Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Brian Bereman and Carlos Munoz to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Brian and Carlos speak with us about their experiences training and sustaining restorative practices across schools in the Bronx borough of New York City. Brian and Carlos share stories of empathy and compassion, illustrating the transformative effect of building genuine connections with students. Beyond sharing common misconceptions about restorative practices, they showcase how these practices enhance academic success and equip students with lifelong skills in conflict resolution and emotional intelligence. These skills carry with them throughout their schooling careers and their lives. Carlos is an education administrator with the Office of Safety and Youth Development with the New York City Department of Education. He brings a wealth of experience and commitment to fostering a positive educational environment. Previously, he served as a dedicated school counselor at West Prep Academy, where his focus on empathy and compassion became integral to his approach to supporting students and staff. Passionate about supporting students and their families, Carlos believes in creating nurturing spaces that empower individuals to thrive academically and emotionally. His career reflects a steadfast dedication to fostering a safe and inclusive educational experience for all. Brian is an education administrator with the New York City Department of Education and serves as the Bronx borough director of restorative practices. Brian advises and supports school leaders to effectively implement whole-school restorative justice practices and social emotional learning (SEL) programs. He has been trained in restorative practices and motivational interviewing by the IIRP, RULER for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University, and in basic mediation by the New York Center for Interpersonal Conflict.  Brian is also the founder of Look Forward Consulting, which offers coaching and training to district and school leadership and runs Heal the Violence programs with NYC youth. Brian roots his work in research that shows when young people feel more connected to their community, they are more likely to be successful and less likely to cause harm. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education, and a Master of Education from Columbia University. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education at Vanderbilt University. Tune in to learn more about Brian’s and Carlos’s perspectives on the human side of education and fostering a community where everyone can thrive academically and emotionally.