YPSILANTI, Mich. – On Saturday, a five-mile walk aims to connect Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti while raising money for The Dispute Resolution Center’s restorative justice program.
The program offers victims and survivors of crime a way of making their voices heard while giving those who do harm a way of making amends outside of the traditional criminal legal system. It also holds both parties accountable and offers confidential safe spaces for discussion.
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Experienced volunteers ensure the program runs smoothly and help those using the program to address deeper problems, including trauma and life circumstances.
Participants in Saturday’s Unity Walk can choose from a five-mile walk or a 1.5-mile walk. The five-mile walk starts at 10 a.m. at United Way for Southeastern Michigan in Ann Arbor. The shorter walk starts at 11:30 a.m. at Ypsilanti Community High School in Ypsilanti.
Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, at 1043 W Michigan Ave., will host a post-walk celebration with free food, speakers, art activities, drumming and wisdom circle around noon.
“The annual Unity Walk started as a collaboration between The Dispute Resolution Center and The Association for Youth Empowerment. Bridging US 23 is dedicated to transforming the way the people of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and the surrounding communities relate to one another. The Unity Walk also supports The DRC’s Restorative Justice Program that keeps kids and adults involved in low-level, nonviolent crimes out of the criminal legal system and provides the services they need to move forward in their lives,” said The Dispute Resolution Center Executive Director Belinda Dulin in a release.
Learn about registration here.
The Walk is organized by the Dispute Resolution Center and Ypsilanti’s Brown Chapel AME Church.