Transforming justice through programs and policy rooted in humanity and healing.

Community Works serves more than 1,000 children, transition-age youth and adults, including those incarcerated or returning home from jail or prison and advocates for policy change at the state and local levels.

• Restorative Reentry Programs combine restorative justice, cognitive behavioral therapy, artistic creation, and family systems to support a successful return home following incarceration. 95% of participants in Community’s RISE reentry program do not reoffend.
• Behind every parent in jail or prison, there are children serving time as well. ProjectWHAT, a paid program for children of incarcerated parents, empowers youth to advocate for themselves and others at the local and state level. Project WHAT advocacy has led directly to significant policy improvements, enhancing the lives of children with incarcerated parents.
• Community Works launched the nation’s first pre-charge restorative justice diversion model in 2011 in partnership with District Attorneys in Alameda and San Francisco Counties providing an alternative to incarceration for youth and young adults. Ddiversion is demonstrated to reduce future contact with the justice system: Participants in CW’s diversion program were 66% less likely to be re-arrested than young people facing traditional prosecution.

I got involved with Community Works to contribute whatever I can to correct the systemic injustice that has burdened our communities for generations. I believe restorative justice is a solution to a dysfunctional system that emphasizes retribution over rehabilitation and fails to keep our communities safe.