K. Noël Amherd, MA, PhD
Founder of Restorejusticeonline
For nearly 15 years, Noël has been hosting Restorative dialogues and providing trainings for people in multiple settings. Noël's RJ work began in schools providing trainings in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Vallejo, Antioch, Oakland, Los Angeles, and more. As his RJ work progressed, Noël participated in the San Quentin Restorative Justice Interfaith Symposia which lead to his facilitation of Victim Offender Dialogues (VOD) throughout California. In recent years, Noël has consulted with and provided trainings for several District Attorney offices wanting to design and implement diversion programs for youth and adults. The most significant shift from a retributive/punitive culture is normalizing the perspective of repair through connection.
This takes time and challenges our desires for vengeful punishment. The key is our ability to develop healthy connection and relating where mistrust and separation exist. Restorative Justice functions when we first build community and recognize that harm and conflict are pain connections but healing and repair are solace connections. Like it or not, we are all connected. But we have to acknowledge how much of that is pain to then make the courageous choice to forge a healing connection. Having lived in Oakland for 30 years, Noël has recently moved to New Mexico where he continues his California work while supporting the growing desire and need for RJ in New Mexico. Noël is the founder of Restorejusticeonline, provider of RJ trainings and services, and the co-founder of BEHOLDEN: Land, Ancestors, Accountability, a new provider of workshops, courses, and retreats.
Contact
Phone Number: 510.316.3419
Website: https://restorejusticeonline.com/
