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A lot of people understand the idea of restorative justice, he explained. They know the language…’community’, ‘relationships’, ‘belonging.’ In theory, it all makes sense. But the reality is much harder.

Restorative work often happens in spaces where students and adults are carrying real experiences: loss, trauma, violence, grief. Relationships don’t appear overnight because someone introduces a framework or a new set of practices. They take time. Humility. And a willingness to stay in difficult conversations.

“You don’t know how much love it takes,” he said. “You have to actually care about the people you’re doing this work with. You have to be a part of that community in some way in order to be effective.”

Everett knows because he’s spent more than a decade in those spaces.

His path into this work began in Chicago more than a decade ago, mentoring young people on the South Side, working security in a school, becoming a teacher, and eventually an assistant principal. Today, his restorative work has taken him across Illinois and beyond, supporting educators who want to build stronger relationships in their schools and communities.

But what stands out most when Everett talks about restorative practices isn’t his résumé.

It’s the way he talks about people.

Everett Daily facilitating a professional development session with school safety and security officers.

“People don’t know the amount of humility it takes,” Everett said. “They don’t know how much harm you sometimes have to endure in order to help someone else stop causing harm. They don’t know how much love for people who aren't close to you that it takes in order to do this work.”

And that takes patience. And, as Everett puts it, it takes a lot more love than people realize.

That’s the work Everett and the NewRoot Coaches show up for every day.

Not because it’s easy.

Because community takes work.

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