Aaron es un mediador comunitario y profesional de justicia restaurativa comprometido con la transformación del conflicto a través de la mediación comunitaria, el diálogo restaurativo y la resistencia al trauma desde una perspectiva de equidad racial.

Tiene una maestría en transformación del conflicto por el Centro de Justicia y Consolidación de la Paz (Center for Justice & Peacebuilding) de Harrisonburg, VA, y ha fomentado alianzas diversas con organizaciones comunitarias y sin fines de lucro, grupos de interés del sistema judicial y entidades educativas. Cuando se mudó a Pittsburgh en 2016, se unió al Departamento de Justicia Restaurativa del Centro para Víctimas (Center for Victims), que luego supervisó; además, coordinó el Programa de Diálogo entre Víctimas y Agresores (Victim Offender Dialogue program) con el tribunal de menores del condado de Allegheny. Desde principios de 2020, Aaron trabaja en el Proyecto Solo Disciplina (Just Discipline) del Centro sobre Problemas Raciales y Sociales (Center on Race and Social Problems) de la Universidad de Pittsburgh como coordinador de prácticas restaurativas en la escuela con el distrito escolar de Woodland Hills.

Aaron se unió a la iniciativa fundadora de Just Mediation Pittsburgh en la primavera de 2020. Está comprometido con la consolidación de la paz relacional y las iniciativas impulsadas por la comunidad de promover la justicia y reparar daños. 

Aaron vive en Wilkinsburg y le gustan el fútbol, sentarse en el pórtico y comer porciones enormes de helado.

Maria Nunez-Varela es originaria de México y tiene un título universitario en diseño industrial. Desde muy temprano, descubrió su pasión por el desarrollo comunitario y económico, y participó como líder de proyectos en un programa centrado en la promoción del desarrollo sostenible de productos para aumentar los ingresos en regiones indígenas de México mediante el análisis de las características demográficas, geográficas, económicas y culturales de la región.

Antes de unirse a JMP, Maria trabajó como gerenta comunitaria en la Corporación de Desarrollo Hispano de Pittsburgh (PHDC), donde supervisaba la Iniciativa de Vivienda, el Programa de Empleo y el Programa Comunitario. Una de las cosas que más valoró sobre trabajar en PHDC fue poder ofrecer estabilidad a familias de orígenes diversos a través de viviendas asequibles en barrios de calidad. Además, tuvo la oportunidad de conectar a empleados/as con empleadores/as.

Just Mediation Pittsburgh asume el compromiso de brindar oportunidades de mediación para disputas sobre vivienda. Este compromiso es lo que la enorgullece de ser parte de JMP como administradora de programas y mediadora comunitaria. Por otro lado, la vitalidad, la determinación y la compasión que refleja JMP son características muy valiosas que le resuenan a nivel personal y profesional. 

Maria es instructora e intérprete de Flamenco, y le gustan los paseos largos, la naturaleza y los viajes.

Anna se mudó a Pittsburgh en 2015 y comenzó su carrera en el trabajo social trabajando con mujeres que no tenían hogar. Luego, obtuvo su máster en trabajo social con especialización en comunidades, organizaciones y acciones sociales (COSA) en la Universidad de Pittsburgh. Ha trabajado con organizaciones sin fines de lucro en áreas como la falta de hogar, el desarrollo profesional y la inmigración, y le apasiona hacer del mundo un lugar mejor para todos. 

Antes de sumarse a Just Mediation Pittsburgh como especialista en admisiones, Anna trabajó como coordinadora de servicios para el programa ISAC en Casa San Jose. Su trabajo incluía proporcionar referencias para viviendas, ayuda con el alquiler, asistencia médica y educación, así como abogar por que los clientes reciban mejores servicios. Disfruta de trabajar con personas de todos los orígenes y está entusiasmada por trabajar con JMP para ofrecer servicios de mediación a la comunidad.

A Anna le gusta jugar con su gata Mia, dar paseos largos y pasar tiempo con su familia. 

 

Amethy (she/her/hers) is a Pittsburgh native who recently returned to her hometown after an 8 year hiatus on the west coast. While completing two years of service with AmeriCorps, Amethy found her passion for public service in the form of housing stability. She spent several years on the Women Build Committee through Habitat for Humanity - Portland/Metro East, teaching other womxn how to build their homes and the homes of their neighbors. While she worked as the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the City of Portland, she educated community members and provided them resources to prepare their homes and families for natural disasters.

 

Before joining the Just Mediation team, Amethy worked as the Housing Stabilization Coordinator for YWCA for Greater Pittsburgh, where she worked closely with tenants and property owners to find common ground and prevent evictions. Her passion for community and housing is evident in the time and care she puts into her work. She believes that decent, affordable housing is a human right and oftentimes resolvable conflicts can create unnecessary obstacles for tenants and landlords alike. She is excited to help folks remove some of these obstacles and move forward together.

 

Amethy enjoys traveling with her husband, roller skating, playing in the garden, and snuggling her fur babies.

 

Sabrina Richie (she/her/hers) graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a
Bachelors in Science, General Education, with a focus on Social Work. During her college
years she worked primarily in the food service industry before working in the mental health field.
She worked as a mental health technician with the Mental Health Association of Washington
County for about three years before entering the realm of Housing Stabilization.

Sabrina was a customer service representative working on Allegheny County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which launched in March 2021, as a COVID rent relief program. Developing a strong passion for housing stabilization work, Sabrina is ecstatic to continue to learn and grow in the field with Just Mediation Pittsburgh.

Sabrina enjoys spending time with her animals, gardening, and being outdoors. Sabrina is also
an avid gamer and enjoys spending time during the cold months of the year playing her Xbox
with friends online.

 

Jaylon (he/him/his) is originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi and has lived in Pittsburgh for 4 years.  He attended William Carey University and received a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Mass Communication concentrating in Electronic Media and News Production. Most recently, Jaylon was the Talent Development Lead at Stitch Fix and collaborated on various Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and oversaw the creation and launch of a DEI strategic plan that partnered with local Pittsburgh nonprofits to provide resources and career coaching to underrepresented communities. Additionally, he collaborated with other regional leads to reframe our work through a lens of equity and inclusion. This spanned from the hiring process, daily communications, to operational approaches. 

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Jaylon loves to be outside and enjoys movies, and live music. He love to travel as well, and tries to take a few trips a year. Hawaii is his favorite spot. 

 

 

Shay Park (they/them/theirs) is a part-time graduate student in an online Master of Library and Information Science program at Valdosta State University. They are also a current board member of Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid (PRWA) and a research assistant for the Sounding Spirit Collaborative, a digital archive of gospel music held at Emory University.

 

Before joining JMP, Shay worked as database coordinator at Winchester Thurston School and a customer service representative at the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries, as well as a barista at several cafes in Pittsburgh and in Boston. Their various interests and experiences are united by the desire to connect people to what they are looking for, be it information, housing, a cup of coffee, etc.

 

Shay enjoys reading magazines, playing video games, grocery shopping, and making music.

 

 

Allison (she/her/hers) is a dedicated social service professional, committed to promoting justice, equity, and inclusion. 

 

Equipped with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, specializing in Political Theory and American Politics, complemented by a Minor in Gender, Sexuality and Women Studies, from The University of Pittsburgh, Allison has worked to refine her communication, interpersonal, and collaborative skills, while always emphasizing the intersectional and equitable utilization of resources and the creation of inclusive programs.

 

Her experience includes her position as Community Resource Coordinator at the supportive housing nonprofit, Sisters Place, where she created partnerships and collaborated with community organizations, worked closely with community members seeking support and resources, and orchestrated successful events and projects benefiting clients. Prior to that, Allison fostered her passion for community-based social service in other fields such as childcare and customer service.

 

Allison’s hobbies include reading, tending to her many plants, hanging out with her cats, trying new restaurants, and taking long walks around her neighborhood.