Eric Butler, Honorary Faculty
Rest in Power, Friend, Teacher, and Beloved Brother of the Movement, (1970-2024)
We are heartbroken at the sudden passing of our longtime friend and collaborator Eric Butler, Founder of Talking Peace, who left us in August 2024—just days before what would have been his 50th birthday celebration.
Eric was a foundational part of Restorative Justice on The Rise—appearing on the podcast in its early days alongside our mentor Fania Davis, and amplifying the voices of youth from Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY), where he served as one of the first on-site school-based RJ Coordinators in the United States.
Over the years, Eric didn’t just show up—he helped shape what we stood for. He co-produced and led some of our most powerful community forums and educational series, including “Let’s Talk Race” and “Doing US Justice.” He was a beloved member of our Faculty, known for his ability to cut through surface-level dialogue and dive straight into the real work—always grounded in deep listening, heart, and radical honesty.
Eric taught with rare presence. He disarmed people with humor and then disarmed them again with truth. He believed in the sacred possibility of "one conversation" changing everything—and he lived that belief with every circle he held and every student, elder, or colleague he met. His teaching wasn’t performative. It was transformative.
His story and philosophy are powerfully captured in the documentary CIRCLES, directed by Cassidy Friedman of Stories Matter Media. The film, like Eric, is an unflinching look at what it means to lead with heart and break cycles of harm through connection.
Though we grieve, we also celebrate. Eric’s legacy lives on through every life he touched, every young person he mentored, and every space he made more human, more honest, and more whole.
Please consider supporting Eric’s family through this GoFundMe campaign, or purchase a tribute T-shirt to help keep his spirit and work alive.
🖤 Read our tribute to Eric, and learn more about his life and legacy at the Talking Peace website.
James O’Dea is an internationally respected mystic, award-winning author, and veteran peacebuilder whose life’s work spans the intersection of human rights, consciousness studies, and transformative dialogue. For over five decades, James has served as a sacred activist and thought leader, advancing social healing in communities impacted by violence, injustice, and systemic trauma.
He is the former Director of Amnesty International’s Washington D.C. office, where he championed global human rights. He also served as President of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, founded by Apollo 14 astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell, and as Executive Director of the SEVA Foundation, where his leadership advanced health and equity initiatives around the world.
James is the Distinguished Faculty Lead of The Shift Network’s renowned Peace Ambassador Training, an intensive program that has trained thousands of global changemakers in conflict transformation, inner work, and peacemaking strategies. He is also co-author of The Social Healing Report with Dr. Judith Thompson, a seminal cross-cultural study outlining the universal elements of healing in post-conflict societies.
As a long-time advisor to Molly Rowan Leach and Restorative Justice on The Rise, James played an instrumental role in shaping the early vision of the podcast when it launched in 2010. He has co-hosted multiple forums, including the Peace & Justice series during the Summer of Peace, and continues to serve as Senior Advisor and guest faculty. His presence and insight have guided the platform's ethical foundation and ongoing evolution.
James O’Dea’s teachings synthesize ancient wisdom, scientific inquiry, and deeply lived experience. He is regarded as a mentor to many global leaders, bridge-builders, and trauma-informed justice practitioners.
To learn more about James and his extraordinary body of work, visit www.jamesodea.com.
Molly Leach’s journey into restorative justice began not in a classroom or courtroom, but as the daughter of a mother incarcerated for fifteen years—including time in solitary confinement—in Idaho. During that long stretch, Molly witnessed firsthand the absence of healing-centered justice. What she longed for was never offered: a way for impacted parties, families, and communities to be heard, to heal, and to reconnect. This formative experience became a call to action, catalyzing a life’s work dedicated to restoring dignity, voice, and humanity—within justice systems and far beyond.
In 2011, she launched Restorative Justice on The Rise, a groundbreaking live podcast and media platform focused on racial equity, healing, and justice. Long before podcasting went mainstream, Molly was using public media to amplify the voices of impacted individuals, community leaders, and restorative practitioners around the world.
In addition to her work as a podcast host and executive producer, Molly is a seasoned circle keeper, conference facilitator, and former director of a Colorado-based restorative justice program. Over the past 15 years, she has delivered trainings, lectures, and community dialogues both in person and online. She has served as media liaison and story documentarian at three National Association for Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ) conferences (2015, 2017, 2019) and was a speaker at the European Forum for Restorative Justice in Pamplona (2023) and Tallinn (2024). She is a Salzburg Global Media Academy Fellow.
Her essays have appeared in print publications (Current Debates in Peace and Conflict Studies, Oxford (2017) as well as in many reputable online outlets including Open Democracy, Daily Good, YES! Online, TruthOut, and Huff Post, to name a few. Her essay, Storytelling and RJ, is part of an Oxford University Encyclopedia on Restorative Justice, forthcoming.
2024 – Therapy Dogs in Restorative Justice: European Forum for Restorative Justice (Tallinn, Estonia) — with Patty LaTaille, author of Paws for Peace
2024 – Community-Held Restorative Justice: Moderator/Speaker, Bend, Oregon, with the Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon and Deschutes County District Attorney's Office
2023 – Restorative Justice in Colorado: European Forum for Restorative Justice Symposium (Pamplona, Spain)
2022 – Restorative Justice and the First Harm: A conversation series with Edward C. Valandra and Edwin Keener
2022 – Guest Presenter, Missouri State University: Workplace Restorative Justice
2019 – Doing US Justice: Online panel on racial & restorative justice, featuring Troy Williams, Seema Gajwani, Eric Butler, and others
2019 – The Redemption Project Discussion Series (host/producer) in partnership with CNN/Van Jones and REFORM Alliance
2014–Present – Visiting Lecturer, The College of Idaho
Just Mercy: Restorative Justice and Bryan Stevenson’s Lived Vision
The Evidence of Restorative Justice (Criminal Justice Dept.)
2014 – HBO Press Pass: Which Way Is The Front Line From Here (New York HBO Studios)
2015, 2017, 2019 – NACRJ Global Conferences
Live podcasts and interviews with thought leaders, youth facilitators, and justice stakeholders
Workshops on Police-Community Relations, RJ Policy & Practice (with Dr. Sandra Pavelka)
Neeli Upamaka is a highly respected facilitator, educator, and project leader whose work in restorative justice has spanned more than a decade across school districts, community spaces, and international platforms. As a queer, neurodivergent practitioner of South Asian descent, Neeli brings a deeply relational, intersectional lens to every space she enters—centering healing, belonging, and culturally responsive practice at the heart of conflict transformation.
Currently serving as Senior Faculty and Project Manager with Restorative Justice on The Rise, Neeli also plays a vital role at Talking Peace as Project Manager and circle keeper, supporting programs that uplift youth, families, and educators navigating systems of harm, oppression, and repair.
Neeli’s journey as a restorative practitioner began on the front lines of school transformation as an early team member at Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY)—one of the nation's pioneering organizations to embed restorative practices into public schools. Working alongside trailblazers like Eric Butler, she helped shape models of in-school RJ coordination, youth leadership, and circle process that are now studied and replicated nationwide.
Known for her calm presence, strong intuition, and facilitation excellence, Neeli brings attuned leadership to a wide range of spaces—from harm and impact circles, to racial healing dialogues, to community accountability processes. Whether guiding school communities through high-conflict situations or co-developing long-term implementation strategies, her ability to build trust is immediate and authentic.
As both a grassroots practitioner and systems thinker, Neeli supports leadership development, cross-cultural dialogue, and organizational design that centers equity and restorative values. Her work is particularly grounded in supporting BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent communities in reclaiming voice and agency through storytelling, somatics, and communal care practices.
Her wisdom continues to inform the growth and development of Restorative Justice on The Rise, where she leads with both technical skill and emotional depth, helping shape the future of restorative media, education, and public dialogue.
To learn more or connect with Neeli, reach out to: info@talking-peace.org
Logan Ward, senior Intern
Logan Ward (he/him) is a visionary illustrator, writer, and award-winning filmmaker whose work amplifies underrepresented voices and challenges societal norms with courage, creativity, and heart. As a proud Trans man and emerging leader in the transformational media landscape, Logan brings a deeply personal and powerful perspective to every project he touches.
In 2024, Logan made international waves with his debut short documentary Remarkable—a moving portrait of Trans identity and humanity that earned the Gold Award from the International Independent Film Awards and is continuing to gain global acclaim. That same year, he was selected as a Salzburg Global Seminar Media Fellow, where he participated in transnational conversations on the role of media in shaping more just and inclusive futures.
A recent graduate of Emerson College’s Master’s in Media Design program (Boston, MA), Logan's work is rooted in radical empathy, design justice, and creative storytelling. His multidisciplinary approach weaves illustration, narrative, and film into campaigns that not only inform, but inspire.
As Senior Intern and Social Media & Marketing Manager for Restorative Justice on The Rise, Logan has brought extraordinary energy, artistry, and precision to our public-facing voice. His visual designs, marketing strategy, and behind-the-scenes collaboration reflect his gift for connecting people with purpose and impact. Logan is not only a skilled creative; he is a listener, builder, and amplifier of collective truth and dignity.
We are honored to have Logan’s voice, vision, and lived experience shaping the future of restorative media with us.
To learn more about Logan’s work, visit: www.loganward.net/remarkable
Hamza Vakhariya is a dynamic young designer and creative strategist whose work bridges architecture, storytelling, and digital engagement. A 2024 graduate of Anant National University (Ahmedabad, India) with a degree in Architecture, Hamza is already emerging as a powerful voice in the design-for-social-impact space. He is also a proud Salzburg Global Seminar Media Academy Fellow (2024–Present), where he collaborates with a global cohort of media changemakers advancing equity and innovation.
Raised in Rajkot, Gujarat, Hamza grew up balancing his love of academics with sports and artistic exploration. From an early age, he developed a fascination with how environments shape behavior, identity, and healing—an inquiry that later informed his baccalaureate thesis in restorative architecture, focused on designing spaces of dignity and reflection.
Hamza brings that same thoughtful lens to his role at Restorative Justice on The Rise, where he has contributed significantly to website design, SEO strategy, and digital engagement. His talent for user-centered design and deep curiosity about justice have made him a valued collaborator and co-producer of several major educational events, where he has also served as a co-host and presenter.
In addition to his work in architecture and media, Hamza serves on the Undergraduate Academic Council (UGAC) at Anant University and is involved with Gujarat’s outdoor/indoor sports development initiatives, reflecting his continued commitment to holistic well-being and community building.
Design, for Hamza, is not just about aesthetics—it is a form of cultural listening, a means to translate values into tangible, meaningful experience. His work draws inspiration from nature, ancestral wisdom, and the power of space to restore connection.
We’re thrilled to support Hamza’s journey as he brings his sharp mind, compassionate heart, and global perspective to the future of restorative design and justice.
My interest in Restorative Justice began in college while helping Professor David Karp research the rise in reporting on restorative justice in the last ten years. Through that work I attended the National Restorative Justice Conference where I became exposed to the global restorative justice movement as well as the the importance and healing of restorative justice.
During an internship with WAMC radio the following year, I continued to pursue that interest, producing and recording a story on the implementation of restorative justice in schools in the upstate New York region. Since graduating from Skidmore College last May, I have been interning for Restorative Justice on the Rise as well as Yes! Magazine.
Sandra Pavelka, Ph.D., is President and CEO of Community & Restorative Justice Associates and Pavelka Consulting Group. Dr. Pavelka serves as Professor and Director of the Institute for Youth and Justice Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Pavelka previously served as Project Administrator of the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Project, funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. Dr. Pavelka is the recipient of the National Points of Light award.
Dr. Pavelka is an internationally known restorative justice expert. Dr. Pavelka is Senior Advisor to Restorative Justice on the Rise and the Peace Alliance. She serves on the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Advisory Council and is Chair of the Law and Policy Committee. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for the U.S. Congressional Victims Rights Caucus. Dr. Pavelka has authored numerous books, book chapters, publications, and conference presentations. She has provided consultation, training and technical assistance with legislators, policymakers, justice system and educational stakeholders, victim advocates, nonprofit and community organizations in the development and implementation of restorative justice principles, practices, legislation, policies and evaluation. Dr. Pavelka is actively involved in service through her work in the community with the PACE Center for Girls, Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida, Impact Initiative of Southwest Florida, as well as other organizations.
Media That Matters:
Public Dialogue On Justice
Restorative Justice on the Rise is an international live dialogue via Webcast and Telecouncil platform that reaches an international constituency of invididuals, organizations, professionals, academics, practitioners, and more. The mission is to provide connection, advocacy, education and inspired action as a public service to individuals and communities seeking to proactively improve relationships and structures within their spheres and our world.