ABOUT
Life anew
What if the answer to harm isn’t more punishment, but more connection?
That’s the question Life Anew has been answering in Austin since 2009. We train educators, mentor youth, interrupt violence, support formerly unhoused neighbors, and help families keep their homes, all through restorative practices that repair harm and rebuild trust. We don’t just respond to broken moments. We help people and communities begin again.
Our Story
Since 2009, Life Anew has been an Austin 501(c)(3) nonprofit creating space for individuals and families to experience real, lasting change. We train professionals and community leaders in restorative justice methods that heal harm and protect victims of family violence, including intimate partners, children, the elderly, and the communities they live in.
In 2014, we were invited into local schools. Today, our Restorative Practices Coordinators train school staff, students, parents, and community volunteers to engage in intentional conversations that build meaningful relationships and transform lives.
In 2022, we partnered with local nonprofits and the Office of Violence Prevention to launch ATX Peace, a community school safety and violence intervention program working to reduce gun violence and retaliation in Travis County and surrounding areas, while supporting those harmed by it.
Our Mission
To produce a sense of well-being in communities worldwide by cultivating empathic environments.
Our vision
To be the leader in creating platforms for people to connect, contribute, and collaborate for the purpose of building authentic relationships.
Our values
We are loyal to Jesus Christ Leadership and are committed to loving humanity and the discovery of good within all people.
We believe relationships matter.
We embrace technology to increase our reach.
We are committed to flexibility for the benefit of all involved.
milestones
-
2009: Life Anew founded
-
2014: Invited into local schools
-
2022: ATX Peace launched with community partners
Our Approach: A Restorative Ecosystem
A Restorative Ecosystem forms when educators, families, service providers, and justice partners intentionally work together to build a culture of healing, growth, and transformation. Life Anew connects those partners through our work in schools, neighborhoods, and housing, so that support surrounds a person at every stage, not just in a moment of crisis.
At Life Anew, we build that ecosystem by connecting the people and institutions that shape a person’s life. In schools, we train educators and school-based law enforcement and mentor students through Youth Anew. In neighborhoods, ATX Peace interrupts violence and supports those at risk. At Community First! Village and through our anti-displacement services, we help neighbors find stability, resolve conflict, and stay rooted in their homes.
When these pieces work together instead of in isolation, harm is repaired sooner, relationships last longer, and communities grow stronger.
help us keep this work going
Our work runs on the generosity of partners: businesses, community leaders, churches, organizations, and schools. Your gift helps us serve more families, bring restorative practices to more schools, train more administrators, and add staff. No gift is too large or too small.
