About Katherine Russell, MS

Email: katherine [at] transformthework.com

I earned my master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University and have focused my career on systemic reform that bridges research with practice. I do this work because I believe with alternative approaches to our current justice system, we can create stronger communities, brighter futures for our youth, and more equitable opportunities for everyone.

With a ten-year track record in civil rights advocacy and direct service work, I led the design of a successful legal department and home ownership program at Community Family Life Services; developed learning and engagement opportunities for a network of reentry providers as Programs Committee Chair at the Reentry Action Network; and directed the planning of the first and second MORE THAN Conference, a series of plenaries on best practices for serving justice-affected families. I have managed teams through multiple restructures, organizational changes, strategic planning, and innovative projects.
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I had the distinct honor of supervising the CFLS Speakers Bureau, a cohort of justice-affected women and domestic violence survivors trained and paid to speak publicly to effect change. (And what an honor it was to get to know, learn from, and guide such powerful women through a transformative experience!). With my leadership, and the arduous work of an inspiring team, the Bureau grew to 70 members who collectively earned over $40,000 in speaking engagements within two years. We secured opportunities for members to share testimony with community stakeholders, government agencies, social work practitioners, and politicians – and multiple members flourished into becoming paid presenters at national and international conferences.

I have designed trainings for the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Office for Victims of Crime Training & Technical Assistance Center, and countless reentry organizations. I have spoken at multiple conferences, including Maryland’s 2019 harm reduction conference, “Regrounding Our Response to the Opioid Epidemic”; Feeding America’s Anti-Hunger Policy Conference; and the 2022 Institute of Violence Abuse and Trauma International Summit in Hawaii. I additionally worked for a photographer in writing the photo-essay documentary Coming Home: Reentry After Incarceration, published in 2018.

Read Katherine's interview with Go Solo.

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Current Projects

National Women's Law Center - Storyteller's Bureau training and consulting
The Healing Outlet - Co-creator and developer for gun violence intervention platform
A Chance to Thrive Initiative - Organized UPWARD: Employer Symposium on Second Chance Hiring
DC Crisis Response Coalition - Assisted with press conference and community day speaker preparation
Taproot Foundation - Webinar on Strategies to Mobilize Your Social Media Followers Around a Cause