The Burlington Community Justice Center is exploring what it means for Burlington to become a “Restorative City for Youth.” A Restorative City for Youth (RCY) is one that puts its relationships with its children, youth and their adults front and center. It pledges to support children and youth through the emotional, social, cultural and economic challenges that traditionally have led to exclusion and punishment, and fused the school-to-prison pipeline. In an RCY, schools, city departments, social and mental health services, nonprofit agencies, law enforcement, and the courts commit to providing children, starting at an early age, culturally competent  educational and rehabilitative programs, such as in-home parenting sessions, family circles, mentoring, therapy, experiential and service learning, and job training. The primary message delivered is “You matter to us. You belong here. We want to keep you as part of our community.”