OUR STAFF
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Our organizational structure is modeled on a decentralized, participatory style of self-governance. It is our belief that this creates a more equitable and collaborative workplace, as well as a more immediate, informed and personally responsive commitment to serving our community.
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Mick Gardner has worked twenty-eight years in the fields of corrections, restorative justice/practices, trauma informed care, substance abuse, workforce referral, public health and technical assistance trainings. Through his work with underserved communities, i.e. pre and post-released women and men and their families, veterans, transgendered and HIV-positive populations — Mr. Gardner has established extensive experience in programs development/supervision, organizational management/sustainability, fund raising, community mobilization, evaluation and advocacy.
He has also served as the Assistant Director of Programs and Reentry at the San Francisco County Jail #5 for the previous 8+ years, and serves as the co-founder and interim Executive Director of a prison-based (California State Prison San Quentin) nonprofit organization, No More Tears, A Response to Violence.
Todd grew up in Mobile, Alabama and has lived in Sonoma County since 2009. He received a BA degree in cultural anthropology and an MA in psychology, both from Sonoma State University. He has worked with youth through coaching soccer, in residential facilities, and as an instructional assistant before joining Restorative Resources. Todd began at Restorative Resources as a community volunteer before assuming the role of Secondary Schools Training Manager. He is committed to exploring the deepest potential of human beings and participating in the development of a new cultural narrative that honors all life as one sacred, interconnected being.
"The foundational truth of the restorative process, that we are all interconnected, allows for all who participate to directly experience how our individual story is part of one great story, and it shows us how much we are needed and how we can contribute."
Maria Freebairn-Smith is passionate about bringing restorative practices into schools, families and communities. Her mission is to encourage parents and educators to model and inspire positive and collaborative problem-solving with children.
She is a professionally trained mediator, parenting coach and educator with twenty years of experience working with families. She holds a degree in Psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University with advanced trainings in early childhood education, conflict resolution and creative expression. She has helped start and oversee four non-profits: Sunridge Waldorf Charter School, Open Circle Cooperative Preschool, The Center for Creative Exploration and Drawbridge: An Arts Program for Homeless Children. She has most recently founded the Creative Parenting Center in downtown Sebastopol, CA and has a private practice specializing in co-parenting through separation and divorce.
Alcina Horstman brings over 25 years of community service to her work with Restorative Resources. She has developed and taught numerous arts & educational programs for youth, elders and adults with a primary focus on teens. As an educator in Boston, San Francisco, Oakland and Santa Rosa, she has worked in many communities and nonprofits, as well as hundreds of public schools. In addition to her role as Adult Restorative Program Manager with Restorative Resources, she trains teachers and administrators in restorative practices in public schools across the country.
She holds a four-year Studio Arts Diploma from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and a BA in Humanities from New College of California, focused on conflict facilitation. She was awarded the CAC (California Arts Council) grant for two consecutive years for her work with pre-and post-natal women in drug and alcohol residential recovery.
Vicky has decades of experience creating marketing materials for national corporations and small local businesses in the North Bay. As a freelance contractor, she’s worked for a diverse range of community based organizations – from the Redwood Empire Food Bank to RotaCare, Marin County’s free medical clinic – as well as helping to create outreach material for the Press Democrat’s Celebrate Community. Vicky has called Sonoma County her home for 20 years and lives with her wife in Sebastopol. In her spare time, she is happiest in the garden or cooking, and is an active volunteer for the Ceres Community Project.
A Bay Area native, who moved to Sebastopol in 1985, Carolyn has an entrepreneurial background as former owner of retail bedding and furniture stores, along with extensive professional experience in accounting, financial analysis, advertising and marketing. Semi-retired, Carolyn works with small businesses as a consultant and bookkeeper. In her spare time, she gardens, hikes, travels and reads.
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Jane has worked at Restorative Resources since March 2009. She received her MSW from UC Berkeley and has worked with youth and adults in a variety of schools, medical facilities and agencies providing social, mental health and mediation services. At Restorative Resources, Jane combines her strong interest in working with at-risk youth and their families with a dedication to social justice and supporting the rights and interests of all members of the community. She has served on several school boards (both public and private) as well as the Board of Recourse Mediation Services. Jane enjoys spending time with her 3 adult children, creating pottery and hiking.
Chad, a native of Sonoma County, and once an at-risk youth himself, has worked extensively as a mentor in a variety of ways - from counseling in residential group homes and leading wilderness trips with Life School Go adventure, to working as a newcomer support teacher in the Roseland school district.
His youth mentoring experience has led him to Restorative Resources where he feels he can be engaged in the community on a deeper level while doing the revolutionary work that is Restorative justice. In his free time Chad can be found spending time in the ocean, participating in anti-racist education, working at Wat Mahabuddhaphumi (a local Theravada Buddhist temple) and enjoying the company of friends and family.
Originally from Oaxaca, Adalberto moved to Santa Rosa at the young age of three, and has lived in Santa Rosa for the majority of his life. In 2015, he graduated from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in Mexican-American studies. Adalberto has extensive previous experience working with youth in both Santa Rosa and San Jose. His interests include futbol, reading, community organizing, and instilling cultural and social awareness in youth. In his spare time he enjoys kicking around a ball, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Born and raised in Sonoma County. Rai brings a wide range of knowledge to the Restorative Resources team. His passion for social justice is what sparked his journey in critical action for social mobility among marginalized youth. He hopes to challenge social barriers in relation to his community and start a wave of likeminded individuals retaking control of their life through organizing.
Currently as a student at Sonoma State University. Rai is on a journey in obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Political Science while preparing himself to apply for graduate school to one day receive a Ph.D. in Social Policy to return home and put his newly founded knowledge to work.
Yanin Torres is a womyn and first generation college student, who is attending Santa Rosa Junior College. She plans to transfer to Sonoma State University, where she will receive her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Social and Behavioral Science. Yanin’s passion for helping the community and also youth, is what inspires her to work with Restorative Resources. Growing up, Yanin has overcome many obstacles and barriers, and as a result wants to empower and show youth where their true power lies, in order to make positive and educated decisions, and contribute positively to their community.
She enjoys the ocean, especially being out in Bodega Bay. Due to her busy school and work schedule, when time allows it, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves learning about her culture, and being able to empower others with the rich history that is rarely ever shared with people of color.
Danielle is a student at Sonoma State University, majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a Minor in Sociology. She is looking forward to graduating in the Spring of 2018 and beginning a career in the criminal justice field, with a focus on helping people succeed in their community.
She enjoys being a mom to her two daughters, loves plants, and helping friends and family with their gardens. She also enjoys engaging in outdoor actives, such as hiking.
Born and raised in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California, Mariah moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to obtain her Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing and design from Dominican University of California. With over fifteen years of experience in the textile, fine art, and print industries, she now works as a freelance designer from her home in West Sonoma County.
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