Founded November 30, 1994, by Lana Leonard and Beverly Title for the primary purpose of violence prevention, the nonprofit organization was consciously named Teaching Peace in the affirmative to reflect "what we're about, not what we're against." The first work of the organization focused on bullying & school violence prevention and multicultural storytelling, reflecting the expertise of the founders.

In 1996 the founders learned about restorative justice and were inspired to ask several key stakeholders to partner in bringing this work to Longmont. Those asked were the police chief, Mike Butler, the local school superintendent, Jack Hay, the municipal judge, Diana VanDeHay, and chief probation officer, Greg Winger, and WHO the head of a Longmont nonprofit called Alternative for Youth, that operated a school for students who were expelled from the SVVSD. All agreed to participate and a new program focus for Teaching Peace formed with the Longmont Community Justice Partnership (LCJP). Over the ensuing years, LCJP became the primary work of Teaching Peace accounting for close to 90% of its work.

In 2010, the organization underwent a transition and re-branded as the Longmont Community Justice Partnership. Remembering our roots in non-violence, story-telling and naming ourselves based on what we stand for, not what we are against, LCJP emerged as the majority of stakeholders #1 choice for the organizational identity. Restorative practices in our community have become 100% of our service offerings. We are proud of our heritage from ancient tribal practices to modern conflict resolution.

It is imperative to honor the indigenous beginnings of our practice of restorative justice. Restorative practices come to us from a time when the survival of the tribe depended on all members contributing to the well being of the whole, a time when no one was considered disposable. When conflict or wrongdoing occurred, mechanisms were needed for bringing people back into right relationship. Their ancient wisdom is being adapted to modern times throughout the world as restorative justice has become a worldwide movement. The restorative practices that we use in Longmont are derivative of the Maori of New Zealand. Thank you to them and all the many indigenous people who, despite cruel treatment in the past, are helping us find our way through the troubles of today's times.

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