Join us to learn about the work of the Restorative Justice Department at Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW). The department’s programs provide an alternative response to harm that emphasizes accountability, healing, and community connection rather than punishment alone. They work with youth and adults who have caused harm, as well as those who have been impacted, to create meaningful opportunities for understanding, repair, and growth. Attendees will gain insight into how restorative justice strengthens relationships, rebuilds trust, and creates safer, healthier communities through practices centered on accountability, communication, and collaboration.
About us: The Rotary Club of Wilsonville meets weekly Thursdays at noon to carry out its purpose of providing service and fellowship to members and the Wilsonville community. Guests are welcome. Lunch is available off the menu; please arrive and order by 11:45 a.m. if you are ordering lunch. For more information, email president@wilsonvillerotary.com.
Bio: Theresa Huggins (she/her), master of science in conflict resolution, is a dedicated Restorative Justice practitioner with a degree in Conflict Resolution and graduate certificates in both Restorative Justice and Conflict Resolution Applied Applications. With over 25 years of lived transformation, she brings a deep and personal understanding of harm, accountability, and healing. She brings both professional skills and lived empathy to every interaction. As a survivor of crime and as having spent time in both juvenile and adult detention, and with close family members also impacted by incarceration, she offers a unique perspective shaped by direct experience on both sides of the justice system. She has studied extensively in areas such as nonviolent communication, trauma-informed care, cultural awareness, resilience, and heart-centered listening. Her work is rooted in compassion, justice, and a commitment to creating safe spaces for healing and transformation. She is passionate about creating pathways for accountability, reconciliation, and community connection.
Maxwell Olwa (he/him) is the Restorative Justice Practices Instructor (multilingual) at Lutheran Community Services, where he is dedicated to fostering inclusive and just communities through culturally relevant training programs that incorporate restorative justice principles. Maxwell has successfully managed programs that support diverse learners and help immigrant families navigate the U.S. educational system. His prior experience spans roles in community organization, sales, program management, and technical fields such as mechanical engineering and production. Maxwell holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Scott Theological College in Kenya and a Master’s in Global Development and Justice from Multnomah University. Deeply committed to social justice, community empowerment, and education, Maxwell believes in the transformative power of education and is passionate about fostering equity and opportunity for all.
