Staff
Afton had the privilege of participating with Restorative Justice through her previous role in juvenile community corrections. Prior to her work in corrections, she was involved with at-risk youth as a multisystemic therapist, while also coordinating a local nonprofit to deter domestic violence. During the four years she lived on the West Coast, Afton became certified as an elementary school teacher, and taught at a Title 1 school in South Phoenix. She later worked in a position to support homeschool families in her Colorado community. Upon moving back to Maine, Afton was excited by the opportunity to coordinate local harm repair within the counties she served previously. Her degree is in Behavioral Science, with a minor in Criminal Justice. She is driven towards restorative work, as a means to continue to strengthen trusting relationships through equitable and sustainable prosocial experiences. When not working at RJP, Afton enjoys literature, art, and feeding her chickens.
Heather is thrilled to have joined RJP Maine in July 2021. Years of visits and learning the restorative landscape in the area make being here a dream come true. Heather values the interconnectedness of all people and honors that as a circle keeper, conflict coach, mediator, restorative dialogue and restorative reflection facilitator, community dialogue facilitator, conferencing facilitator, and Certified Optimum Life Breathologist (C.O.L.B.). Heather invitationally shares her love of the work by awakening the ideas and concepts within others via trainings, presentations, and teaching courses about conflict and resolution and restorative justice. She served on the board and leadership circle of the Circle of Restorative Initiatives (CRI) for Maryland, helping to spread the awakening to restorative values and the processes that support them. Heather was fortunate to grow in the field with years of support, love, and encouragement from colleagues and collaborators at the Maryland Judiciary Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO). Heather’s educational upbringing included studying psychology because she is fascinated by people and all the gifts each individual brings in the world. Her family includes her wonder-full science-fiction loving, cosmic space study exploring partner, Mike, along with a large number of furry and feathery friends. Her favorite experiences are being in connection with others in circle gatherings of all kinds, and you can be sure she carries a talking piece with her everywhere she goes.

Jamar arrived in August of 2021 with enthusiasm as a trainer on the Training and Capacity Building Team of RJP Maine. He has extensive experience in various aspects of the prison reentry field and has leveraged his expertise to educate others in universities, institutions, and conferences across the country. Jamar's focus on social & restorative justice has led him to relocate to Maine to train others on restorative justice practices. When he is not motivating others through speeches or helping them to live a life of purpose, he can be found participating in any kind of exercise. Bicycling, reading, writing, and going for walks are ways that he rounds out his day. Jamar also enjoys gathering around food with others as he exercises his culinary skills in the kitchen.

Drew spent much of her career as a journalist, working for community news organizations and reporting about education, families, social action and more for magazines, public radio and podcasts. Authentic community engagement and human-centered storytelling are a cornerstone of her work, and she became interested in restorative justice after learning about the impact of trauma-informed practices and social-emotional learning through her reporting in schools. As the new Lincoln Community Justice and Harm Repair Manager, Drew is excited to be a resource for the residents of Lincoln County and engage in creative and transformative community-building as she helps launch the Lincoln County Community Justice Hub. Drew holds a master's degree from UC Berkeley and did her undergraduate work at Amherst College. She now lives in Rockland with her husband and two sons, who are growing up as fourth-generation Rockland residents. Drew enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and puzzles, and she is learning to take care of the beautiful and intimidating garden that came with her home.
Tom joined RJP Maine in April of 2022. Born and raised in New Jersey, Tom and his family moved to Maine in 2003 and settled in Wiscasset. After working in the banking field for a short time and then at L.L.Bean, Tom worked for United Way in the Midcoast region for eleven years. During that time, he became an ordained Catholic deacon and currently serves at All Saints Parish based in Brunswick. Working for RJP Maine truly aligns with who he is. As a deacon, he is called to be in service to the community. His work in the nonprofit world has enabled Tom to serve others where he lives. When not at work, you can find Tom cooking, cutting firewood, bicycling, or at the beach.
Hanlon had the pleasure of working at RJP for five years (2013–2018), first as the Volunteer Coordinator, then as the Waldo County Juvenile Program Coordinator and Training Coordinator. In 2018, she left the staff to seek adventure and to explore more deeply her purpose in the world.
After a two-month adventure in Northern Minnesota focused on eating off the land, she returned to Maine and sought opportunities to learn, grow, and practice in the field of restorative justice, including facilitating restorative processes as an independent contractor and co-facilitating online councils. She added depth and nuance to her understanding of what it means to be restorative in both professional and personal life, and also on a cultural and societal level.
She came to understand her life’s work to be transforming the cultural narratives that keep us in isolation, and nurturing instead the narratives of interconnection and mutual support. This led her right back to RJP, and she is delighted to have the opportunity to step into the role of Waldo County Community Justice Manager.
Her other passions include gardening, birding, animal tracking, canoeing, and basketry.
After a two-month adventure in Northern Minnesota focused on eating off the land, she returned to Maine and sought opportunities to learn, grow, and practice in the field of restorative justice, including facilitating restorative processes as an independent contractor and co-facilitating online councils. She added depth and nuance to her understanding of what it means to be restorative in both professional and personal life, and also on a cultural and societal level.
She came to understand her life’s work to be transforming the cultural narratives that keep us in isolation, and nurturing instead the narratives of interconnection and mutual support. This led her right back to RJP, and she is delighted to have the opportunity to step into the role of Waldo County Community Justice Manager.
Her other passions include gardening, birding, animal tracking, canoeing, and basketry.

Joanna joined RJP Maine in June of 2022. She is responsible for managing and growing the team’s community-based restorative justice programming. Joanna has gained extensive nonprofit project and program development experience throughout her 15+ year career working with a variety of organizations including the United Way of Greater Portland, the Maine Association of Nonprofits, and the Maine Development Foundation. These roles and others have given her a deep appreciation for inclusive community and organizational capacity building, and she is thrilled to have found an opportunity to apply her skills in the RJ field. Joanna grew up in Bass Harbor and has also spent time living and learning in New Orleans, London, and New York City. She is blessed to now reside in beautiful Bremen with her partner, their much-adored cat Basquiat, and many wonderful neighbors.

Community organizer, athletic director, sports coach, farmer, and farmworker are some of the roles Bob has filled during the last two decades. Guided by a desire to do the most good, he has collaborated with people around Maine, the U.S., and internationally on community-based solutions to the persistent problems of poverty, racial injustice, and rural exodus. When he's not in the office, Bob can most likely be found on a basketball court or track playing, coaching, and training for the Maine Senior Games. Bob lives in Sedgwick with his wife and two daughters.
Emma is overjoyed to be a returning member of RJP after completing an internship in summer 2021. She comes from a background of working with people struggling with dual diagnosis, trauma and incarceration. Her goal is to transform retributive and traditional systems of justice towards more transformative, community-driven models. Her fervent belief in the healing potential of community connection, story-telling and restorative harm repair led her to receive her Masters in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law School in May 2022. Emma loves Maine for its abundant nature, where she surfs, bikes, gardens/farms, cooks and creates art.