Bert Thompson

Bert Thompson embodied unwavering faith; his community and restorative justice work reflected his faith-filled efforts. This award recognizes individuals and organizations who embody the characteristics that Bert brought to his work to broaden the application of community and restorative justice principles and practices.

Community and restorative justice thrive when community partnerships and collaborative networks are created with synergy and connectivity. Bert Thompson lived this principle as a consummate networker. His successes were the result of partnerships with people of many faiths to promote peace and justice. His efforts were dedicated to reintegrating offenders and assisting victims through faith–based applications of community and restorative justice principles and practices.

Servant leadership and volunteerism were reflected in Bert’s life as he worked tirelessly simply for the satisfaction of being useful as a servant to his community and to the restorative justice movement. Mr. Thompson was a role model and mentor who encouraged people to work toward greater personal involvement in their communities. His work was to connect people and employ community and restorative justice principles and practice to help others.

Vision and “forward” thinking combined with faith-driven optimism described Bert’s desire to see that community and restorative justice principles and practices become integral problem solving strategies for individuals and their communities. Bert was a statesman, finding common interests that often brought differing perspectives together by focusing on strategies to build safer, more livable communities that spend less on justice systems.