal and medical issues, was concerned about an offender with no support system. He expressed concern that the youth would kill someone if no one intervened. “Tragically, that came to pass,” Marjie said. After the murder, the youth received services for his troubles, but Marjie could only wonder if the victim would still be alive had the services been administered earlier.
Marjie, an LICSW, psychotherapist and quantitative researcher, is a donor of Communities for Restorative Justice, a 10-year-old organization of volunteers that partners with area police departments. C4RJ’s mission is to offer restorative justice to those affected by crime, including not just the victim, but also the offender, as well as loved ones, supporters, community members and law enforcement officials.
“When I heard about the program, it really touched a nerve,” said Marjie. “It is close to my heart because I listened for years to the work that my husband did. If somebody stole your car, he could be their lawyer.”
After Stephen died in 2001, Marjie and their children founded the Cahn Funds for Social Justice. The nonprofit fund helps support organizations that promote positive social change, which is the mission for Communities for Restorative Justice.
Cases are referred by police departments in Acton, Ayer, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Everett, Groton and Littleton to provide restorative “circles” to address instances of criminal wrongdoing, including cases of harassment and cyberbullying. C4RJ is headquartered at the Concord Police station.
C4RJ’s approach has proven success rates. Recidivism, for instance, drops to 18 percent for cases involving C4RJ, compared to 27 percent for cases that go through traditional criminal justice programs.
Like the average not-for-profit organizations, C4RJ relies heavily on donations to operate. The Cahn Funds for Social Change donated $6,000 in 2010. Marjie is so impressed with C4RJ that she is upping the ante by offering a grant that will match, dollar for dollar, every donation to C4RJ up to $6,000. “My husband said to make sure the money makes more money, so that’s what I am trying to do,” said Marjie. “We are happy to help, but we want other people to step up to the plate.”
You can help Marjie help the C4RJ by going through the website here.
Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at mcb23@comcast.net and I will help you spread the word.
