Cindy Ayala Email & Phone Number

San Luis Obispo, Ca, Us

San Luis Obispo County, California, United States

• Responsible for the education and the intentional implementation of RJ practices into all aspects of RP programs, services and partnerships. • The DMRJI advances the mission through training and activities which foster RJ approaches to the criminal justice system. • Joins RP Leadership Team in becoming main leader agency for training, implementing, and sustaining restorative practices in San Luis Obispo County. • Responsible for RJ practices advancement throughout various in-custody programs and reentry services provided by the organization, as well as grant and contract compliance.

• Developed and launched victim-offender dialogue program for adults in a probation department in California.• Facilitate circles between individuals harmed by crime and persons responsible for harm. • Assess and help identify the needs of parties in the aftermath of crime, connect parties to resources as needed in order to repair the harm caused. Processes include motivational interviewing, trauma-informed interventions, problem-solving, conflict resolution, conferencing, preparing other conference participants, reporting progress and outcomes to district attorneys, public defenders, probation officers, judges, and other stakeholders (if needed). • Spearheaded pilot project with criminal justice stakeholders (attorneys, judges, officers, etc.) aiming to provide RJ services in other stages of the criminal justice system.• Received a $439,515 grant in 2019 from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to expand RJ program and its services. Created new strategy plan for program expansion, doubled nb. of case referrals from DA’s office to the RJ program between 2019-2022, and launched new database platform.• Consult on behalf of Probation Dept. with other counties and states. Assisted some in launching similar RJ programs.• Speaker at RJ events, conferences, rotaries, and discussion panels. • Instructor at local universities for workshops on restorative practices.• Created protocol and procedures guide on how to implement RJ program in a probation department. • Presented and distributed guide at the American Probation & Parole Association in 2020.• Completed numerous county staff trainings related to interventions, organizational implementation & leadership, mental health, etc. I.e: Trauma-Informed Interventions, Motivational Interviewing, Emotional Intelligence, Implicit Bias and Creating Cross-Cultural Environments, Active Listening & De-escalation, Suicide Prevention, Risk Management, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Awareness courses.

San Rafael, California, United States

• Instructed and facilitated introductory training for Executive Director and team on restorative practices.• Developed strategic plan and implementation process for grant-funded project. • Established work plan, deadlines, formal commitments, and milestones, increasing capacity and strengthening outcomes. The project involved interviewing law enforcement representatives, health care providers, educators, and ‘at promise’ youths.

San Rafael, California, United States

• Certified facilitator in Thinking of Change (T4C), an evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy/program. Facilitated groups in the community, including Marin county jail.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

• Facilitated victim-offender dialogue processes relating to a wide range of offenses (diversion-level cases to very serious felony-level cases). Worked with all ages.• Participated in monthly RJ regional networking groups to enhance and maintain relations with community partners and service providers.• Speaker at conferences, national symposiums, panels, and schools on restorative justice.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

• Provided guidance on the Restorative Opportunities Program and its victim-offender mediation services. This program was offered by the RJ division at the CSC National Headquarters.• Completed preliminary assessments for received referrals and produced written reports for mediators dispersed throughout the federal detention centers across Canada.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

• Planned and executed multiple restorative justice forums, events, conferences, workshops, speaking engagements in correctional facilities, schools, universities, governmental agencies, and in other arenas in collaboration with community partners. • Increased awareness and education on RJ across disciplines.• Surveyed community members and identified collaboration opportunities between stakeholders that led to useful initiatives and studies on RJ. Co-lead national project on crime awareness impact (Ottawa Office, 2016).

Laval, Quebec, Canada

• Managed sober living environment for formerly incarcerated women and supervised team of volunteers and interns while coordinating case management for residents.