Little Book of Youth Engagement in Restorative Justice: Partnering with Young People to Create Systems Change for More Equitable Schools

Evelín Aquino is a longtime organizer/educator/trainer, with over thirty years experience of being in circle with elders, peers, and youth leaders. Committed to education towards liberation, her work is grounded in love and relationships, while providing creative spaces for youth and adults to think critically as they build knowledge together and take action as leaders in manifesting just and equitable schools. She holds the position of Climate and Culture Coordinator at Amherst Regional Middle School. She is a member of the Community Advisory board of Pa’lante at Holyoke High School and is a member of the executive committee of the Encampment for Citizenship board. Evelin is a Boricua/Dominicana graduate of UMASS Amherst. She is deeply inspired and guided by the youth of today (especially her beloved two children), her family, and her ancestors and elders (especially her father). She lives in Hadley, Massachusetts.

Heather Manchester is an educator, trainer, and RJ Program Manager for Oakland Unified School District. Growing up in California, she has over twenty-five years of experience facilitating leadership, community engagement, theater, and RJ programs in rural and urban settings. The core of her work is partnering with young people and adults to create spaces for meaningful dialogue to build more equitable and resilient communities. Heather coaches organizations to work in partnership with young people as trainers, researchers, funders, and policy makers. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and completed her masters in Peace and Conflict Studies, with a focus on Youth Participation in Peacebuilding, from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland. She is fueled by her love and appreciation for the elders and youth who have guided and walked the road towards justice with her and thanks her family and ancestors for grounding her. She lives in Oakland, California.

Anita Wadhwa, a native Houstonian, is a classroom teacher and restorative justice coordinator at YES Prep Northbrook High School, and author of Restorative Justice in Urban Schools: Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline and a contributor to the recently released anthology, Colorizing Restorative Justice. She is Co-Founder of Restorative Empowerment (or REY) and hires former students to train organizations in restorative practices. She owes everything to her parents, husband, and two lovely girls. She lives in Houston, Texas.