Mend Collaborative

Mend Collaborative had the opportunity to present at NACRJ in New Orleans. We met and learned from other restorative justice practitioners and survivors from across the nation. It was an opportunity to learn from other organizations and models to improve our programs in support of those impacted by harm and incarceration. Thank you to NACJR for organizing an amazing conference that welcomed community and family. Thank you to Mend facilitator, trainer, presenter Lupita Yasmin for representing.

Mend Collaborative, alongside Impact Justice and Mass Liberation Project, has been invited to serve as practitioners and thought partners in advancing the implementation of the Cartabia Reform in the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions of Italy.
We believe restorative justice speaks to a universal human need and has a role in communities across California, throughout the United States, and around the world.
At its core, restorative justice creates pathways for healing, accountability, and transformation. We see this reflected in a wide range of practices—from victim-offender dialogue and rehabilitative programming that support accountability and public safety, to reentry services, housing justice, and community-based solutions that help people successfully return home and rebuild their lives.
We are honored that government leaders, local agencies, community partners, and the University of Bologna recognize the wisdom, leadership, and lived expertise of directly impacted people and community organizations. Meaningful reform happens when those closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions.
This invitation reflects the growing recognition of Mend Collaborative’s restorative justice model and practices, as well as the innovative approaches advanced by Impact Justice and Mass Liberation, as examples of what is possible when communities lead transformation.
Over the last few days, we shared reflections from Italy and engaged with legislators, prison administrators, impacted families, community organizations, residents, and staff at Parma Prison.
Thank you to program facilitator Lupe Angulo and Co-Director Miguel Quezada for representing Mend Collaborative and helping carry this work across borders.
A special thanks to the residents and staff that participated in the first ever convening in an Italian Prison at Instituti Penitenziara Di Parma and thank you to Lupe Angulo, Miguel Quezada, and Carlos Sauceda for facilitating this historic visit.
The conference was organized with the hard work and vision of at The University of Bologna.

Thank you to for inviting Mend Collaborative to present on the Victim Offender Dialogue program and how public defense can create opportunities for healing and accountability for both survivors of harm and their clients.

This February Mend, Whole Consulting, Responsibly Driven hosted a convening that brought together survivors of DUl related harm, people incarcerated for DUI related offenses who are participating in accountability focused programming, and decision makers for a facilitated conversation about accountability, prevention, survivor support, and public safety.

Guests were invited to hear from people with lived experience and explore how accountability driven programming inside prisons can support survivor needs, reduce future harm, and contribute to meaningful prevention and public safety.
DUl related harm leaves lasting impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Survivors carry grief, loss, and unanswered questions. Incarcerated people carry responsibility for harm caused and, in many cases, a commitment to understanding that harm and preventing it from happening again.
Accountability is an active, ongoing process that requires honesty, responsibility, and sustained change. This event highlights how the Responsibly Driven program can support accountability, reduce recidivism and align with survivor goals of preventing future harm.
Thank you to the families and speakers that shared their story’s, purpose, and solutions, Assemblymember Nick Shultz, California Committee on Revision of the Penal Code, and Whole Consulting among others.

A wonderful “Day of Healing” community building through sharing stories of truth and resilience, sessions such as Dance from the Heart curated by Azucena Ortiz, art where we ask participants to paint “What does it look like let go of your burden or grief”, and importantly joy. Thank you to our guest friends, families, survivors to organizations that joined us for this day of healing and celebration.