The FRJA Board of Directors
Gretchen Casey
President
President
Gretchen is the Director of Restorative Justice Training and Advocacy at the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. For over 30 years Gretchen has been an advocate and counselor for victims of crime in Gainesville, FL. From 1999-2012, She was also the Director of Project Payback, a juvenile offender restitution program housed in the State Attorney's Office-8th Judicial Circuit. Gretchen is also the creator of unshame.org and the facebook platform page Unshame which posts supportive messages for survivors of sexual assault. She believes that our lives are defined by what we are paying attention to; that people and ideals are often in conflict, and that what is shared, is savored. She has studied and trained on Morita therapy with Dr. Brian Ogawa. On weekends she is an avid gardener, horseback rider, and story collector. Here is a link to Gretchen's recent TEDxUF talk, Restorative Justice: Repairing the Harm after Sexual Assault https://youtu.be/eGzjM1JEbwo
William Jackson
Vice President
Vice President
William T. Jackson served over 12 years with the Urban League of Broward County as a Youth Development Counselor, Case Manager, Program Coordinator, Program Manager and Community Justice Division Manager. In his last role, William led and managed the "New Diversion Alternatives for Youth" program, "Healthy Youth Transitions" program, and "Crime Prevention and Intervention" program. In addition, he served on the Broward Diversion Coalition as Co-Chair; Southeast Florida Crime Prevention Association; Florida Crime Prevention Association; Florida Department of Juvenile Justice - Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) Committee; and founder of The Justice Project. William currently is a Public Affairs Ph.D. student at Florida International University and a Graduate Research Assistant with the FIU Jorge M. Pérez Metropolitan Center; and a member of the National Association for Community and Restorative Justice.
William’s interests are in empowering others to act by developing cooperative and collaborative relationships that would benefit the community as a whole; challenging the process when it concerns the systemic changes that need to be made for the most vulnerable communities to succeed and thrive; along with encouraging the heart for others to follow a shared vision of serving those that are in most need of assistance. He is committed to serving individuals, families and communities that have limited access and opportunity; and are in need of a second chance. One of William’s favorite quotes is, “Life is worth living when one has the opportunity to serve and give.”
William’s interests are in empowering others to act by developing cooperative and collaborative relationships that would benefit the community as a whole; challenging the process when it concerns the systemic changes that need to be made for the most vulnerable communities to succeed and thrive; along with encouraging the heart for others to follow a shared vision of serving those that are in most need of assistance. He is committed to serving individuals, families and communities that have limited access and opportunity; and are in need of a second chance. One of William’s favorite quotes is, “Life is worth living when one has the opportunity to serve and give.”
Janelle King
Secretary
Secretary
Janelle King works at the Florida Department of Children and Families in the Office of Child Welfare. She serves as the statewide Restorative Practices Specialist and is DCF's representative on the implementation, training, and ongoing coordination of restorative practices throughout the state. Before joining DCF, she worked at the Department of Juvenile Justice. She serves as DCF’s point of contact for statewide crossover-related efforts and is also the coordinator for DCF’s Florida Youth Leadership Academy. Janelle volunteers with the Community Connections Program in Tallahassee. She is very passionate about restorative practices and Nonviolent Communication and is licensed through the International Institute for Restorative Practices in restorative practices and is working on becoming a certified NVC trainer. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Criminology from Florida State University in 2017. She is currently a fellow with the New Leaders Council leadership training program in Tallahassee. She enjoys playing tennis, doing yoga, and being outside.
Jacqui Lashbrook
Treasurer
Treasurer
Jacqui Lashbrook currently serves as the Youth Services Supervisor for the Broward Sheriff’s Office Community Justice Program (CJP). Her role involves designing and implementing program services for youth diverted away from the criminal justice system. The program focuses on accountability and competency development of justice involved youth and reparations for crime victims, with the goal of community safety through the application of Restorative Justice principles. As a Cuban native having grown up in Miami, FL Jacqui uses her experience as a catalyst for system change. Jacqui believes that restorative justice is a way to life. She believes in the power of restorative justice and wants to be part of the cultural shift that is possible with this grass-roots practice.
Jacqui has an BA in Sociology/Anthropology from Florida International University. For Jacqui, it is important to find ways to engage community members through an intersectional and youth centered lens. She is uniquely positioned within a law enforcement agency to bridge the gap between law enforcement and youth. Jacqui’s work in the community includes facilitating peacemaking circles between law enforcement officers and youths, as well as being on committees seeking to increase youth voice in local youth services.
Jacqui has an BA in Sociology/Anthropology from Florida International University. For Jacqui, it is important to find ways to engage community members through an intersectional and youth centered lens. She is uniquely positioned within a law enforcement agency to bridge the gap between law enforcement and youth. Jacqui’s work in the community includes facilitating peacemaking circles between law enforcement officers and youths, as well as being on committees seeking to increase youth voice in local youth services.
Dr. Cindy Bigbie
Board Member
Board Member
Dr. Cindy Bigbie has a PhD in Instructional Systems Design, has a successful program evaluation business, and is currently the Executive Director of the Community Connections Program. The Community Connections Program is a restorative justice diversion program for juveniles in Tallahassee, Florida. She works closely with the community center staff, city and county governments, the juvenile justice system, the police department and neighborhood schools. Dr. Bigbie is a restorative justice facilitator and trainer and she brings business management skills, professional-level program evaluation, training capacity, restorative justice facilitation, and stakeholder connections to the FRJA team.
Heart Phoenix
Board Member
Board Member
Heart's work, service and activism has spanned over five decades in the United States and internationally. As an educator and champion of environmental, animal rights, social justice, restorative justice, peacebuilding, racial and gender equality issues, she brings the passion and energy of her name....Heart. She is a co-founder of The Peace Alliance working towards legislation for a more peaceful and sustainable world. She is currently living her dream as Board President of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, in honor of her son. Her tireless efforts to launch and drive this work has lead to success in forming partnerships with Law Enforcement, Department of Juvenile Justice, Florida's State Attorney's Office, the University of Florida and countless partners in peacebuilding. She co-founded "Peace4Gainesville: A Trauma Responsive Community Initiative."
Her passion and commitment to nonviolence, includes over 40 years of a vegan lifestyle, and has been the center point of her life.
Her passion and commitment to nonviolence, includes over 40 years of a vegan lifestyle, and has been the center point of her life.
Johnny McCray III
Board Member
Board Member
Johnny is a law enforcement officer for Fort Lauderdale Police Department, where he serves in the capacity of the department’s Community Engagement Team. Prior to joining FLPD, McCray served briefly as an attorney with the West Palm Beach Public Defender’s Office, in the misdemeanor division. Priding himself in community engagement, McCray works vigorously towards bridging the relational gap between the community and law enforcement. Passionate about working closely with troubled youth (many of whom have been introduced to the juvenile criminal justice system), McCray regularly partners with numerous diversion programs within his jurisdiction. McCray has seen firsthand how his involvement in restorative justice practices have significantly reduced the number of repeat juvenile offenders. McCray believes that restorative justice practices are essential in contributing a sense of cohesiveness in the community, and he wants to assist in expanding awareness. McCray considers the true measure of success as being determined not by how much money one makes, but by how much one gives back to others. In 2008, McCray received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Bethune-Cookman University, and his Juris Doctorate degree from Florida A&M University’s College of Law, in 2012. McCray enjoys spending time with his family and living a fulfilled, active lifestyle.
The FRJA Staff
Dan Kahn
Executive Director
Executive Director
Dan Kahn teaches empathy skills to teenagers at the Community Connections Restorative Justice program in Tallahassee, Florida as a Case Manager, promotes the growth of restorative justice nationally as Project Coordinator for RJnet, and coaches peacebuilding advocates globally as National Field Coordinator of The Peace Alliance. He is also an active consultant for Ayeish, bringing empathy skills to international high-conflict zones.
Dan received his AB from Amherst College, and his JD from Lewis and Clark College's Northwestern School of Law.
Dan is the seventh of eight siblings, and and uncle of many. He lives in Tallahassee, with Mushi the marvelous orange dog, where he loves to swim, bike, play, cook, eat, and watch stuff grow.
Dan received his AB from Amherst College, and his JD from Lewis and Clark College's Northwestern School of Law.
Dan is the seventh of eight siblings, and and uncle of many. He lives in Tallahassee, with Mushi the marvelous orange dog, where he loves to swim, bike, play, cook, eat, and watch stuff grow.