ABOUT US
Darren B. Easterling was a loving son, a funny brother, an affectionate father, a talented athlete, a young man who wanted more than anything else to "just be successful". But after his murder the media chose to depict him one way, with this headline: "Man Shot to death in Park Forest, IL. had weapon, drug convictions".
OUR CORE VALUES
Equity & Intersectionality
Guiding our work with both those who have caused harm and those who have been harmed. We strive to create a space where all individuals are heard, understood, and supported in their healing journey, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, ability, or any other aspect of their identity.
Compassion
Compassion is a fundamental value for the Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices, as it lies at the heart of its mission to promote healing and reconciliation. The center recognizes that showing compassion towards all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances, is crucial to fostering a restorative and inclusive community.
Resilience
Resilience is a fundamental value for the Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices, as it enables individuals to rebound from adversity and maintain a positive outlook in challenging circumstances, which is essential for restorative justice practices to thrive. The center seeks to cultivate resilience in both its staff and the communities it serves, recognizing that it is a vital component of healing and transformation.
Education
The Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices values education around the impact of trauma as a core principle in its approach to promoting healing and restoring justice. Through its programs and initiatives, the center aims to increase awareness and understanding of the effects of trauma on individuals, families, and communities, and equip stakeholders with the tools to create more compassionate and trauma-informed systems.
Healing
At the Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices, Healing is recognized as a fundamental principle for achieving justice and addressing harm. The center places a strong emphasis on creating a supportive environment that fosters healing and growth for all individuals impacted by injustice.
DARREN’S STORY
On July 22, 2012, a contentious drug deal cost 25 year-old Darren his life. The young man accused of his murder lost his freedom. Frustrated by the media's one-dimensional portrayal of her son as a worthless thug, Lisa D. Daniels established the Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices to redefine Darren's legacy and the legacies of so many young men who live and die like him every day.
In keeping with the principles of restorative justice--which seeks to honor and heal every person affected by crime, even the perpetrators--the Center incites change in individuals from the inside out. Catering to young men with criminal backgrounds, their mothers who are burdened with the grief of their lifestyle choices and children who have experienced the traumas commonly associated with violence, the Center programs nurture spirit, strive for resolution, and foster healing victim by victim, offender by offender, person by person.
In this human family, we are all broken, but we all deserve a chance for redemption. Like each and every one of us, Darren was a flawed human being, created in God's perfect image. Without the Center, his life would have ended in a blaze of gunfire. Now it carries on in an illumination of promise, of hope, of love.
WHAT WE DO
The Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices develops trauma-informed solutions to support communities of color impacted by violent crime and mass incarceration, including the "You Matter" model, a culturally relevant therapeutic support approach for men of color who have served long-term prison sentences, the "I Am Enough" intervention for women of color recovering from traumatic loss related to gun violence or incarceration, and the "Street Law Revolution" Youth Empowerment Workshop, which educates young men of color on their civil rights during police encounters through interactive sessions hosted by community partners and subject matter experts.
WHO WE ARE
Lisa D. Daniels
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lisa D. Daniels is a compassionate advocate, dynamic leader, and captivating speaker in the field of restorative justice, dedicated to guiding individuals and families on a journey of healing after experiencing violence and crime. Lisa's profound commitment stems from the tragic loss of her youngest son, Darren, to gun violence in 2012, a personal tragedy that ignited her own path towards healing and transformed her into an inspiring force for change. As the founder of the Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices (The Center), Lisa endeavors to dismantle the profound impact of violent crime and mass incarceration on communities of color.
Renowned for her impactful presentations, Lisa has eloquently spoken on various topics such as restorative justice, criminal justice reform, trauma resolution, and the journey of rebuilding after loss. Her influential voice has resonated in esteemed institutions like the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, and the National Network for Safe Communities. Currently, Lisa serves on the Illinois Sentencing Advisory Council (SPAC) and the Council on Criminal Justice, playing an instrumental role in shaping policies that foster equitable justice.
Sherri Allen-Reeves
BOARD MEMBER
Sherri Allen-Reeves is the Executive Director of Phoenix Foundation, NFP, a Supportive Housing program whose purpose is to create new possibilities for those experiencing homelessness. She has passionately worked in the service of others for over 30 years and is a very vocal advocate for the homeless and other disenfranchised people. She serves on multiple committees within the local Continuum of Care, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and Chicago Homelessness & Health Response Group for Equity (CHHRGE).
Orlando Mayorga
BOARD MEMBER
Orlando Mayorga is a restorative justice practitioner who values the humanity in all people and champions healing-centered support for people who carry the trauma of incarceration. He is a co-founder of the People's Liberty Project, led by directly justice-impacted women and men, focused on creating spaces for healing and advocacy in support of restorative and transformative justice policy.
Orlando currently serves the Office of the Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton's Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative as the McCormick Reentry Policy Coordinator Fellow where his experience as a justice-impacted person who served 20 years of incarceration in the Illinois Department of Corrections informs his current criminal justice reform initiatives that are reflective of the restorative and transformative values that guide him.
Annalise Buth
BOARD MEMBER
Annie Buth is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Law in the Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. She is a restorative justice practitioner, mediator, and former litigator who believes restorative justice can play an integral role in building healthier relationships and more just, equitable, connected, and inclusive communities. She focuses on the Center’s restorative justice initiatives, which include designing and teaching restorative justice courses. Annie co-created Northwestern Circles, a law school community group for students and staff that uses the circle practice to build community and address current issues. Through her work, she has partnered with groups such as the Northwestern Prison Education Program, James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Circles & Ciphers, Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago Alternative to Incarceration Collaborative, and others.