Stories & Learning

For Mary Bouchard, volunteering with HCRJC began with a promise.

Fifteen years ago, while visiting White River Junction during First Friday, Mary stopped by the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center. First Friday is a monthly community celebration where local galleries, businesses, nonprofits, and artists open their doors, bringing downtown to life with art, food, and conversation. That evening, Mary told herself that when she retired from her career as a special education teacher, she would come back and get involved. Today, she’s doing exactly that.

Mary now volunteers with both our Reparative Panel and Circles of Peace Youth programs. Through Reparative Panels, she helps support conversations that bring together individuals who have caused harm with trained community volunteers to create meaningful agreements focused on accountability, repair, and moving forward. Through Circles of Peace Youth, Mary supports young people who have caused harm in relationships through a restorative process that emphasizes accountability, understanding the impact of harm, and developing the skills to build healthier relationships. Volunteers like Mary remind us that restorative justice is powered by people who care enough to show up.
In this conversation, longtime volunteers Kitty O’Hara and Dr. Judith Hills reflect on what first brought them to the work of the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center, the experiences that have stayed with them, and the needs they see in our community today. Kitty has been connected to the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center since its earliest years and has helped shape the spirit of the organization over the past 15 years. She also leads a weekly art class at the Justice Center, which has become a meaningful part of life in our office. 

Today, our walls are filled with artwork created by program participants over the years, offering a visible reminder of creativity, dignity, healing, and connection. Dr. Judith Hills has also been deeply involved in HCRJC’s work and brings a strong commitment to community care. As a doctor at Good Neighbor Health Clinics, one of our important community partners, she has helped connect people with access to health care and support.

Together, Kitty and Dr. Hills share stories from the work, reflect on what they have learned, and speak candidly about why restorative justice continues to matter in the Upper Valley. This video is part of our effort to preserve the voices, stories, and relationships that have shaped the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center and continue to guide our work today. This storytelling project is made possible by a generous contribution from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation.
Holly Kania has been volunteering with the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center for years, sitting down with people after difficult moments in their lives and helping create space for honest conversation, accountability, and change. One of the ways she does that is through Reparative Panels. Local volunteers meet directly with people involved in the criminal legal system and talk through the impact of their actions, the people affected, and the steps they can take to move forward responsibly.
Meet Kitty O’Hara, board member and volunteer at HCRJC. Years ago, she was asked if she would teach an art class at the Justice Center, and she agreed.

Since then, the class has become a consistent part of life in our office. Each week, participants gather around the table to paint, draw, and work with their hands. It is a simple, steady space that invites focus and conversation without pressure.
Sam is preparing to move on from HCRJC’s Transitional Housing Program as he and his wife build the home they have been working toward on property he purchased. This is a remarkable milestone and one he earned through steady commitment and hard work.

During his time in transitional housing, Sam focused on his goals and the future he and his wife envisioned. That work has led to this moment: building a permanent home of their own.

We are proud to celebrate Sam and all that this milestone represents.
HCRJC Board Member Alanna Ojibway sat down with Storytelling and Media Associate Isaac Lorton to talk about restorative justice at both the local and national level.

As the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach at the National Center on Restorative Justice, Alanna works with communities across the country that are building new restorative justice programs. In this conversation, she shares how she first became involved with the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center as a volunteer, what she has learned from serving on the board, and how Vermont’s model stands out nationally.
Long before this model had a name, circles were used in Indigenous communities as a way to address harm, restore balance, and strengthen relationships through dialogue and collective responsibility. That tradition of sitting together, speaking honestly, and listening with intention helped shape what would later become the Circles of Peace approach to accountability.

In the mid 1990s, restorative justice practitioners adapted these principles into a structured model for addressing domestic harm. The question was simple and urgent. If the goal is safety, how do we help people who have caused harm actually change their behavior, not just complete a requirement?
The Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center in White River Junction, Vermont relies on community members who are willing to show up when accountability, care, and human dignity matter most.

Volunteers work alongside people who are taking responsibility for harm and rebuilding their lives after justice involvement. Through Reparative Panels, Circles of Peace, and Circles of Support and Accountability, volunteers help create space for honest reflection, meaningful amends, and real change.
Isaiah is a powerful example of what is possible when our community shows up for one another.

In this short video, our Assistant Director of Transitional Housing and Reentry, Jonathan Tuthill, shares how Isaiah’s journey has inspired everyone around him. Isaiah is a key member of the kitchen team at @listenthriftstores where he helps make sure neighbors who rely on daily meals are nourished with care and dignity. LISTEN is a vital Upper Valley nonprofit that provides food, housing support, and essential resources to individuals and families in need.