Justice 101: Restorative Justice: A Closer Look at Alternatives

A victims' rights attorney with over 30 years of legal experience including 15 years of legal advocacy serving survivors of crime in Pennsylvania. Her years at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) as their Legal Director have brought an understanding of the trauma endured by crime victims and an insight into the ways in which systems created to protect victims can often re-traumatize them. Suzanne’s passion for justice and commitment to centering the marginalized has led the Office of Victim Advocate to expand its victims’ services, as well as its crime prevention and restorative justice efforts. Suzanne is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, Florida Bar, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She has been highlighted as one of Pennsylvania’s Fifty over 50, the recipient of the Luminary Award from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the American Jurisprudence Award. Suzanne is also an experienced trainer providing training to allied professionals on trauma informed legal services, implicit bias and victims’ rights.   

Program Manager of Healing Futures, a youth restorative justice (RJ) diversion program with the Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project, and teaches RJ at Chestnut Hill College. In 2022, Felix narrowly escaped death by incarceration (also known as life without parole) via governor clemency after 27 years. While inside, he cofounded Let’s Circle Up, an RJ education project, and wrote Justice from the Inside Up: A Restorative Justice Education Facilitator’s Manual, which was published this summer by Living Justice Press. Also while inside, Felix cofounded the Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration, earned a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University in interdisciplinary studies, and served in leadership with the Alternatives to Violence Project and the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program. Now happily engaged and residing in southwest Philadelphia, he is the proud father of Jubilee, born a week shy of his two-year freedom anniversary. 

Is the Vice President for Partnerships for the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP), where he leads strategic efforts to strengthen relationships, empower communities, and advance restorative practices worldwide. A visionary executive with 30 years of leadership in the nonprofit and government sectors, Keith has focused on community health, civic leadership, and education. Keith has worked across education, justice, and community systems, advising initiatives such as the Maryland Commission on addressing the school-to-prison pipeline, CASEL’s Equity Work Group, and the California Safe, Healthy, Responsive Schools Network. His efforts have helped shape restorative practices in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Louisville, as well as internationally in the country of Jamaica. In Detroit, he collaborated with schools, law enforcement, community organizations, and a local foundation to embed restorative practices in their work benefiting children and families.

Previously, Keith held leadership roles with the New York City Department of Education and various nonprofits. He co-founded the Youth Justice Project at the Harlem Community Justice Center, empowering young leaders through youth courts and service-learning programs. He serves on the Executive Board of Inflexion Nonprofit Consulting and as an executive advisor to NYC’s first Creative Conflict Resolution Center. A member of the Citizens University National Civic Collaboratory, Keith remains committed to advancing social change through restorative practices globally.