about us
our vision
A world where all youth can achieve their dreams.
our mission
To support, center, and amplify youth voices and connect communities while creating a more equitable and fair juvenile justice system.
Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Meet the core committee members of Voices for Juvenile Justice.
Jaime Phillip Muñoz
Occupational Therapist, Independent Practice Scholar, Member of the Elsinore-Bennu Think Tank for Restorative Justice, Artist, Apiarist, Activist
Nik Roberts
Tenured Assistant Professor of Criminology and Conflict Resolution, Pennsylvania Western University
Adjunct faculty in the Department of Transformative Social Change at Saybrook University
Member of the Pennsylvania Prison Society and Veterans for Peace
Honorably discharged veteran of the Army National Guard and former Pennsylvania Department of Corrections employee
Diane Weaver-Thomas
Center for Victims Supervisor of Restorative Practices
Restorative Practices Trainer and facilitator of Impact of Crime classes with Juvenile Offenders
Facilitator of Victim Offender Dialog (mediation between juvenile offenders and their victims) and Community Dialog
Educational Advocate
Community Outreach and Violence Prevention and Intervention
Alida Merlo
Distinguished University Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Lyndsie Ferrara
Assistant Professor of Forensic Science & Law, Duquesne University
Member of the Elsinore-Bennu Think Tank for Restorative Justice
Walter Harris
Member of the Elsinore-Bennu Think Tank for Restorative Justice
Volunteer for Western PA's Participatory Defense Hub
Mentor and Facilitator for Father's on the Move
Sarah Kuehn
Associate Professor Criminology and Criminal Justice Department Slippery Rock University
Member of the Elsinore-Bennu Think Tank for Restorative Justice
Cindy Lacom
Retired Professor of Gender & Diversity Studies at Slippery Rock University
Member of the Elsinore-Bennu Think Tank for Restorative Justice
Board Member of the Western PA Continuums of Care, dedicated to ending experiences of homelessness
Michael Talley
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator and Guns Down/Level Up Program Manager, Allegheny County Community College