Announcing LCJP's Executive Director

Dear LCJP Community,

As president of the LCJP board, it is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Shalene Onyango as our new Executive Director. Shalene joined LCJP in October 2019 and has demonstrated tremendous team leadership over the last three months in her interim role. The LCJP board and staff are thrilled to offer continuity and growth in our restorative values with our newest leader.

With the relaxation of pandemic restrictions, LCJP offices are open for in-person business. We encourage you to stop by to connect/reconnect with Shalene and the rest of our staff. You will also want to plan to attend the July 24th pancake breakfast - LCJP’s event to encourage community reintegration after spending a year plus apart. Relationships are the cornerstone of our life together.

Work at LCJP continues to build on the strategic plan developed last year (thank you again to the many of you that contributed to our plan.) Some of the most immediate steps include:

  • Promoting and preparing for “Your Story, Your Power”, our restorative justice theatre program in partnership with Mirror Image Arts.

  • Carrying out professional development training for St. Vrain Valley teachers, staff and administrators focused on utilizing restorative practices to promote resilience in a post-pandemic classroom

  • Developing our School Resource Officer training for the 4th quarter

  • Working on our fall, in-person fundraising event, Love and Justice, for September 30th at Shupe Homestead - mark your calendars!

  • Reintegrating with our many partners and volunteers after months of isolation

One of LCJP’s strengths demonstrated during the pandemic is the resilience and creativity of our staff, meeting the Restorative Justice needs of our community, despite the challenges of moving to an online format. Recognizing the value of our talented staff, Shalene has focused these past few months on much behind the scenes work to best align our staffs’ skills and development with our strategic plan:

  • Integration of equity, inclusion, and diversity, and positive youth development into the strategic plan

  • Increasing trainer capacity across all staff

  • Developing volunteer leadership

  • Staff career growth planning across the organization

  • Salary equity and transparency

With a new Executive Director, talented staff, and a clear strategic plan, LCJP is poised to meet the Restorative Justice needs of our community now and in the future. We are so excited to have Shalene leading the charge!

John Rostykus, LCJP Board President

Please check out a welcome video from Shalene on our YouTube Channel.

And, please register here to join us on Saturday, July 24 at United Church of Christ in Longmont for our first annual Post-Pandemic Pancake Breakfast to meet Shalene!

Shalene Onyango