People

Erin has spent most of her life as a mentor, primarily in carpentry coaching, transformational nature connection experiences, and survival skills instruction. She has a masters in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, where she is now an adjunct professor teaching Restorative Justice. Erin was honored to serve as co-director for CVCJ for its first few years. She continues to facilitate cases, while also leading most of CVCJ’s trainings and workshops. Erin sees communication, empathy and accountability as powerful, learnable skills that she seeks in her own life as well as in CVCJ work. Erin lives in a tiny house she built herself, and she loves mountain biking and adventuring with her nine nieces and nephews.

Emma came to Charlottesville from Philadelphia, where she received her M.S.Ed. in Education, Culture, and Society from the University of Pennsylvania. There, she explored restorative and transformative justice applications in education, alongside abolitionist frameworks. Currently, Emma works full-time at the University of Virginia School of Data Science where she manages community education programming related to artificial intelligence, research, and ethics. She first encountered restorative justice while at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she earned her bachelor's in Community and Nonprofit Leadership. Having grown up in Wisconsin, Emma will enthusiastically discuss cheese, the weather, and the Green Bay Packers. 

Katherine is the mother of two sons, and is passionate about restorative justice, Collective Liberation, embodied practices & trauma healing, and Africana & Indigenous wisdom/epistemology. Her worldview is deeply influenced by her early life in Japan, time spent in African & DIasporic immigrant communities, as well as travel and spiritual & familial ties abroad, particularly in Cameroun and Ayiti. In addition to her work with CVCJ, Katherine teaches Afro Flow Yoga, writes, conducts independent research, and is an antiracist consultant and facilitator. Her professional experience includes 10+ years in public education and working with pregnant & post-partum women and families. Katherine holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, a Masters from UMass Boston, & a Masters Certificate from Boston University School of Public Health.

Wilfred (he/one) is an artist, herbalist, abolitionist, somatic movement  educator, writer, and a human living with complex trauma. He came to restorative practices out of a need to process his own experiences with sexual abuse and the criminal legal system. He is keenly interested in holding restorative space around sexual harms and other intimate relational violences. He believes there is nothing we can do or that can be done to us that jeopardizes our fundamental need for belonging. His practices emerge from a deep tether to Earth, Indigenous lineages of peacemaking, and Black feminist wisdom. Wilfred seeks to move in ways that facilitate holding abundant curiosity and deep compassion for himself and others.

Fritz sees his CVCJ work as a natural extension of his dual career as an ordained parish minister (M.Div., Harvard University) and a public service attorney (J.D., University of North Carolina). The congregations he’s led join pastoral care for individuals & families with organized advocacy for just social systems. The Legal Aid and Legal Clinic agencies he’s staffed provide representation and assistance to vulnerable and violated children & adults, within and beyond our citizenry. Fritz also works as a VA Supreme Court certified mediator with the Mediation Center of Charlottesville in court-referred civil matters. From his earliest years as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in North Africa, Fritz’s service contexts and roles have evolved with time, but a peace-making spirit is his constant.

Bianca serves as the Coordinator of Family Engagement and Restorative Justice in Education for Charlottesville City Schools, in addition to her work with CVCJ. Bianca leverages her extensive experience in neighborhood-based engagement, Title I family support, and community bridge-building to facilitate impactful restorative conferences. Across all her roles, Bianca is dedicated to connecting families with essential resources, repairing harm, and building sustainable paths toward healing and justice across Charlottesville and the surrounding region.

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Muggsie, a committed educator for 26 years, has dedicated his career to advancing equity in education. With experience across all age groups, he has served in diverse roles, including principal, assistant principal, special education teacher, intervention and testing coordinator, technology and instructional lead, among others. Muggsie has championed restorative practices in Charlottesville area schools through mediation and professional development. His belief that conflicts often stem from unmet needs underscores his commitment to fostering a community-driven approach to fulfill those needs. Residing in Charlottesville with his wife and children, he finds joy in family time, board games, biking, and various racquet sports during his spare time.

Rydell graduated from Fluvanna County High School and received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 1987 from James Madison University. He entered the human service field as a residential counselor for Oakland School for a year and then on to Community Attention in Charlottesville for twelve years as a mentor and case manager and also guiding foster families. In September 1999, Rydell joined Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries, a faith based community development effort, as the executive director for nearly 18 years. In August 2019, Rydell became a case manager for the STARS group homes for three years until he started facilitating cases for CVCJ in October 2022. Rydell and his wife, Hope, currently reside next to his hometown in Louisa, Virginia. They have three sons: Joshua, Joseph and Isaac.

Katrina is earning her degree in Global Development Studies at the University of Virginia, where her work has focused on restorative justice, juvenile justice, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Through her academic work and community involvement, she has become deeply interested in approaches to harm that center accountability without losing sight of dignity and repair. Her work with CVCJ allows her to continue learning from young people and community members while supporting processes that create space for healing after harm has occurred. Katrina is grateful for the opportunity to be part of this work in Charlottesville and hopes to continue contributing to a community response to conflict that is both honest and humane.