Conflict Transformation, Restorative Practices, & Consulting for
Nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations bring people together around shared values, identities, histories, places, and commitments. When conflict arises, it can affect more than a single relationship—it can create division, uncertainty, grief, disengagement, or questions about the future of the community itself.
We help mission-driven teams strengthen communication, navigate conflict, develop restorative leadership, and build healthier ways of working together.
Whether you are building capacity proactively or facing a difficult situation now, we can help you understand what kind of support may be appropriate and identify a responsible next step.
Transform Conflict & Community Rupture
We help communities address conflict affecting relationships, participation, leadership, or shared purpose by identifying underlying patterns, creating opportunities for dialogue and accountability, and developing clearer agreements and ways forward.
Strengthen Courageous Dialogue Across Difference
Building team capacity to engage difficult conversations with greater honesty, curiosity, and skill—strengthening deep listening and communication across differences in identity, belief, experience, and power.
Build Belonging, Participation & Inclusive Community
Helping communities translate commitments to belonging and inclusion into everyday practice by strengthening voice and participation, increasing awareness of power and impact, and creating conditions where people can contribute with dignity.
Support Difficult Decisions & Shared Discernment
We design and facilitate well-held processes for complex decisions, helping communities surface concerns, values, needs, and competing priorities while moving toward clearer direction without forcing false consensus.
Develop Restorative Leaders & Internal Capacity
We equip staff, volunteers, board members, clergy, and community leaders with practical skills to navigate conflict, facilitate restorative processes, strengthen accountability, and build sustainable internal capacity.
Navigate Change & Community-Wide Challenges
We support communities through leadership transitions, organizational change, difficult events, and periods of uncertainty by facilitating communication, surfacing concerns, and helping establish clearer shared direction.
Conflict transformation specialist, facilitator, leadership coach, social ethicist and theologian, author of Brave Talk and co-author of the I-IMAGINE Framework.
Melody Stanford Martin is a social ethicist, communication expert, restorative justice practitioner, anti-oppression educator, and Executive Director of the Restorative Justice Institute. She is the co-author of I-IMAGINE: A Restorative Framework for Transforming Conflict & Culture, and author of Brave Talk: Building Resilient Relationships in the Face of Conflict. Melody is the Founder & CEO of Cambridge Creative Group, TEDx speaker, and contributor to Psychology Today.
Melody obtained her Masters of Divinity in 2016 where she focused on Conflict Transformation at Boston University School of Theology. Since then, she has supported teams and leaders at a wide range of organizations, from nonprofits and faith communities to municipal governments to corporations, universities, and the legal team at NASA. Melody is passionate about courageous communication, building right relationship, and out-of-the-box thinking to address social challenges.
Educator and restorative practitioner with more than twenty years of experience supporting faith communities, mission-driven nonprofits, schools, and youth-serving organizations.
Roy’s work focuses on helping communities strengthen relationships, build trust, navigate conflict, and create cultures characterized by belonging, accountability, and shared leadership.
Roy has served as a teacher, curriculum writer, school leader, youth development professional, trainer, and coach. He has also supported restorative practices in community- and faith-based communities. Roy leads a monthly community-building circle at his Unitarian Universalist church in Jamaica Plain, MA and has also facilitated their Board retreats. He previously led UTEC’s Alternative Diploma Program, where he helped build a community-based high school serving young people facing significant barriers to success. He has also worked with public schools, education collaboratives, and alternative education programs to implement restorative practices, develop student leadership, and support positive school culture.
Most recently, Roy served as Restorative Practices and Student Leadership Development Specialist for Watertown Public Schools and as a trainer and coach with the Center for Restorative Justice. Through these roles, he has trained educators, school leaders, and youth workers in restorative approaches that foster connection, engagement, accountability, and belonging.
In addition to his professional experience, Roy brings the perspective of a parent of a neurodiverse middle school student. This experience has deepened his commitment to creating inclusive learning environments that honor diverse strengths, support authentic participation, and ensure that all young people feel seen, valued, and connected.
Mediator, facilitator, civil rights and conflict management specialist, restorative justice practitioner, Former Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS).
Clay Fong most recently served as a Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, where he mediated and facilitated community conflicts involving civil rights and hate crimes and delivered related training across the United States. His work included leading sessions on event marshaling and contingency planning for public demonstrations, advising stakeholders on conflict management, and helping design effective resolution processes in situations involving significant power imbalances, including interactions between communities and law enforcement. He also contributed to an agency working group developing restorative justice strategies for inclusion in the agency’s conflict-resolution toolkit.
Previously, Clay managed the City of Boulder’s Office of Human Rights and Community Relations, where he supervised the investigation and resolution of alleged violations of Boulder’s Human Rights Ordinance, including discrimination based on race, gender, and national origin. He also led internal human resources mediations and group problem-solving facilitations for city employees. He developed mediation strategies for staff and coached parties in expressing their interests across cultural and linguistic differences. Recognizing that the effects of discrimination often extend beyond transactional remedies, he incorporated restorative justice principles to support relational understanding and resolution.
For more than a decade, Clay also led Boulder’s Community Mediation Service, overseeing a team of staff and volunteer mediators and advising thousands of community members on their rights and conflict-resolution options. He was responsible for integrating the city’s mediation and restorative justice programs into a unified structure, recruiting and training restorative justice facilitators and community volunteers, and resolving complex cases. His work also incorporated motivational interviewing and rites-of-passage practices into restorative processes.
Bringing 20 years of coaching, facilitation, and conflict-transformation experience, along with more than a decade of experience supporting organizational culture change. Certified Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Trainer.
Phoenix Soleil is a coach, mediator, restorative circle keeper and organizational consultant who helps leaders and teams navigate conflict, give honest feedback, and work through difficult interpersonal dynamics. Her work focuses on helping people say what needs to be said—clearly and without blame—so that even challenging conversations can lead to understanding, accountability, and real change.
Phoenix facilitates mediations, workshops, company retreats, decision-making processes, and restorative circles. Her work often involves supporting multiple sides of a conflict, coaching individuals, guiding dialogue, and helping teams reach agreements that are workable, accountable, and sustainable over time.
With over 20 years of experience, Phoenix has worked with nonprofit and corporate organizations including Google, the Kellogg Foundation, UC Berkeley, the Insight Meditation Society, and the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute.
Community engagement specialist, mediator, and restorative justice practitioner with over 15 years of experience cultivating trusted relationships across nonprofit, government, education, and community sectors.
Tisha N. Carter-Smith is a dedicated community engagement and restorative justice professional with over 15 years of experience cultivating trusted relationships across organizations, government, education, and community sectors to improve restorative practice and strengthen collaborative partnerships. As the former Community Impact and Relations Liaison for the City of Des Moines, Tisha led the design and implementation of the city’s Community Mediation Program, utilizing restorative practices to foster community trust and resolve conflict. Her extensive work with government and public safety agencies includes developing and delivering implicit bias training for the Des Moines Police Department and spearheading research-based recommendations to advance equitable policing and community-centered service delivery.
Tisha’s consulting expertise is supported by a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from George Mason University, and an Executive Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. By integrating these specialized qualifications with deep experience in trauma-informed engagement and cross-sector collaboration, Tisha offers a comprehensive approach to training and consulting that prioritizes dignity, accountability, and the meaningful repair of harm within the restorative justice field.
Founder of Fractal HR, where she brings restorative and Nonviolent Communication-based approaches to conflict resolution, facilitation, coaching, and workplace culture. Pairing relational work with HR compliance and policy.
Colleen Skemp, SPHR, is the founder of Fractal HR, where she brings restorative approaches to conflict resolution, facilitation, training, coaching, and workplace culture. Fostering inclusive spaces, deep listening, and a conscious attention to power are central to her practice, as she works to build relationships rooted in shared dignity rather than domination. Her work is distinctive in pairing a relational, restorative approach with HR compliance and policy design, with a specialty in organizations implementing democratic structures and practices.
For more than a decade, Colleen has worked to serve the social economy by designing and supporting resilient people systems. Her practice is grounded in over ten years of Nonviolent Communication, which shapes how she helps teams navigate challenges and stay in connection as they work toward their shared goals together.
Clinical psychologist and founder of Mindbridge, bringing trauma-informed practice and human rights focus to restorative justice for a wide range of clients and organizations.
Laura Ligouri is a psychologist, researcher, and founder working to establish the emerging field of Human Rights Psychology – the application of psychological science to understanding and advancing human dignity, democratic resilience, and social change. Her work examines how trauma, identity, belonging, power, and collective behavior shape societies, and how evidence from psychology and neuroscience can help design more effective responses to today’s most pressing human rights challenges.
As Founder and Chief External Strategy Officer of Mindbridge (www.mindbridgecenter.org), Laura partners with governments, nonprofits, researchers, and advocacy organizations to translate psychological science into practical strategies for preventing extremism, strengthening democratic participation, supporting trauma recovery, and building resilient communities. Her work bridges research and practice, helping leaders understand not only what people believe, but why they believe it – and how meaningful change becomes possible.
Her current scholarship focuses on democratic resilience, authoritarianism, political polarization, belonging, racial trauma, moral injury, and the psychology of collective action. Through research, writing, teaching, and public engagement, she is working to define Human Rights Psychology as a field that places the science of human behavior at the center of efforts to advance justice, strengthen democratic institutions, and expand human flourishing.
Restorative justice practitioner and restorative program designer specializing in education, nonprofits, and community organizations. Founder of Baxter Academy.
Moises “Mo” Nuñez brings more than 20 years of experience in public education and restorative practice. Since receiving restorative justice training while working with incarcerated youth in 2002, he has integrated restorative approaches across public and independent schools, universities, educational nonprofits, and alternative programs for young people. He began leading restorative practice trainings in 2009 and is a cofounder of Baxter Academy, a STEM high school in Portland, Maine.
Mo is currently completing his PhD dissertation in Education at the University of New Hampshire, examining the role of listening in restorative practice within public high schools. His goal is to develop a practical framework that classroom educators can integrate into their everyday work.
Conflict resolution and dispute resolution professional with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and communities across nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and education.
Colette Lima brings more than a decade of experience in restorative justice facilitation, training, coaching, and organizational support. She has designed and led trainings and talking circles in schools, community-organizing spaces, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits, helping groups strengthen communication, navigate conflict, and build collaborative practices grounded in their values.
A former classroom educator, Colette’s approach is rooted in the belief that the people closest to a challenge should be meaningfully involved in shaping the solution. She has consulted with school districts, coached leaders, facilitated difficult conversations, and supported organizations through conflict and change with an emphasis on relationships, shared responsibility, and collective problem-solving.
Restorative justice facilitator, trainer, circle keeper, and community catalyst building partnerships to promote inclusivity and engagement in nonprofit and faith communities.
Addison Simms earned a Master of Arts in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law and Graduate School in 2024. He began working as a restorative justice facilitator with the Center for Children’s Rights in 2021 and has since facilitated circles in a wide range of settings, including after-school programs, detention centers, NICU parent groups, and prosecution teams. He has also contributed to initiatives to strengthen engagement, communication, and collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.
Addison Simms earned a Master of Arts in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law and Graduate School in 2024. He began working as a restorative justice facilitator with the Center for Children’s Rights in 2021 and has since facilitated circles in a wide range of settings, including after-school programs, detention centers, NICU parent groups, and prosecution teams. He has also contributed to initiatives to strengthen engagement, communication, and collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.
We support nonprofits, neighborhood associations, cultural organizations, advocacy groups, resident-led initiatives, and grassroots networks working toward a shared mission or community goal. Our work can strengthen collaboration, leadership, communication, participation, and the capacity to navigate conflict across different roles and perspectives.
We work with municipalities, public agencies, commissions, advisory boards, and civic organizations seeking more participatory and constructive approaches to community engagement, difficult decisions, and public conflict. Support may include facilitated dialogue, stakeholder engagement, collaborative planning, leadership development, and restorative program design.
Our team supports congregations, faith-based nonprofits, and interfaith communities seeking healthier approaches to communication, conflict, accountability, belonging, and shared life.
We help staff teams, lay leaders, clergy, volunteers, and community leaders navigate difficult relationships, complex decisions, leadership transitions, and changing responsibilities.
We partner with denominational offices, regional networks, boards, councils, and other governing bodies to strengthen restorative leadership, collaboration, program development, and conflict capacity across multiple communities.
We facilitate collaboration and dialogue among people and organizations working across different religious traditions, cultural experiences, values, and community roles.
We work with coalitions, alliances, committees, volunteer-led organizations, and membership communities that must navigate competing priorities, distributed leadership, and collaboration across difference.
Training & Professional Development
We provide experiential learning for clergy, staff, governing bodies, volunteers, members, and community partners. Training can include restorative practice, conflict transformation, courageous communication, accountability, belonging, trauma-responsive practice, and relational leadership.
Consulting & Community Process Design
We help organizations assess needs, clarify goals, design restorative programs and processes, strengthen governance and communication, prepare leaders, and develop practical implementation plans.
Circle Keeper & Facilitator Development
We prepare internal leaders and facilitators to guide circles, introduce restorative practices, and build conflict capacity within their own organizations and communities.
Facilitation, Circle Process, & Community Dialogue
We facilitate retreats, listening sessions, congregational conversations, community dialogues, planning processes, leadership discussions, shared agreement development, and difficult decisions.
Restorative Mediation
We provide structured, voluntary support for appropriate conflicts involving leaders, staff, governing bodies, members, volunteers, partner organizations, or groups within the wider community.
Conflict & Leadership Coaching
We offer confidential support for clergy, directors, board members, staff, volunteers, and community leaders preparing for difficult conversations, responding to conflict, or clarifying their next steps.
Circle process creates participatory spaces for listening, reflection, relationship-building, discernment, shared agreements, accountability, and carefully prepared dialogue.
I-IMAGINE helps communities move beyond competing positions to understand deeper patterns, explore impact and responsibility, generate possibilities, develop practical plans, and create healthier norms.
Brave Talk helps leaders and community members build the skills needed to communicate honestly, listen across difference, navigate emotional activation, and participate constructively in difficult conversations.
Commonweave provides sustained, community-facing support through customized learning series, facilitated engagement, leadership development, conflict-readiness work, and implementation assistance.
An engagement may begin with a workshop, consultation, coaching session, retreat, facilitated conversation, or circle. It may also develop into a longer partnership supporting leadership, culture, community engagement, or conflict response.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. We will work with you to develop an approach that reflects your community, goals, readiness, and available resources.
