We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of Eric in August 2024, just days before his 50th Birthday Celebration. Please contribute to his family’s GoFundMe and or buy a tribute T-shirt help keep his legacy alive.

Read our tribute to our dear friend, Eric.

Neeli is a deeply seasoned facilitator supporting conflict, harm and impact spaces over the past decade, both online and on the ground, for schools and communities globally. She serves as a key team player and project manager at Talking Peace. Her wisdom and grassroots expertise is critical to cultivating spaces for difficult but necessary conversations to come alive with potential. Reach out to Neeli at info@talking-peace.org.

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.

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.