Ram Bhagat

Dr. Ram Bhagat: Founder and director of Drums No Guns Foundation (DNG). Ram Bhagat is an educator, arts innovator, peacemaker, and community healer. As an award-winning Chemistry teacher, he created innovative science curricula for Richmond Public Schools (RPS), and as a Teacher Leader Innovation Coach, he implemented arts-based science lessons during his tenure with DC Public Schools in collaboration with the Kennedy Center’s Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) program.

He established himself as a conflict resolution specialist and lead-trainer, through his visionary work with the Richmond Peace Education Center, where he co-founded the Richmond Youth Peace Project and Jackson Ward Youth Peace Team. Ram also established Restorative Richmond - a coalition of community-based organizations committed to addressing gun violence trauma through culturally responsive restorative practices.

As the Manager of School Culture and Climate Strategy for RPS, Dr. Bhagat advocated for school-wide restorative practices, trauma responsive mindfulness practices, and he chaired the task force for Re-imagining In-School Suspension. He implemented community building circles, mindfulness rooms, and restorative rooms. In retirement, Dr. Bhagat continues this work with the staff, students, and stakeholders at Martin Luther King, Jr. middle school. His purpose is to develop a framework for cultivating thriving ecosystems for our youth! He calls this project Massive Resilience, which is designed to establish a national model for school-wide restorative practices. It integrates Arts & Culture classes, Rites-of-Passage programs, the Sankofa Mindfulness Room, Restorative Urban Garden Spaces, and an Urban Trauma Institute.

Dr Ram offers Mindfulness Based Restorative Practices and Trauma Responsive Engagement through yoga and communal rhythm to those seeking healing in an arts-integrated environment, guided by a visionary leader with a grounded voice, helping them feel rejuvenated and impelled to act.