At 84, Irene Morgan, the founder of the Restorative Community Coalition since 2006, is the epitome of a trail-savvy, wise 21st-century elder and businesswoman! Now a great-grandmother, Irene speaks about how her family moved from California in the middle of World War II to pioneer a family farm at the Northwest Border of the U.S. She explains how she moved from a slaughter-on-the-farm business, through being a counselor, then into the world of non-profits and studying the issues of criminal justice, poverty, and free enterprise. Ultimately, she began a coaching business and started working to rebuild our jail, prison, and public health and safety systems.

As a foundation, Irene earned her stripes in farm business, with family values and community peacemaking at the center. And, with elder siblings, she cut her teeth learning how to stand up for hard work, fairness, peace, justice, honor, and freedom right in the middle of farming, forestry, fishing, indigenous rights, the issues facing slavery and immigration, during a time of great tumult!

A totally vibrant and working activist for peace and justice, Irene is clear that money spent on bigger prisons, punishment, and privatizing corporations is not a solution—it is a vast sinkhole for community dollars. Our money is far better spent doing recovery and community resilience work. Her vision is clear: To spend our money on reeducating people how to be contributory to a living, vital society. Her steps include: rehabilitation, reconstruction, restoring lives, reclaiming freedom, and investing in our families and local communities.

The Restorative Community Coalition works to:

*Divert individuals from the traditional justice system: By offering alternative pathways to justice, such as mediation, restorative circles, and community service, the RCC helps individuals address the root causes of their actions and take responsibility for their choices. *Support re-entry and rehabilitation: The RCC provides crucial support to individuals re-entering society after incarceration, helping them find housing, employment, and access to essential services. *Advocate for systemic change: Irene and the RCC tirelessly advocate for policy reforms that prioritize restorative justice principles and address the systemic inequities that contribute to mass incarceration.