EVELYN VELASQUEZ

Evelyn Velasquez is a dedicated advocate of mediation and restorative justice, with a strong commitment to advancing equity and healing through community-centered practices. She believes these frameworks are essential to transforming how individuals and communities address conflict, as they foster deeper understanding, promote accountability, and create meaningful opportunities for restoration.

Evelyn earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. Her academic foundation and long-standing interest in human behavior and the impact of societal expectations led her to a career focused on conflict resolution, youth development, and systems change.

She brings experience working with justice-impacted youth from her time at Centinela Youth Services, where she played a key role in delivering comprehensive, community-based interventions for youth referred to diversion programs. Her work helped divert young people from the juvenile court system and supported their growth through accountability-focused programming. Beyond direct services, Evelyn worked with youth across the Inglewood and Compton communities, providing guidance and access to restorative resources that fostered long-term success both academically and socially.

As a leader in the field, Evelyn spearheaded the relaunch of school-based mediation programs across several Compton Unified School District campuses. She prioritized building student capacity to navigate conflict through intentional dialogue, while promoting mutual understanding and personal accountability. Her efforts have helped shape school environments where students resolve conflict constructively, develop empathy, and take an active role in repairing harm within their communities.