We are thrilled to invite you to one of the most impactful gatherings of the year—the 2026 Annual Reentry Conference and Expo: Celebrating 14 Years. With last year’s event drawing nearly 1000 passionate attendees, this year we return with even greater purpose and unity under the theme:
OPENING DOORS TO NEW BEGINNINGS
This is more than a conference—it’s a movement. A day to honor resilience, amplify voices, and build bridges across communities committed to healing, restoration, and second chances. Whether you’re directly impacted, a service provider, an advocate, or simply someone who believes in the power of redemption and community, this day is for you.
Friday, September 18, 2026, signup now!
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Doors open at 8:00 a.m. for attendees
Saint Mary’s Cathedral Event Center | San Francisco, CA
Who Should Attend this Event?
Everyone is welcome —
Individuals returning from incarceration
Families with loved ones incarcerated
- Families who have lost a loved one to homicide or violence
Service providers
Community leaders
Students, advocates, and allies
Anyone committed to justice, healing, and second chances
Panel Discussions, Resources and Networking
What to Expect
Your Pathway to Reentry Success
Engage with experts, access essential services, and connect with leaders and peers committed to your growth and stability.
Your Network of Support Starts Here
Build relationships and community partners committed to opening doors to new opportunities, engage with:
- Employers
- Housing providers
- Legal advocates
- Mental Health Services
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment
- Educational Programs
- Family Reunification
- Financial Assistance
- Peer Support
- Victim Offender Programs
Networking Sessions at the Reentry Conference & Expo are more than conversations — they are moments of connection for attendees to open doors to new opportunities. These sessions create a space where encouragement, wisdom, and real support flow naturally.
Expanded networking benefits for organizations: When organizations connect, clients benefit — because stronger partnerships mean smoother transitions, better outcomes, and more coordinated care. These benefits help organizations:
– Build new partnerships that expand services and fill gaps
– Share best practices and innovative approaches to reentry
-Coordinate warm handoffs and cross‑referrals
– Strengthen regional collaboration across counties and sectors
-Discover new funding opportunities and joint‑grant partners
– Connect with employers, legal teams, housing providers, and mental health agencies
– Create a more unified, effective support network for returning citizens
Voices Driving the Future of Reentry
Hear powerful stories, practical strategies, and bold ideas from leaders transforming systems and opening doors.
75+ INSPIRING SPEAKERS. ONE COMPREHENSIVE REENTRY DIALOGUE.
From Policy to Practice — From Lived Experience to Leadership
YEARS
The Future of Reentry Today
13 dynamic panel discussions featuring experts and lived‑experience leaders
• 150+ Bay Area organizations offering hands‑on support
• Record expungement clinic with live attorney consultations
• Employment job fair with second‑chance employers
• A welcoming space for healing, connection, and new beginnings
The 14th Annual Reentry Conference & Expo is the Bay Area’s largest gathering dedicated to restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity for individuals and families impacted by incarceration. Over the past 14 years, more than 7,000 participants have come together to learn, connect, and build a stronger, more compassionate reentry ecosystem.
This year’s event continues that legacy — bringing together community leaders, service providers, employers, advocates, and people with lived experience to share tools, resources, and pathways that transform survival into stability and stability into healing. It’s more than a conference — it’s a movement of restoration, collaboration, and new beginnings.
Program Schedule
7:00 AM — Resources and Employers Check-In
8:00 AM — Attendee’s Check-In
9:00 AM — Session 1
Hall A: Employment that Last: Keys to Reentry Retention Success
Panel Information
This Retaining employment can be challenging even for individuals with no involvement in the criminal justice system. Newly hired employees often face a probationary period that brings unexpected obstacles.
For individuals with lived experience, these challenges can be even more complex and discouraging. To address these barriers, we have assembled an expert panel with more than 50 years of combined experience supporting justice‑impacted jobseekers. Panelists will explore the full range of employment hurdles—from securing a job to sustaining long‑term retention—and share practical strategies that promote stability, confidence, and career growth.
By offering their insight, wisdom, and proven approaches, the panel aims to strengthen pathways to career longevity and advancement for individuals with lived experience
Charles Turner - Moderator
Coordinator of Re-Entry Services, Alameda County Workforce Development Board, Government and Community Relations | Alameda County Social Services Agency
James Toro - Panelist
Program Officer, The San Francisco Foundation
Jason Toro is the Chief Executive Officer of Tri-CED Community Recycling, where he is responsible for providing executive leadership and strategic operational oversight to drive operational efficiency. Tri-CED is a nonprofit community recycling corporation that reduces the waste stream, provides training and job opportunities for youth and adults with barriers to employment and shares residual profits with the community.
Katie Dixon- Panelist
Program Officer, The San Francisco Foundation
Katie Dixon is a Program Associate at the San Francisco Foundation and a Community Advisor to the Prospect Hill Foundation. Her work sits at the intersection of philanthropy, social justice, and systems change, with a focus on advancing equity and opportunity for communities impacted by incarceration.
Micheal Ogundare - Panelist
Director of Diversion & Reentry Services, La Familia Counseling & Services
Earl Grays - Panelist
Owner & Chief Executive Officer, Performance Solutions Inc.
Douglas Butler - Panelist
Workforce Development / Career Specialist, Cypress Mandela Training Center, (CMTC)
HALL B: Building Bridges: Transforming Supervision from Surveillance to Partnership Panel
Panel Information
This groundbreaking panel reframes the traditional supervision relationship by showcasing successful partnerships between supervising officers and their clients. Featuring a county probation officer, a state parole agent, a federal probation officer, and individuals who have successfully navigated community supervision. This forum demonstrates how collaborative supervision approaches dramatically improve reentry outcomes and reduce recidivism.
Core Mission
Moving beyond the punitive supervision model, this panel explores how supervising officers and clients can work together as allies in the reentry process. Rather than viewing supervision as a series of compliance checks and restrictions, participants will learn how to build mutually respectful partnerships focused on problem-solving, resource connection, and long-term success.
Featured Panel Composition
Supervision Professionals
- County Probation Officer specializing in adult supervision with expertise in community-based alternatives and collaborative case management
- State Parole Agent with experience in evidence-based supervision practices and motivational interviewing techniques
- Federal Probation Officer skilled in individualized supervision planning and federal reentry programming
Success Story Representative A formerly supervised individual who has successfully completed supervision and can speak authentically about what made the difference in their reentry journey, including specific examples of how their supervising officer served as an advocate and resource connector.
HALL C: Mental Health, Trauma, and Healing During Reentry
Mental Health, Trauma, and Healing During Reentry
Reentry is not only a logistical transition — it is an emotional and psychological journey that requires healing, stability, and support. This panel brings together community clinicians, trauma-informed practitioners, and lived-experience mental health leaders to explore the complex mental health challenges individuals face during and after incarceration.
Panelists will discuss the impact of trauma, chronic stress, grief, identity loss, and the emotional toll of navigating systems that are often overwhelming and unfamiliar. The conversation will highlight community-based mental health care, warm handoffs, peer-led support, and culturally responsive healing practices that promote long-term wellness.
Attendees will gain practical tools for coping, strategies for accessing care, and insights into how mental health providers and community partners can work together to support returning citizens. This panel centers the human experience of reentry — acknowledging pain, honoring resilience, and offering pathways toward hope, connection, and emotional restoration.
ST. FRANCIS HALL: Clean Slate Training, Understanding SB731
Training Information
Join TimeDone for an essential, high‑impact training on Senate Bill 731 (SB731), California’s groundbreaking law that transforms the path to record clearance for thousands of people across the state.
This session breaks down who qualifies, how the petition process works, and what community members, service providers, and advocates need to know to help people navigate the new system with confidence. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the timelines, documentation, and legal standards involved — along with practical guidance on how to support clients through each step.
More than a policy update, this training highlights the real‑world impact of record clearance: expanded access to employment, stable housing, educational opportunities, professional licensing, and family reunification. SB731 is restoring dignity, rebuilding futures, and removing barriers that have held people back long after they’ve completed their sentence.
You’ll also learn how SB731 fits into the broader movement for justice reform — and how you, your organization, or your community can play an active role in expanding awareness, increasing access, and ensuring that every eligible person has the chance to benefit from this historic law.
Whether you’re a practitioner, advocate, system partner, or community leader, this session equips you with the knowledge and tools to help unlock opportunity and full citizenship for thousands of Californians.
Saun G. Hough - Training Presenter
Partnerships Director, Californians for Safety and Justice
Saun G. Hough is the California Partnerships Manager for Californians for Safety & Justice, where he coordinates public education campaigns and state and local coalitions to advance policy initiatives and community-based safety strategies. His work focuses on promoting shared safety solutions that invest in communities and support alternatives to costly and ineffective incarceration.
Read Saun G. Hough's Full Biography
Throughout his career, Saun has built a strong record of advocacy and leadership focused on criminal justice reform, workforce development, and community empowerment. His efforts have included advancing fair hiring practices for formerly incarcerated job seekers and supporting initiatives that expand access to equitable judicial relief for both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
In addition to his policy and advocacy work, Saun is an accomplished workforce development professional with extensive experience serving underserved populations. He specializes in supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and adults as they pursue employment, education, and successful community reintegration.
Saun serves as an Executive Board Member of the Reentry Providers Association of California (REPAC), the nation's first 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization representing service providers, grassroots organizations, and community-based agencies dedicated to promoting successful reentry and restoring healthy communities for individuals returning from incarceration.
Prior to joining Californians for Safety & Justice, Saun served as the Vocational Services Administrator for SHIELDS for Families, Inc., where he helped develop and oversee workforce development programs designed to increase economic opportunity and self-sufficiency for vulnerable populations.
A respected voice in the reentry field, Saun actively participates on numerous reentry advisory committees and collaborates with stakeholders across government, nonprofit, faith-based, and community sectors to advance policies and programs that promote public safety, rehabilitation, and second chances.
Beyond his professional commitments, Saun serves as Associate Pastor at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Compton, California, where he continues his dedication to faith, service, and community leadership.
Saun is also a devoted husband, father of three, and proud grandfather of four. Through his leadership, advocacy, and service, he remains committed to building stronger communities, expanding opportunity, and creating pathways to success for justice-impacted individuals and families.
10:00 AM — Session 2
ST FRANCIS HALL: The Restoration Initiative: Reentry Simulation- Breaking Barriers
Simulation Information
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans return home from incarceration with the hope of rebuilding their lives. Yet for many, release from prison marks the beginning of another sentence—one defined by legal barriers, discrimination, and systemic exclusion from housing, employment, education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
Breaking Barriers: A Reentry Simulation is an immersive, interactive experience that places participants in the role of someone navigating the first month after release from incarceration. Participants must make difficult decisions while confronting the complex network of policies, collateral consequences, and bureaucratic obstacles that too often prevent successful reintegration.
More than an educational exercise, this simulation serves as the opening experience of The Restoration Initiative, a national public education campaign designed to help communities move beyond awareness toward meaningful policy solutions.
Rather than ending with an understanding of the problem, participants are invited to begin asking a more important question:
If rehabilitation is possible, what should restoration look like?
The simulation prepares participants for a deeper policy conversation where legal experts, policymakers, justice system leaders, and community advocates explore innovative approaches to removing unnecessary barriers while strengthening both public safety and community success.
Workshop Objectives
Participants will:
- Experience the realities of reentry through immersive simulation.
- Better understand the cumulative effects of collateral consequences.
- Explore how existing policies support—or hinder—successful reintegration.
- Prepare to engage in thoughtful dialogue regarding future policy innovations.
10:30 AM — Session 3
HALL A: Breaking Barriers to Housing Access for Justice Involved Women in San Francisco
Panel Information
Justice‑involved women often enter the criminal legal system through gender‑specific pathways, including domestic violence, trauma, and crimes of survival. Upon reentry, they face limited access to coordinated, gender‑responsive services that address safety, income disparities, caretaking responsibilities, and healthcare needs. This panel brings together formerly incarcerated women, domestic violence advocates, housing specialists, and reentry service providers to discuss the current landscape for women returning to San Francisco. Panelists will explore the unique challenges women encounter after incarceration, the impact of fragmented systems, and the barriers to securing safe and stable housing. They will also highlight promising practices, collaborative efforts, and emerging solutions that are improving outcomes and strengthening support for women across the city.
HALL B: The Role of Faith in Healing, Accountability, and Reentry
Panel Information
Faith communities have long played a meaningful role in supporting individuals as they move from incarceration toward stability, accountability, and renewed purpose. For many returning citizens, these communities provide encouragement, structure, and a sense of belonging during one of the most challenging transitions of their lives. This grounding support often becomes a bridge between past experiences and future possibilities, helping individuals reconnect with hope and identity through faith‑rooted guidance.
This panel brings together leaders and lived‑experience voices who have seen — and personally experienced — how faith‑based support can accompany people through trauma, reconciliation, and rebuilding their lives. Panelists will explore the impact of in‑custody ministry, mentoring, community engagement, and reentry programs that foster connection, responsibility, and hope. These practices help individuals navigate the emotional and spiritual dimensions of reentry, which are often overlooked in traditional service models.
They will also discuss common reentry barriers and how supportive practices help strengthen family relationships, build confidence, and promote long‑term transformation. Panelists will share real stories of how consistent guidance, positive community relationships, and values‑based support helped them navigate employment, housing, and personal growth after incarceration. These testimonies highlight the power of community belonging and the role of faith in sustaining motivation and resilience.
Finally, the panel will highlight what makes faith‑rooted reentry programs effective, including trust, accountability, and the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to rebuild. Attendees will gain insight into the unique role faith communities play in creating pathways for successful reentry — and how these partnerships can strengthen the broader reentry ecosystem across counties and communities.
HALL C: Digital Literacy & Technology Barriers After Incarceration
Panel Information
This panel, led by Excell Network students, examines how returning citizens navigate a rapidly changing digital world and how digital literacy opens doors to employment, housing, and stability. Panelists share firsthand experiences with smartphones, online applications, banking, and essential digital systems — along with the emotional challenges of learning technology after years of disconnection.
They highlight practical solutions that helped them succeed, including hands‑on workshops, peer support, access to devices, and patient mentorship. Through real‑world stories, attendees will see how digital skills build confidence, independence, and long‑term success.
This conversation also underscores the urgency for reentry programs to integrate digital literacy as a core component of support. Panelists will offer clear recommendations for service providers, emphasizing beginner‑friendly instruction, trauma‑informed teaching, and partnerships that expand access to devices and Wi‑Fi. Their insights show how digital empowerment can transform reentry outcomes and strengthen community resilience.
Alejandra “Alex” Vila, panel moderator
Director of Recruitment, Works Well Industries
Alex leads recruitment strategy and workforce development for Works Well Industries. An immigrant from Colombia and proud Oakland resident, she has dedicated more than 30 years to community development, education, and leadership training. Her career spans roles as an educator, executive director, and consultant, bridging education, workforce development, and environmental design to foster community wellness. Known for her energy and collaborative spirit, Alex lives by her own guiding principle: If you see a problem and no one is doing anything about it, you are elected.
Louis Calvin - Panelist
Louis Calvin is a dedicated public health student, recovery mentor, and justice-impacted community advocate with more than two decades of professional experience in customer service, security operations, tutoring, and casino table-games supervision. He brings a unique combination of trauma-informed communication, strong interpersonal skills, and lived experience supporting individuals navigating addiction, reentry, and mental health challenges.
Read Louis Calvin's Full Biography
Louis has maintained 43 years of continuous sobriety, grounding his work in personal discipline, empathy, and a deep commitment to helping others rebuild their lives. His recovery journey has shaped his approach to mentorship, advocacy, and community service, providing him with a unique understanding of the challenges many individuals face while pursuing healing and long-term stability.
Throughout his career, Louis has served in a variety of professional roles requiring leadership, communication, and strong problem-solving skills. His experience ranges from working as a state-licensed security professional at the Chase Center to serving as an academic tutor through Mt. Tamalpais College at San Quentin State Prison, where he supported students pursuing educational and personal growth opportunities.
Louis also spent many years in the gaming industry, serving as a dealer, table-games supervisor, and operations manager. These roles strengthened his ability to perform under pressure, manage complex environments, resolve conflicts, and build positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
Currently completing his Public Health degree at San Francisco State University, Louis is focused on serving individuals impacted by addiction, incarceration, mental illness, and other barriers to health and well-being. His academic studies complement his lived experience and reinforce his commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable and underserved populations.
Known for his reliability, integrity, and plain-spoken professionalism, Louis approaches every opportunity with a spirit of service and a commitment to helping others succeed. His work is guided by the belief that meaningful recovery, rehabilitation, and community reintegration are possible when people are supported with dignity, respect, and practical resources.
Through his involvement in recovery communities, reentry advocacy, peer support, and community engagement efforts, Louis continues to make a positive impact on the lives of others. His blend of professional experience, educational achievement, and lived expertise makes him a valuable advocate, mentor, and leader within the restorative justice and public health communities.
Mariah Cenea - Panelist
After spending 21 years incarcerated, Mariah returned home determined to turn experience into purpose. Re-entering society came with many challenges, especially navigating adulthood for the first time and learning basic skills, like navigating the internet, finances, and obtaining vital records. Through the organization CROP, she found a safe space to grow, develop leadership skills, and build the mindset needed to move forward. In her current work, Mariah is passionate about helping people who are returning from incarceration access stable housing, education, and real opportunities. She uses a trauma-informed and gender responsive perspective, shaped by her lived experience as a transgender woman navigating reentry. Her goal is to use her voice, story, and leadership to advocate for second chances and stronger communities.
Clinton Moore - Panelist
Clinton Moore's story is one of courage, honesty, and the transformative power of education. After a childhood marked by instability and a lengthy prison sentence that began at age 23, Clinton made the difficult decision to confront his past, take accountability for his choices, and rebuild his life from within.
Read Clinton Moore's Full Biography
Through participation in programs such as AVP (Alternatives to Violence Project), PPR, and faith-based mentorship initiatives, Clinton began a journey of personal transformation focused on healing, accountability, and purposeful living. These experiences helped him reshape his identity and develop a renewed vision for his future.
Education became a cornerstone of that transformation. Clinton earned his GED, completed college coursework, and went on to receive an Associate of Arts Degree in Social & Behavioral Sciences with a minor in General Business. His academic achievements reflect both his determination and belief in lifelong learning as a pathway to opportunity and growth.
Building on his educational success, Clinton earned certification as a Substance Use Disorder Counselor (ACCBC/CAADE). Today, he uses that training and his lived experience to support individuals on their own recovery journeys, helping others overcome challenges related to addiction, trauma, and personal growth.
This fall, Clinton will begin studies at San Francisco State University, where he plans to major in Psychology. At the same time, he will be embarking on a new chapter of service as a Health Counselor, continuing his commitment to helping others achieve wellness, stability, and success.
Clinton's professional philosophy is grounded in ethical practice, trauma-informed care, compassion, and continuous personal development. He believes that meaningful change is possible when people are given opportunities to learn, heal, and grow within supportive communities.
His journey stands as a powerful example of resilience and redemption, demonstrating how education, faith, mentorship, and perseverance can create a foundation for lasting transformation and meaningful service to others.
Rafaella Benoit - Panelist
Facing 40 years to life in prison due to California's three strikes law, Rafaella’s addiction was too strong and shame too deep. After 6 overdoses, she was arrested and sentenced to 8 years 8 months. After completing her AA in Psychology and transferring to UC Berkely, she is now pursuing a double major in Psychology and Sociology and proposing her own research. Rafaella will share her story with the hopes of inspiring others to improve their lives. “I firmly believe that all of my hardship was worthwhile if I am able to make a difference in someone else's life.”
Donald Diggs - Panelist
Donald Diggs is a passionate artist, lifelong learner, and powerful voice for transformation and resilience. Specializing in Raku ceramics, his work explores themes of connection, perseverance, and personal growth, often inspired by the raw textures and beautiful unpredictability of the Raku process.
Read Donald Diggs' Full Biography
In addition to ceramics, Donald expresses his creativity through painting in a variety of mediums, using color, texture, and form to communicate deeply personal and emotional narratives. His artwork reflects both his life experiences and his belief in the power of creativity as a tool for healing, self-discovery, and growth.
After overcoming 43 years of incarceration, Donald has dedicated himself to community service, mentorship, education, and the arts. His journey stands as a powerful testament to the possibilities of redemption, personal transformation, faith, and perseverance.
Today, Donald is focused on building a future rooted in purpose and service. He is nearing the completion of his parole, with full discharge anticipated in December, marking another significant milestone in his remarkable journey of restoration.
A committed student and lifelong learner, Donald will soon graduate from Laney College with a degree in Sociology. His academic achievements reflect his dedication to understanding people, communities, and the social systems that shape individual opportunity and change.
Looking ahead, Donald plans to continue his educational journey by pursuing a degree in Art, further deepening his commitment to creative expression and social impact. He hopes to continue using art as a platform for storytelling, healing, education, and community engagement.
Through both his artistic work and public speaking, Donald inspires others to believe in the possibility of renewal. His message is one of hope—that regardless of one's past, it is possible to build a meaningful future grounded in purpose, creativity, and service to others.
11:45 NOON — Session 4
ST FRANCIS HALL: San Quentin Rehabilitation Center: Innovation, Oversight, and Outcomes
Panel Information
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC) is undergoing a historic transformation, shifting from a traditional correctional model to a national leader in rehabilitation, education, and restorative practices. This panel brings together key voices from custody, education, healthcare, and mental health to explore how innovation, transparency, and collaboration are shaping the future of SQRC.
Moderated by Lt. Guim’Mara Berry, the first African American woman to serve as Public Information Officer at San Quentin, the discussion will highlight how public engagement, media access, and institutional oversight support accountability and culture change. Panelists will share insights on expanding correctional education, strengthening career pathways, improving healthcare delivery, and advancing mental health services that promote healing and stability.
Attendees will gain an inside look at the programs, partnerships, and people driving SQRC’s evolution — and learn how these efforts are improving outcomes, strengthening safety, and creating meaningful opportunities for transformation inside California’s most iconic institution.
Julio Escobar - Conference Welcome
For the past 15 years, Julio Escobar has served the Archdiocese of San Francisco as the Coordinator of the Restorative Justice Ministry, where he has built and led a wide range of transformative programs supporting crime survivors, incarcerated individuals, and their families. Through his leadership, numerous initiatives have become vital lifelines for individuals seeking healing, stability, opportunity, and hope.
Read Julio Escobar's Full Biography
Julio has developed and expanded some of the region's most impactful restorative justice initiatives, including the Homicide and Crime Survivors Ministry, Reentry Conference and Expo, Restorative Justice Leadership Summit, Restorative Justice Webinar Series, Excell Network Scholarship Stipend Program, Restorative Justice Parenting Training for Women Impacted by Domestic Violence, Christmas Angels for Children of Incarcerated Parents, and enhanced Juvenile, County Jail, and Prison Ministry programs, including outreach at San Quentin State Rehabilitation Center.
Under Julio's leadership, these programs have created opportunities for healing, personal growth, education, family reunification, and successful community reintegration. His work focuses on bringing together survivors, system-impacted individuals, community leaders, educators, service providers, and faith communities to advance restorative approaches that promote accountability, healing, and hope.
Julio's commitment to restorative justice is deeply personal. The tragic loss of his half-brother due to an overdose involving alcohol and drugs, including cocaine, inspired his lifelong dedication to helping others avoid similar paths and discover opportunities for recovery, support, and transformation.
Born in San Francisco and raised in El Salvador from the age of three until eighteen, Julio lived through the country's brutal civil war. Those experiences profoundly shaped his understanding of violence, trauma, resilience, and human dignity, strengthening his commitment to justice, compassion, and service.
Throughout his career, Julio has worked to elevate the voices of individuals most affected by violence, incarceration, addiction, and systemic inequities. His leadership emphasizes collaboration, education, restorative practices, and community engagement as essential tools for creating safer and healthier communities.
Today, Julio continues to build partnerships among government agencies, educational institutions, community organizations, faith leaders, formerly incarcerated individuals, and crime survivors to develop innovative solutions that promote healing, accountability, and second chances.
His life's work reflects a steadfast belief that transformation is possible when individuals are met with compassion, opportunity, education, and support, and that restorative justice offers a pathway toward healing for individuals, families, and communities alike.
Salvatore J. Cordileone - Pledge for and Justice
Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco was born in San Diego, California, on June 5, 1956, to Leon and Mary Cordileone. Raised in Blessed Sacrament Parish, he grew up in a family deeply rooted in faith, hard work, and service. After attending public schools in San Diego, he graduated from Crawford High School in 1974 and soon discerned a call to the priesthood while attending San Diego State University.
Read Archbishop Cordileone's Full Biography
The grandson of Sicilian immigrants, Archbishop Cordileone comes from a family with strong ties to both California and New York. His father's family worked in the commercial fishing industry, while his mother was raised in Buffalo, New York, before moving to San Diego. These family roots helped instill in him a strong appreciation for faith, family, and community.
After his first year at San Diego State University, a parish priest encouraged him to attend a vocation retreat, where he discerned his call to the priesthood. He entered St. Francis Seminary and transferred to the University of San Diego, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1978.
Following graduation, he continued his priestly formation in Rome at the Pontifical North American College. He earned an undergraduate degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1981 before returning to San Diego for ordination to the priesthood.
On July 9, 1982, Father Salvatore J. Cordileone was ordained a priest by Bishop Leo T. Maher. His early ministry included serving as Associate Pastor at St. Martin of Tours Parish in La Mesa, California. In 1985, he returned to Rome to study Canon Law, ultimately earning a doctoral degree from the Gregorian University.
After returning to San Diego in 1989, Father Cordileone served as secretary to Coadjutor Bishop Robert Brom and later became Adjunct Judicial Vicar. In 1991, he returned to parish ministry as Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Calexico, California, near the Mexican border.
Lt. Guim'Mara Berry (Gee-ah-mar-a). - Moderator
Public Information Officer/Correctional Lieutenant, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center - CDCR
Lt. Guim’Mara (Gee-ah-mar-a) Berry serves as the Public Information Officer for the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, leading the institution’s communications, media relations, and community engagement. Appointed on October 4, 2022, she is the first African American woman to hold this position at San Quentin, reflecting a commitment to rehabilitation, and public safety.
With more than two decades of service in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Lt. Berry brings extensive experience in leadership, operations, and outreach. Her responsibilities include managing public and media relations, coordinating facility tours, media interviews, and overseeing the Video Production Program and the SQ News publication. She coordinates filming for documentaries, news features, and other media to highlight San Quentin’s rehabilitation focus. Her role includes organizing symposiums and evaluating training programs; conducting housing reviews upon arrival in Receiving and Release; and entering Incident Report Tracking (IRT) data into the Strategic Offender Management System (SOMS). A career path which includes roles such as Office Assistant, Office Service Supervisor, Correctional Officer (promoted in 2007), Correctional Sergeant at Folsom State Prison (promoted in 2016), and Correctional Lieutenant. Read Lt. Guim’Mara Berry's Full Biography
Lt. Berry advocates for community engagement, speaking about educational opportunities, and violence-reduction initiatives within the prison community. She enforces institutional rules and represents the institution as the spokesperson. She also takes part in community engagements on behalf of the Warden and serves as the liaison between the institution and the Office of Public Employee Communications (OPEC) In addition to public-information duties, Lt. Berry oversees security and privacy matters and guides disciplinary processes when applicable.
Dr. Rachel Chen, Psy.D. - Panelist
Chief of Mental Health, CDCR/CCHCS Mental Health - - San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
I began my education in psychology at University of California, Berkeley, and later obtained my doctorate at American School of Professional Psychology. My training included leading groups for patients on diversion from county courts, and rotation at Juvenile Hall. I began my career at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center as a staff psychologist, was promoted to Senior Psychologist Supervisor, and became Chief of Mental Health in 2020. My career at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center has brought the most challenging, but also the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. I value my colleagues and my team and can honestly say that we are the strongest that we have ever been as an institution since my time here.
Yesenia Franco - Panelist
Correcrional Captain – San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Captain Franco serves as a Correctional Captain at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, where she oversees operations while helping lead initiatives that promote rehabilitation, accountability, and successful reentry. With more than 20 years of service in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), she has held leadership roles in investigations, security operations, and institutional management.
Throughout her career, Captain Franco has championed collaborative partnerships between custody staff, community organizations, educators, and service providers to expand opportunities for incarcerated individuals preparing to return to their communities. She has played an active role in supporting innovative rehabilitation efforts, including vocational training, educational programming, and community engagement initiatives designed to reduce recidivism and strengthen public safety. At SQRC, Hilary has led several major educational initiatives, including the implementation of the Cyber High credit recovery program and the expansion of postsecondary education. Captain Franco believes that meaningful rehabilitation is achieved through accountability, opportunity, and collaboration. She is committed to maintaining the safety and security of California’s correctional institutions while advancing evidence based rehabilitation efforts that prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reintegration. She believes that public safety extends beyond the institution’s walls, and that correctional professionals have a responsibility to help ensure individuals return to their communities as productive, accountable, and contributing members of society. Read Yesenia Franco's Full Biography
Hilary Lucas - Panelist
Vice Principal – San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Hilary Lucas serves as the Supervisor of Academic Instruction (Vice Principal) for the Education Department at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC), where she oversees the institution's college education, library, recreation, media, and peer literacy mentor programs.
Hilary began her career in education in 2009 as a Teach For America corps member, teaching high school mathematics in Southeast Washington, D.C. She entered correctional education in 2017 as an Adult Basic Education instructor at California Men's Colony before joining San Quentin. At SQRC, Hilary has led several major educational initiatives, including the implementation of the Cyber High credit recovery program and the expansion of postsecondary education. As college coordinator, she managed enrollment for more than 500 students across five associate degree programs and helped establish the first bachelor's degree program at San Quentin in partnership with California State University, Los Angeles and the Office of Correctional Education. Read Hilary Lucas's Full Biography
Matasha Level - Panelist
Chief Support Executive - California Correctional Health Care Services – San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Matasha Level, M.S. HCA, is a healthcare executive with more than 18 years of experience in correctional healthcare, public sector leadership, and healthcare operations. As the Chief Support Executive at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, she oversees complex administrative and operational functions that support medical, mental health, and dental services within one of California's most dynamic correctional healthcare environments.
Read Matasha Level's Full Biography
Throughout her distinguished career, Matasha has led large-scale initiatives designed to improve operational efficiency, strengthen regulatory compliance, and advance organizational effectiveness within correctional healthcare settings. Her leadership has consistently focused on delivering high-quality services while supporting the complex needs of both patients and healthcare professionals.
Her expertise spans a broad range of areas, including strategic planning, quality improvement, workforce development, organizational transformation, and healthcare operations management. She is widely recognized for her ability to navigate complex systems and implement solutions that drive measurable performance improvements.
One of Matasha's key strengths is her ability to bridge clinical and administrative operations, ensuring that healthcare practices are aligned with institutional goals, statewide policies, and patient-centered outcomes. She has built a reputation for fostering effective collaboration among healthcare providers, custody staff, executive leadership, and community stakeholders.
Holding a Master of Science in Health Care Administration (M.S. HCA), Matasha is deeply committed to advancing healthcare systems and cultivating the next generation of leaders within public service and correctional healthcare.
Dr. Elena Tootell - Panelist
Staff Physician and Program Manager of the Peer Support Specialist Program - SQRC California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Dr. Elena Tootell is the former Chief Medical Executive at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (2008-2018) and currently works there as a staff physician and Program Manager for the Peer Support Specialist Program. She completed her Family and Community Medicine training at UCSF. Working with the Peer Support Specialist has multiplied the Medical Department’s ability to improve health literacy and promote healing throughout the institution.1:15 PM Session 5
HALL A: From Reentry to Restoration: Rebuilding Man, Restoring Families, and Preventing the Cycle
Panel Information
This panel is designed to move beyond a traditional reentry conversation. While we will acknowledge the importance of jobs, housing, and services, our focus will be on addressing the deeper root issues that drive recidivism — specifically the connection between manhood, fatherhood, and family stability.
We will ground the conversation in several key realities:
The overwhelming majority of individuals returning from incarceration are men.
- Many have grown up experiencing father absence, inconsistent male guidance, or disrupted family structures.
- When men are not restored — emotionally, spiritually, socially, and relationally — families and communities continue to experience instability, generational trauma, and cycles of harm.
This discussion will challenge us to rethink reentry not only as a logistical process, but as a human restoration journey. By centering manhood, fatherhood, and family healing, we aim to illuminate pathways that strengthen individuals, rebuild families, and create safer, more stable communities.
Reverend Dr. Stewart Perrilliat - Panel Moderator
Reverend Dr. Stewart Perrilliat, Sr. is the Founder and Executive Director of Man 2 Man – Urban Youth Advocate, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California, dedicated to empowering men, strengthening families, and building healthier communities through fatherhood development, emotional wellness, and reentry support.
Read Reverend Dr. Stewart Perrilliat, Sr.'s Full Biography
With more than 30 years of experience working alongside justice-involved individuals throughout California, including within San Quentin and Folsom State Prisons, Dr. Perrilliat brings a powerful combination of academic achievement, professional expertise, and lived experience to his work. His mission centers on helping individuals heal, grow, and become positive forces within their families and communities.
Dr. Perrilliat holds a Doctorate in Executive Leadership from the University of Redlands, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from San Francisco Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. His educational background reflects his lifelong commitment to leadership development, faith-based service, and community transformation.
He is the author of The ManBook, a 240-page curriculum-based workbook designed to help men address trauma, develop accountability, strengthen family relationships, and become more effective fathers and community leaders. His work has helped countless men examine the challenges of their past while building healthier futures.
His latest publication, Men and Their Emotions, expands upon this mission by encouraging men to embrace vulnerability, develop emotional intelligence, practice empathy, and lead with authenticity and strength. Through both books, Dr. Perrilliat advocates for emotional wellness as a critical component of personal growth and family restoration.
Dr. Perrilliat is married to Jonnique Perrilliat, and together they are the proud parents of four children—Jessica, Morgan, Stewart Jr., and Destiny—and grandparents to their beloved grandson, Aiden. Family remains at the center of his ministry, leadership, and advocacy work.
A respected voice in the movements for prison reform, fatherhood engagement, and family restoration, Dr. Perrilliat is frequently sought after as a keynote speaker, mentor, educator, and spiritual leader. His work challenges men to break generational cycles, embrace accountability, and recognize their ability to positively influence future generations.
Through Man 2 Man and his broader community engagement efforts, Dr. Perrilliat continues to inspire individuals to pursue healing, reclaim purpose, and become catalysts for change within their families and neighborhoods.
"When men heal, families thrive — and when families thrive, communities flourish."
The Honorable Judge Gail Bewster Bereola
The Honorable Judge Gail Brewster Bereola (Retired) is a distinguished public servant whose legal and judicial career spanned more than four decades. Serving as both an attorney and judge for over 42 years, she dedicated her career to advancing justice, restorative practices, and opportunities for rehabilitation throughout Alameda County and beyond.
Read Judge Gail Brewster Bereola's Full Biography
Judge Bereola began her judicial career in 1991 when she was appointed by the judges of the Oakland-Piedmont-Emeryville Municipal Court to serve as a Court Commissioner. In that role, she presided over traffic matters, small claims cases, and misdemeanor criminal arraignments.
In January 1992, Governor Pete Wilson appointed her as a Judge of the Oakland-Piedmont-Emeryville Municipal Court. During her tenure, she handled a broad range of criminal and civil matters and served in several leadership positions, including Assistant Presiding Judge and Presiding Judge.
In 1998, Judge Bereola was elevated to the Alameda County Superior Court, where she served as a Supervising Judge during her first two years and later presided over a variety of criminal, civil, and specialty court assignments.
From 2006 to 2010, Judge Bereola served as the Presiding Judge of the Alameda County Juvenile Court in San Leandro. During this time, she convened Alameda County's Restorative Juvenile Justice Task Force and played a significant role in implementing and institutionalizing restorative justice practices within local schools and the juvenile justice system.
From 2010 to 2016, she presided over a Civil Direct Calendar in Oakland, managing cases from initial filing through case management, motions, trials, and post-judgment proceedings. She later presided over an Adult Criminal Master Calendar Department in Pleasanton from 2016 to 2017.
Beginning in 2017 and continuing until her retirement, Judge Bereola was assigned to the county's collaborative "helping courts" at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin, California. There, she presided over a felony Drug Court program and worked closely with social workers, mental health professionals, treatment providers, and addiction specialists to help participants address the underlying issues contributing to criminal behavior.
She also presided over a Clean Slate Calendar, helping individuals clear eligible criminal records, dismiss convictions, and remove barriers to employment, housing, and community involvement. In addition, she oversaw Alameda County's restitution calendar, ensuring that victims' rights and accountability remained central to the justice process.
Jonathan Lamons - Panelist
Jonathan Lamons is a returning citizen whose life is a powerful testament to redemption, resilience, and transformation. After serving more than 33½ years in prison, he returned home committed to helping others rebuild their lives. During his incarceration, he earned his paralegal certificate and became widely known as a respected "Jailhouse Lawyer," assisting countless incarcerated individuals in navigating the legal system and preparing for parole.
Read Jonathan Lamons' Full Biography
Since his release, Jonathan has become an integral member of Man 2 Man – Urban Youth Advocate, Inc., where he serves as the organization's in-house Paralegal. In this role, he provides critical legal support and guidance to justice-involved fathers as they navigate child custody matters, family court proceedings, and the many challenges associated with successful reentry.
Drawing upon both his professional training and lived experience, Jonathan helps individuals understand complex legal processes while empowering them to take meaningful steps toward family reunification and long-term stability.
In addition to his legal advocacy, Jonathan is a Certified Domestic Violence Facilitator and a Certified Community Health Worker (CHW). He plays an important role within the organization's Enhanced Care Management (ECM) team, helping connect justice-involved individuals and Medi-Cal members with essential services and community-based resources.
His work includes linking individuals to housing assistance, behavioral health services, substance use treatment programs, healthcare resources, and other support systems that promote healing, stability, and successful community reintegration.
Jonathan's journey demonstrates the transformative power of education, perseverance, and second chances. His decades of experience navigating the legal system, combined with his commitment to service, make him a trusted advocate, mentor, and leader within the reentry community.
Today, Jonathan continues to inspire hope by helping others overcome barriers, restore family connections, and build meaningful futures. Through his work, he strengthens individuals, families, and communities while serving as a powerful example that true rehabilitation and lasting transformation are possible.
Ron Klinger - Panelist
Ron Klinger has been a licensed Registered Nurse since 2009 and earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing Science from the University of San Francisco in 2014. He is also a Certified Case Manager whose career has spanned a wide range of healthcare settings, including pediatric intensive care, clinical training, leadership, and care coordination.
Read Ron Klinger's Full Biography
Throughout his healthcare career, Ron has developed expertise across multiple areas of patient care and healthcare administration. His professional experience includes work in pediatric intensive care, staff development, clinical training, program implementation, and leadership roles focused on improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
At Partnership HealthPlan of California, Ron began as the Manager of the Pediatric Care Coordination Department, where he played a key role in launching and establishing the health plan’s innovative Whole Child Model program. This initiative was designed to improve care coordination and health outcomes for children and families with complex healthcare needs.
Today, Ron serves as a leader within Partnership HealthPlan's Enhanced Health Services Department, which oversees implementation of California’s CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal) initiative. In this role, he helps develop and manage programs that address social determinants of health and improve access to care for underserved populations.
Ron currently leads the organization's CalAIM Justice Reentry Initiative and serves as the health plan's Justice-Involved Liaison. Through this work, he collaborates with correctional institutions, healthcare providers, community organizations, and reentry partners to support individuals transitioning from incarceration back into their communities. His efforts focus on connecting justice-involved individuals with healthcare services, care coordination, and community-based resources that promote successful reintegration and long-term wellness.
Recognized for his commitment to healthcare innovation and collaborative leadership, Ron is passionate about improving systems of care and expanding opportunities for individuals with complex medical and social needs.
Ron lives in Sonoma County with his wife, two adult children, two dogs, three cats, and four snakes. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys family life and remains committed to serving his community through healthcare leadership and advocacy.
Dr. Flor-Mari Crisostomo - Panelist
Dr. Flor-Mari Crisostomo is a behavioral scientist, systems-change advocate, and justice-impacted scholar whose research focuses on a perspective often overlooked in academic and policy discussions: the experiences of formerly incarcerated mothers navigating reentry into their families and communities. Holding a Ph.D. in Psychology, Public Policy & Law, her work examines resilience, housing and employment equity, identity reconstruction, and the systems that either support or hinder long-term success.
Read Dr. Flor-Mari Crisostomo's Full Biography
Dr. Crisostomo's path to research and advocacy is deeply informed by lived experience. As a coach, entrepreneur, and mother of two, she has personally navigated many of the barriers she now studies and works to change. Her firsthand experiences provide a unique perspective that strengthens her commitment to advancing equity, dignity, and opportunity for individuals impacted by the justice system.
She successfully challenged housing discrimination when a developer refused to rent to her based on her legal history despite her demonstrated ability to pay. Working in partnership with the City of Seattle, she helped hold that discrimination accountable and advanced awareness of the barriers many formerly incarcerated individuals face when seeking stable housing.
Dr. Crisostomo also advocated for her family's rights when a school administrator attempted to prevent her from attending her children's school events based on stigma and misinformation rather than evidence. With support from the ACLU, she challenged those actions and became a powerful voice against discrimination rooted in bias and misunderstanding.
Through her consulting and coaching practice, Dr. Crisostomo works with individuals experiencing major life transitions, helping clients move from disruption and uncertainty toward purpose, stability, and personal growth. Her work emphasizes resilience, self-determination, and the ability to create meaningful change despite significant obstacles.
Her emerging research and professional interests extend into the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and human behavior. She is particularly focused on how algorithmic bias, automated risk assessments, and AI-driven decision-making systems can disproportionately affect individuals and communities that have already experienced marginalization and systemic inequities.
Bringing together academic expertise, policy analysis, and lived experience, Dr. Crisostomo offers a perspective rarely represented in conversations about technology, criminal justice reform, and social equity. She understands firsthand the consequences of being judged by systems that often fail to recognize human potential and transformation.
As a researcher, advocate, and public speaker, Dr. Crisostomo challenges audiences to move beyond deficit-based narratives and embrace a more accurate and empowering understanding of human capacity. Her work highlights what individuals can achieve when barriers are removed, opportunities are expanded, and systems are designed to support growth rather than perpetuate limitations.
Rev. Floyd Thompkins Jr. - Panelist
Rev. Floyd Thompkins Jr. is a pastor, educator, author, and community organizer whose ministry bridges the worlds of church, academia, and social justice. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to building communities rooted in faith, justice, healing, and reconciliation while empowering individuals and organizations to create meaningful social change.
Read Rev. Floyd Thompkins Jr.'s Full Biography
Rev. Thompkins is the author of Nobody Told Me That The Road Would Be Easy: Devotions for People Working for Justice and Peace, a devotional resource designed to encourage, strengthen, and sustain those engaged in the ongoing work of justice, equity, and reconciliation.
He earned his bachelor's degree in History, Religion, and Secondary Education from Bethany College before continuing his theological education at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity. During his studies at Princeton, he was recognized with both the prestigious Edward G. Howell Preaching Award and the Benjamin E. Mays Fellowship.
Throughout his distinguished career, Rev. Thompkins has served in a variety of influential leadership roles within higher education and ministry. He has worked as a dean and chaplain at both Stanford University and Princeton University, supporting students, faculty, and communities through spiritual guidance, leadership development, and educational engagement.
He also served as Vice President and Director of the Center for Innovation in Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary, where he helped develop innovative programs designed to strengthen faith communities and prepare future leaders for effective ministry and community service.
David Bishop - Panelist
David Bishop's story is one of accountability, resilience, and redemption.
In 2009, David began serving a federal prison sentence after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During nearly nine years in federal custody, he was incarcerated at Terminal Island, Taft, Beaumont, and Herlong. His journey included six months in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) following an altercation with another inmate and time at the notoriously violent Beaumont Federal Correctional Complex. Those experiences tested him physically, mentally, and emotionally while strengthening his determination to become a better husband, father, and man.
In 2021, David achieved what many thought impossible when the City of Oakland rehired him in the same position he left before entering prison. Through hard work and dedication, he earned promotions to the Streets and Sidewalks Division and, in 2025, became Lead Painter for the Oakland Department of Transportation. Outside of work, David has rekindled his lifelong passion for thoroughbred horse racing, owning and following racehorses with his brother. Horses represent more than a hobby—they symbolize hope, discipline, and the belief that every race offers another opportunity to finish strong. Today, David shares his story to inspire others returning from incarceration and to remind employers and communities that second chances, combined with accountability and opportunity, can change lives. Read David Bishop's Full Biography
When David returned home in 2018, freedom was only the beginning. Reuniting with his wife, Tanya, and reconnecting with his sons—David Jr., Giovanni, and Devin—proved to be one of the greatest challenges of his life. His family had spent nearly a decade learning to live without him, and rebuilding trust, healing old wounds, and rediscovering one another took patience, grace, and time. Today, he is also the proud grandfather of three grandchildren who remind him daily why redemption matters.
HALL B: Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline Through Restorative and Trauma Responsive Practices
Panel Information
This panel will spotlight Youth Transforming Justice’s peer‑driven diversion model, demonstrating how youth leadership, trauma‑responsive practices, and restorative approaches can fundamentally reshape school discipline and early justice‑system contact. Rather than focusing solely on traditional interventions, the conversation will highlight how empowering young people to lead accountability processes creates more meaningful outcomes, reduces suspensions, and prevents deeper justice involvement.
The session will explore how YTJ’s model operates in real time — from peer accountability circles to trauma‑responsive facilitation — and how these practices build emotional safety, strengthen decision‑making skills, and promote long‑term behavioral change. Panelists will also examine the collaborative ecosystem required for success, including partnerships with schools, probation, and community organizations that help sustain diversion pathways and support youth beyond the moment of crisis.
In addition to highlighting outcomes, the panel will offer practical strategies for replication across counties, addressing what infrastructure, training, and cross‑agency coordination are needed to scale youth‑led diversion models effectively.
This conversation is especially significant because no other panel this year centers youth perspectives or youth‑driven solutions. YTJ’s work brings forward the voices of young people who have lived experience with school discipline and early justice involvement — making this session uniquely valuable to the overall program and essential for any county seeking innovative, community‑rooted approaches to prevention.
Don Carney - Panel Moderator
Executive Director, Youth Transforming Justice
Don is a veteran youth development practitioner. He is the founder and Executive Director of Youth Transforming Justice (YTJ), a youth driven social justice program transforming punitive school discipline and juvenile justice systems into restorative trauma-informed, peer-driven solutions. In the past 20 years YTJ has diverted 2,300 and provided suspension alternatives for thousands of students. He chairs Marin’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission and is a member of the State Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Don trains schools and probation departments on replicating YTJ’s successful restorative and trauma-responsive alternatives to school suspensions and juvenile justice involvement.
Judge (Ret.) Beverly Wood - Panelist
Private Judging and Mediation
Judge Beverly Wood (Ret.) is a respected jurist, mediator, educator, and community leader whose distinguished legal and judicial career has spanned decades of service to the people of California. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the University of San Francisco School of Law, Judge Wood has dedicated her professional life to advancing justice, resolving conflict, and improving outcomes for individuals and families involved in the legal system.
Read Judge Beverly Wood's Full Biography
Following law school, Judge Wood practiced general litigation in San Francisco before founding a law firm specializing in international transactions and business entities. In 1993, she joined the Freitas Law Firm, where her practice focused on representing public entities, handling general litigation matters, and providing limited representation in family law disputes.
In 2005, Judge Wood was invited to join the Marin County Superior Court as a Court Commissioner. She served in that role until 2013, when Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the bench as a Superior Court Judge.
Throughout her judicial career, Judge Wood presided over a wide range of cases, including family law, juvenile justice, criminal matters, and specialty courts. She became particularly recognized for her innovative and community-centered approach to justice.
In 2011, Judge Wood founded Marin County's Community Court, a groundbreaking problem-solving court designed to address the root causes of justice-system involvement. She presided over the Community Court for 13 years, continuing in that role until her retirement in 2024.
She also spearheaded programs focused on improving outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice and child dependency systems, demonstrating her long-standing commitment to prevention, rehabilitation, and community wellness.
Judge Wood served for many years as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, teaching mediation and conflict-resolution skills to future attorneys. She remains a frequent presenter at judicial education programs, statewide conferences, national forums, and community events, with particular expertise in managing and resolving high-conflict family law disputes.
Family law has been one of Judge Wood's signature areas of service. She presided over a Family Law Department for nine years and continued conducting settlement conferences even while assigned to other court departments. Her skill in helping parties resolve difficult disputes earned widespread respect throughout the legal community.
Following her retirement from the bench in April 2024, Judge Wood has remained actively engaged in the legal field through mediation and private judging, assisting parties in resolving both financial and child custody matters.
Throughout her career, Judge Wood has received numerous honors and recognitions for her commitment to justice, leadership, and public service, including:
- Marin County SACPA/Proposition 36 Team Recognition for Dedication, Passion, and Leadership (2006)
- Marin County Board of Supervisors Resolution Commending Commissioner Beverly Wood (2009)
- Distinguished Service Certificate for Outstanding Service and Commitment in the Field of Probation (2013)
- Judicial Officer of the Year, Chief Probation Officers of California (2016)
- R. Chamberlin Award, Northern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2016)
- Marin Trial Lawyers Judge of the Year (2018)
- Marin Foster Care Recognition of Service (2019)
- Legal Aid Lifetime Achievement Award (2022)
- Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition (2024)
- Inducted into the Marin Women's Hall of Fame (2024)
Judge Wood's career reflects a deep commitment to restorative justice, collaborative problem-solving, family stability, and judicial innovation. Her leadership has left a lasting impact on California's courts, families, youth, and communities.
Sarah Suval, LCSW, PPSC - Panelist
Wellness Hub Specialist, Novato High School
Licensed Clinical Social Worker #114389, PPS - WELLNESS HUB SPECIALIST
I am so excited to join the Novato High team! I began my wellness/mental health provider journey working as a school counselor in Daly City in 2012. I am a San Francisco native and obtained both my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and my Master of Social Work at San Francisco State University. I am the proud mother of two girls and two Frenchies, and enjoy spending time taking day trips and camping when the weather permits. I consider the Caribbean of Costa Rica my second home and go back whenever I can.
Antonio Zavala - Panelist
Director of Operations and Programing, Youth Transforming Justice
Antonio Zavala, M.A., serves as Director of Programs & Operations at Youth Transforming Justice (YTJ), overseeing the development and implementation of programs that emphasize the value of second chances for youth. His lived experience as a system-involved youth provides him with valuable insight into the challenges, barriers, and service gaps facing many young people, as well as what is necessary to create long-term success.
Oliver Rivas Garcia- Panelist
Youth Transforming Justice Leader, Restorative Justice Advocate
Oliver Rivas Garcia is a rising senior at Novato High School and an emerging leader in restorative justice, youth advocacy, and community wellness. Through his work with Youth Transforming Justice (YTJ), Oliver has developed a strong commitment to restorative practices and alternative approaches to addressing challenges in schools and the juvenile justice system, emphasizing accountability, healing, and community-centered solutions over punishment alone.
Building on this foundation, Oliver has expanded his leadership into the fields of community health, overdose prevention, public safety, and youth empowerment. He currently serves as a youth leader for Heart-Safe Marin, a youth-led initiative dedicated to increasing access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and emergency response resources throughout Marin County. The project's vision is to make Marin County the nation's first “5-Minute City,” ensuring that anyone experiencing a cardiac emergency can access an AED within five minutes.Read Oliver Rivas Garcia's Full Biography
HALL C: Labor Trafficking in the Bay Area: Exploitation, Justice, and Economic Empowerment
Panel Information
Labor trafficking is one of the most pervasive yet least recognized forms of human exploitation in the United States. Often hidden in plain sight, it affects workers in industries ranging from agriculture and construction to hospitality, caregiving, and domestic work. Individuals facing economic hardship, language barriers, immigration challenges, or involvement with the criminal legal system are particularly vulnerable to coercive and exploitative labor practices.
This unique panel brings together a survivor leader, a nationally recognized human trafficking attorney, a prominent immigrant rights advocate, and a victim services leader to examine labor trafficking through multiple perspectives. Rather than focusing solely on awareness, panelists will explore the structural conditions that place people at risk, the legal and community-based responses available to survivors, and the pathways toward economic stability, empowerment, and justice.
Attendees will gain insight into how labor trafficking intersects with workforce development, victim services, immigration, and reentry. The panel will also highlight practical strategies for identifying exploitation, supporting survivors, strengthening worker protections, and building communities where dignity, safety, and economic opportunity are accessible to all.
Ivy Lee - Moderator
Director of San Francisco Mayor’s Office for Victims’ Rights
Ivy is an attorney whose practice has focused on defending and advancing the rights of survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault through direct legal representation, policy and legislative advocacy, and training and technical assistance for local and federal law enforcement agencies. She is a recognized policy and legislative expert in the areas of criminal justice, victims’ rights, violence prevention, human trafficking, and immigrant rights.
She most recently served as a mayoral policy advisor in the areas of public safety and victim rights in San Francisco where she developed the city’s first alternative to a police response known as the Street Crisis Response Team, multiracial street violence prevention teams, the Community Liaison Unit within the San Francisco Police Department for dedicated bilingual officers to respond to possible hate crimes, and expanded community-based victim services for vulnerable populations, including seniors and limited English-speaking survivors of crimes, and spearheaded the creation of the first program in the U.S. that provides free legal representation for survivors of gender-based violence. Prior, Ivy served in several legislative offices where she led legislation such as the Fair Chance Act to remove unnecessary barriers to employment and housing for individuals with criminal convictions, Eviction Protections 2.0 to provide tenants with a chance to resolve nuisances with landlords prior to any eviction action, the Free City College program which established San Francisco’s City College as the first free institution of higher learning in the U.S., and legislation to fund early care and education for all San Francisco families, including wage increases for educators. Previously, Ivy directed the Immigrant Rights & Human Trafficking Project at Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach in San Francisco. At APILO, she represented immigrant survivors of crime for legal relief; conducted legislative and policy advocacy at local, state, and federal levels including co-authoring California’s first anti-human trafficking law; provided technical assistance and training for federal and local law enforcement agencies; and chaired the Northern California Anti-Trafficking Task Force in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. She has also held positions as a staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus and as the Thurgood Marshall Fellow at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. Ivy authored Representing Survivors of Human Trafficking: A Promising Practices Handbook, 1st and 2nd editions and is also published in the Journal of International Law and Policy at UC Davis School of Law and in the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy at Georgetown School of Law. She received her J.D. from New York University School of Law and currently serves as a member of the advisory board for the NYU Policing Project. Read Ivy Lee's Full Biography
Rafael Bautista - Panelist
Vice Chair of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
Rafael Bautista is a survivor and subject matter expert on labor trafficking. Rafael helped and supported different organizations across the country and internationally in creating training programs, strategies, videos, and outreach materials for human trafficking awareness. As an active advocate, Mr. Bautista has testified in support of bills that provide better services for survivors of human trafficking. The California Department of Social Services recognized Mr. Bautista as a leader in the fight against human trafficking in California.
Rose Mukhar - Panelist
Founder, Executive Director, and Principal Attorney, Justice At Last
Rose Mukhar is a social justice, human rights and crime victims' rights attorney with experience in cases involving children, women, refugees, and survivors of domestic violence, torture, and human trafficking. In 2015, she founded Justice At Last, a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to survivors of human trafficking so they can achieve justice on their terms. Rose is inspired by the strength, wisdom, courage and grace of her clients.
Elaine Villasper - Panelist
Executive Director of the Filipino Community Center (FCC)
Elaine Villasper is at the helm of San Francisco’s Filipino Community Center, formed in 2003 to support Filipino immigrant airport screeners in the Bay Area who had been unjustly laid off amid the post-9/11 wave of anti-immigrant hysteria. The organization addresses the needs in San Francisco's Filipino community, with FCC building out programs and advocacy grounded in the values of bayanihan (collective community building), paninindigan (respect for social, cultural, political, and economic rights), and pakikibaka (self-determination). She previously served as Secretary General of Gabriela USA, a Filipina women's rights organization.
Marissa Harris - Panelist
Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of California
Marissa Harris joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California in 2015 and prosecutes a wide variety of federal criminal matters, including human trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation, civil rights, intellectual property, and fraud offenses. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Harris was a litigation associate at Morrison & Foerster in Washington, D.C. and worked pro bono on seminal women’s rights matters, including Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo, and Doe v. Wood County Board of Education. Ms. Harris graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2009 and earned her B.F.A. in Theatre and Journalism from New York University in 2005.
ST FRANCIS HALL: The Restoration Dialogue: Reimagining Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Restored Citizenship
Panel Information
Following the Reentry Simulation, participants are invited to continue the conversation through The Restoration Dialogue—a moderated discussion bringing together leaders from the criminal legal system, government, civil rights, housing, workforce development, and community organizations.
While many communities have adopted Fair Chance employment and housing policies, important questions remain:
- What should happen after someone has successfully demonstrated rehabilitation?
- Should our legal system create a meaningful pathway through which individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation can fully reclaim their place in society?
- What would that pathway look like?
- What safeguards would be appropriate?
- What would the legal, social, economic, and public safety impacts be?
This discussion explores an emerging policy framework centered on the concept of earned restoration—creating objective pathways through which formerly incarcerated individuals who demonstrate sustained rehabilitation may be recognized as fully reintegrated members of society.
Panelists will discuss lessons learned from recent legislative efforts, including proposals that sought to recognize justice-impacted individuals as a protected class, while exploring whether a rehabilitation-based model could address concerns raised by policymakers, employers, housing providers, and community stakeholders.
Rather than advocating predetermined solutions, this conversation is designed to foster thoughtful dialogue, identify areas of consensus, and encourage collaborative development of policies that strengthen opportunity, accountability, public safety, and successful reintegration.
Participants will explore:
- Current Fair Chance policies
- The limitations of existing approaches
- Certificates of Rehabilitation and post-conviction relief
- Senate Bill 731 and automatic record relief
- Recent legislative efforts involving protected class status
- Fiscal and implementation considerations
- Public safety considerations
- Housing and employment implications
- Possible frameworks for recognizing demonstrated rehabilitation
- Local, state, and federal opportunities for policy innovation
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM ALL DAY SESSION
HALL JP II: Record Cleaning Clinic
Clinic Information
Californians For Safety & Justice & San Francisco Public Defender's Office are joining and setting up a Record Cleaning Clinic, resources and support for you to submit petitions under SB 731 record sealing expungement.Please complete pre-registation form.
Saun G. Hough - Clinic Leader
Partnerships Director, Californians for Safety and Justice
Saun G. Hough is the California Partnerships Manager for Californians for Safety & Justice, where he coordinates public education campaigns and state and local coalitions to advance policy initiatives and community-based safety strategies. His work focuses on promoting shared safety solutions that invest in communities and support alternatives to costly and ineffective incarceration.
Read Saun G. Hough's Full Biography
Throughout his career, Saun has built a strong record of advocacy and leadership focused on criminal justice reform, workforce development, and community empowerment. His efforts have included advancing fair hiring practices for formerly incarcerated job seekers and supporting initiatives that expand access to equitable judicial relief for both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
In addition to his policy and advocacy work, Saun is an accomplished workforce development professional with extensive experience serving underserved populations. He specializes in supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and adults as they pursue employment, education, and successful community reintegration.
Saun serves as an Executive Board Member of the Reentry Providers Association of California (REPAC), the nation's first 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization representing service providers, grassroots organizations, and community-based agencies dedicated to promoting successful reentry and restoring healthy communities for individuals returning from incarceration.
Prior to joining Californians for Safety & Justice, Saun served as the Vocational Services Administrator for SHIELDS for Families, Inc., where he helped develop and oversee workforce development programs designed to increase economic opportunity and self-sufficiency for vulnerable populations.
A respected voice in the reentry field, Saun actively participates on numerous reentry advisory committees and collaborates with stakeholders across government, nonprofit, faith-based, and community sectors to advance policies and programs that promote public safety, rehabilitation, and second chances.
Beyond his professional commitments, Saun serves as Associate Pastor at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Compton, California, where he continues his dedication to faith, service, and community leadership.
Saun is also a devoted husband, father of three, and proud grandfather of four. Through his leadership, advocacy, and service, he remains committed to building stronger communities, expanding opportunity, and creating pathways to success for justice-impacted individuals and families.
Kelly Pretzer - Attorney - Clinic Leader
Deputy Public Defender - Clean Slate
After law school, I worked tirelessly for four years as a public defender in Memphis, Tennessee. I represented indigent clients in every type of case, supervised attorneys and interns, and fought to maintain the highest quality representation for clients in treatment courts. In 2018, I moved back home to California and started a civil litigation paralegal position while I studied for the bar. I spent a year defending parents in child dependency matters as a staff attorney at East Bay Family Defenders in San Leandro. In 2021, I joined the Clean Slate Unit at the San Francisco Public Defender’s office. I am now the managing attorney for Clean Slate..
PATRON HALL: EMPLOYMENT FAIR
Job / Career Fair
Bring your resume. Bring your ID. Come ready to meet employers who are hiring. The Job & Career Event at the 14th Annual Reentry Conference runs from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Patrons Hall, connecting jobseekers directly with employers and workforce development organizations across the Bay Area.
Dress for success, and know that resume support is available on site if you need it.
If you want to prepare in advance — or ask about job training and career development resources before the day — reach out to
Wells Brown at SF Goodwill (wells.brown@sfgoodwill.org(opens in new window)) or La'Kista Coleman at Success Centers (lcoleman@successcenters.org(opens in new window)).
Whether you are starting over or moving up, this room is worth your morning. Join us September 18 at St. Mary's Cathedral. Free.
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Patrons Hall | 14th Annual Reentry Conference & Expo | sfarch.org/reentryconference-expo
- Record clearing and legal assistance
- Employment and career development
- Education and vocational training
- Housing and supportive services
- Health and behavioral health resources
- Recovery and peer support
- Family and community services
- Financial empowerment and entrepreneurship
- Civic engagement and leadership development
- Youth support and violence prevention
Whether you are seeking employment, housing, educational opportunities, legal guidance, recovery resources, mentorship, or community connections, the Resource Pavilion has been designed to help individuals and families access practical support and build pathways toward long-term success.
Invitation-Only Exhibitor Participation
To ensure a balanced and comprehensive representation of reentry resources, exhibitor participation for the 2026 Reentry Conference & Expo is by invitation only.
The organizations featured below were selected based on their expertise, community impact, and commitment to serving justice-impacted individuals, families, and communities throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
We are grateful for their partnership and dedication to creating opportunities for healing, restoration, and successful reintegration.
Featured Exhibitors
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet representatives from organizations including:
Legal Services & Advocacy
- All of Us or None
- California Civil Rights Department
- California Justice Leaders / Impact Justice
- Justice at Last
- Legal Aid At Work
- Open Door Legal
- Root & Rebound Reentry Advocates
- San Francisco Law Library
- SF CASA
- SJSU Record Clearance Project
- TimeDone
Employment & Workforce Development
- Allied Universal Event Services
- Bay Area Counties Roofing & Waterproofing Industry
- California Employment Development Department (EDD)
- Caltrans District 4
- Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
- Charity Cultural Services Center
- Code Tenderloin
- District Works
- Episcopal Community Services
- Faces SF
- Farming Hope
- Felton Institute
- Forestry & Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP)
- Goodwill of the San Francisco Bay
- Homebridge
- Love Never Fails
- Mission Hiring Hall
- Pacific States Petroleum
- Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
- Rubicon Programs
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- SF Clean City Coalition
- SF Electrical Training Apprenticeship Program
- The Port of San Francisco
- Young Community Developers (YCD)
Education & Higher Education
- City College of San Francisco Rising Scholars
- Five Keys Schools and Programs
- Grand Canyon University
- Project Rebound, San Francisco State University
- San Francisco Public Library
Housing, Reentry & Supportive Services
- Bonafide
- Cameo House
- Centers for Equity and Success
- CROP Organization
- Flintridge Center
- GEO Reentry Services
- Homecoming Project
- Hospitality House
- Phatt Chance Community Services, Inc.
- PURE 1 Organization
- Rising Tide Residences
- Service League of San Mateo County
- Success Centers
- Tenderloin Housing Clinic
- Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC)
- The Revive Project, LLC
Government & Public Agencies
- Alameda County Probation Department
- California Department of Rehabilitation
- City & County of San Francisco Department of Human Resources
- Department of Child Support Services
- San Francisco Adult Probation Department
- San Francisco Human Rights Commission
- San Francisco Human Services Agency
- San Francisco Department of Elections
- U.S. Social Security Administration
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health, Recovery & Wellness
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- BAART Programs
- District 12 Al-Anon Family Groups
- Dream Youth Clinic
- G.L.O.M. Outpatient Services, Inc.
- Good Shepherd Grace Center
- Mental Health Association of San Francisco
- PRC (Positive Resource Center)
- Prison Yoga Project
- Second Chance Inc.
- The Salvation Army
- UCSF Citywide Case Management
Community, Family & Youth Organizations
- Because Black Is Still Beautiful
- Catholic Charities of San Francisco
- Civic Engagement Initiative
- Donald Diggs Artist and Ceramicist
- MAN 2 MAN Urban Youth Advocate
- Miley Rose, LLC
- St. Anthony Foundation
- Success Stories Program
- Unity4Change
- US4US Bay Area
- Wisdom International
- Youth Transforming Justice
Veterans Services
- Sword to Plowshares
Archdiocese of San Francisco Ministries
- Restorative Justice Ministry
- Human Life & Dignity
- Excell Network
- Catholic Juvenile Justice Ministry
Together We Are Stronger
Successful reentry is not accomplished by one organization alone. It requires collaboration among employers, educators, service providers, faith communities, government agencies, advocates, and community members working together to create opportunities for healing, personal growth, family stability, and economic mobility.
We invite you to visit the Resource Pavilion, engage with exhibitors, ask questions, and discover the many resources available to support your next chapter.
Restorative Justice Leadership Summit
The Reentry Leadership Summit brings together formerly incarcerated leaders, community organizations, faith leaders, advocates, and public partners. The Summit creates space for dialogue, shared learning, and collaboration around best practices in reentry, restorative justice, and community safety.
Reentry Conference and Expo
The Reentry Conference and Expo is an in‑person gathering that offers workshops, panel discussions, and a resource fair designed to support people returning from incarceration and those who serve them. Participants connect directly with service providers offering employment support, housing assistance, education pathways, legal help, health services, and faith‑based accompaniment.
This event centers community voices and fosters collaboration among agencies working on the frontlines of reentry.
Reentry Webinar Series
The Reentry Webinar Series expands access to reentry knowledge and conversation through virtual learning. Webinars feature speakers with lived experience, practitioners, advocates, and system partners addressing key reentry topics such as healing, employment, family reunification, trauma, restoration, and leadership development. These sessions are open to a broad audience and are designed to educate, inspire, and build understanding across communities.
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center Resource Fair
Hosted at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, the Reentry Resource Fair connects incarcerated individuals preparing for release with trusted community organizations. The fair provides direct access to services and information that can support a successful transition, including housing, employment, education, health care, faith communities, and mentorship. This initiative strengthens continuity of care and helps bridge the gap between incarceration and community life.
Reentry Scholarship Fund (Excell Network)
Through the Excell Network Reentry Scholarship Fund, we provide financial support for justice‑impacted individuals pursuing education, workforce training, and leadership development after incarceration. Scholarships are paired with mentorship and community support, recognizing education as a powerful pathway to restoration, opportunity, and long‑term stability.
Life Together After Prison Retreat
The Life Together After Prison Retreat is an annual day of reflection, healing, and renewal created specifically for people who have experienced incarceration, as well as families with loved ones currently inside. This retreat offers: - Space for spiritual renewal and personal reflection Opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences - Tools for healing, courage, and resilience - A supportive environment grounded in faith, dignity, and grace Participants leave renewed, accompanied, and equipped to face life’s challenges with hope.
Restorative Justice Online Resource Directory (Coming Summer 2026)
Our Restorative Justice Online Directory will provide access to more than 100 vetted resources, available to: - Formerly incarcerated individuals - Families of incarcerated people - Survivors of violent crime - Families of homicide victims The directory will include services across housing, employment, legal support, counseling, spiritual care, victim services, and community organizations—helping individuals locate support and connection when it is most needed.
Venue
St. Mary’s Cathedral Event Center
1111 Gough Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
For questions contact Julio Escobar
at (415) 614-5572 or escobarj@sfarch.org