At the beginning of the summer, TJS Celebrated its 2nd year in business! Here are some highlights:

• In February 2024, we began work with Equal Justice USA to operationalize and nationally expand the Trauma to Trust program. Trauma to Trust is an experience that gathers community members and law enforcement to hold human conversations that build empathy and understanding around trauma and history, resulting in stronger community-centered public safety.
• TJS, in partnership with Bold Yoga LLC and the D.C. community, through the generosity of Cardware by CatalystXL, created The Healing Outlet as a tool for gun violence healing and prevention. In 2024, the app launched in Apple and Google Play stores. We engaged over 50 residents, youth, and organization leaders in focus groups and video content creation. The Healing Outlet paid over $40,000 directly to BIPOC community members in D.C. We piloted a therapy offering which provides free access to a BIPOC therapist for virtual drop-in sessions.
  
• TJS held its 3- week Storytelling for Change Training for advocates with lived experiences for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as American Civil Liberties Union - DC.
  

• TJS continued its contract with Sparking Change: A Storyteller Initiative and completed a comprehensive program analysis of its first year. With over 150 speaking and advocacy engagements, the storytellers have gone on to share their lived expertise with Forbes, The New York Times, Telemundo, Voz de America, Washington Post, NPR Here & Now, and The Cut by Vox.
  
• TJS provided its Building Voices Series to equip organizations collaborating with community and people with lived experiences for Affirm Cares Foundation and National Women’s Law Center.

Transformative Justice Solutions is excited to announce its launch as of June 2022! My inspiration to start TJS came from my early days of working in criminal justice reform, where I assisted startup nonprofits as they built infrastructure for mentoring programs. I had the honor of working with returning citizens who had sharp insight into the justice system and who understood the root of violent behaviors in disenfranchised young men. Drawing from their lived experience, they developed effective programs to divert youth from the justice system and guide them through finishing high school.

As the saying goes, "Those closest to the problem are often closest to the solution." I have held these words closely throughout my career. After I moved to Washington, DC, I began work with a nonprofit that focused on reentry women. I was fortunate to lead its speakers bureau, which paid and trained women with lived experience to tell their stories and effect change. My team secured opportunities for the women to testify before lawmakers, educate service providers, speak at conferences, co-design trainings, and host peer support groups. The women truly became a part of the change they wanted to see, and they shared valuable perspectives that are too often unheard in academia, political movements, and helping professions. 

My goal with Transformative Justice Solutions is to support organizations that wish to bridge research, client experience, and service delivery. Working with TJS can create the space for organizations to plan effective programs, design clean impact metrics, and coordinate staff in a way that validates their work and allows everyone to contribute meaningfully.

Interested in learning more about how we can work together? Reach out here!