ABOUT US
We believe healing belongs in every
conversation about harm.
OUR VISION
We envision communities where healing, accountability, dignity, and belonging are centered in how people, organizations, and systems respond to harm.
WHAT WE DO
We strengthen the organizations that are closest to individuals and communities impacted by violence, incarceration, and traumatic grief.
Through evidence-informed curricula, facilitator training, technical assistance, implementation support, and strategic partnerships, we equip community-based organizations with the knowledge, skills, and tools to facilitate restorative, healing-centered programs with confidence and fidelity.
Our goal is not simply to deliver programs. It is to help build a stronger network of organizations capable of creating spaces where people can reflect, reconnect, take responsibility, heal, and move forward. By investing in organizational capacity, we expand access to restorative approaches that support lasting change within individuals, families, and communities.
WHO WE ARE
Lisa D. Daniels
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lisa D. Daniels is a compassionate advocate, dynamic leader, and captivating speaker in the field of restorative justice, dedicated to guiding individuals and families on a journey of healing after experiencing violence and crime. Lisa's profound commitment stems from the tragic loss of her youngest son, Darren, to gun violence in 2012, a personal tragedy that ignited her own path towards healing and transformed her into an inspiring force for change. As the founder of the Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices (The Center), Lisa endeavors to dismantle the profound impact of violent crime and mass incarceration on communities of color.
Renowned for her impactful presentations, Lisa has eloquently spoken on various topics such as restorative justice, criminal justice reform, trauma resolution, and the journey of rebuilding after loss. Her influential voice has resonated in esteemed institutions like the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, and the National Network for Safe Communities. Currently, Lisa serves on the Illinois Sentencing Advisory Council (SPAC) and the Council on Criminal Justice, playing an instrumental role in shaping policies that foster equitable justice.
Sherri Allen-Reeves
BOARD MEMBER
Sherri Allen-Reeves is the Executive Director of Phoenix Foundation, NFP, a Supportive Housing program whose purpose is to create new possibilities for those experiencing homelessness. She has passionately worked in the service of others for over 30 years and is a very vocal advocate for the homeless and other disenfranchised people. She serves on multiple committees within the local Continuum of Care, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and Chicago Homelessness & Health Response Group for Equity (CHHRGE).
Sarah Daniels
BOARD MEMBER
Sarah Daniels is a policy and advocacy leader in the child and family well-being space with a focus on mental and behavioral health. She currently serves as Chief of Staff for the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, where she shares in promoting the safety, health, and economic success of Illinois’ children, youth, and families by supporting and strengthening the organizations and systems that serve them. Sarah has also represented economic, education and community wealth building efforts as an Americorps VISTA and New Leaders Council Fellow, Realtor, and DEI Co-Chair. She also serves on various policy commissions, committees, and workgroups.
Orlando Mayorga
BOARD MEMBER
Orlando Mayorga is a restorative justice practitioner who values the humanity in all people and champions healing-centered support for people who carry the trauma of incarceration. He is a co-founder of the People's Liberty Project, led by directly justice-impacted women and men, focused on creating spaces for healing and advocacy in support of restorative and transformative justice policy.
Orlando currently serves the Office of the Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton's Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative as the McCormick Reentry Policy Coordinator Fellow where his experience as a justice-impacted person who served 20 years of incarceration in the Illinois Department of Corrections informs his current criminal justice reform initiatives that are reflective of the restorative and transformative values that guide him.
Annalise Buth
BOARD MEMBER
Annie Buth is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Law in the Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. She is a restorative justice practitioner, mediator, and former litigator who believes restorative justice can play an integral role in building healthier relationships and more just, equitable, connected, and inclusive communities. She focuses on the Center’s restorative justice initiatives, which include designing and teaching restorative justice courses. Annie co-created Northwestern Circles, a law school community group for students and staff that uses the circle practice to build community and address current issues. Through her work, she has partnered with groups such as the Northwestern Prison Education Program, James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Circles & Ciphers, Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago Alternative to Incarceration Collaborative, and others.