Apphia will be in her final year of law school in the fall of 2022 at the University of Massachusetts School of Law in Dartmouth. At the law school she is a student ambassador for the admissions office and a Public Interest Law Fellow. Currently she is interning at the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office with the Juvenile and Special Victim’s Unit. She has a passion for working within the criminal justice system post graduation, while being able to use the skills and training she has learned working on the Transformative Justice Project. After graduating she is hoping to practice law in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY.

Intern, Jasmine Jenkins was a  2021-2022 graduate from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth earning her bachelors in Crime and Justices studies minoring in Political Science. Through her time she served as the President of the Student Government Association. Jasmine served as not only an intern for the Office of Transformative Justice but she was also an avid student leader. She has worked on several ongoing initiatives for her University including efforts to have the Black Lives Matter Flag be flown at the front of campus as well as efforts for the Black Studies Program which is currently a minor to be made into a major. She was a member of a previous student led move­ment, C.O.U.R.E. which advocated for financial support for affinity organizations representing students of color. She has helped manage and organized multiple programs that has had important impact on her peers and the campus. With her experience gained working on this project as well as other initiatives throughout her education she plans to continue working on projects addressing social justice, racial and economic disparities in society.

Intern, Johanne Barthold was born on December 10th, 1982. She is from Haiti and immigrated to the United States in the late 80s during the anti-Duvalier movement. Her family settled in New York City where she spent her adolescence until her parent’s divorce in the early 90s. After that she grew up in a single-parent home along with 2 other siblings. They’ve experience poverty while living with mental health conditions in the home. Life was challenging although we managed to make it through. Johanne has stated, her past experiences have shaped her  world and views. Hence, why she is passionate about immigration, social justice, poverty, women’s issues, and mental health. She is now a registered behavior technician (RBT) and works with children and their families who live with an autism spectrum disorder. Her job fulfills her desire to help others who struggle with their mental health. She also has a passion for helping the most vulnerable in her community. She is currently in her second year of college, earning a degree in Psychology at Massasoit Community College. So far, her education has allowed her to learn more about society and the issues presented. It has given her the knowledge surrounding issues and important causes surrounding ethics, accountability, compassion, outreach, health and wellness, organization, and equality. She has learned how to provide support and assistance to individuals utilizing all her available resources. She is not afraid to reach out for help when necessary and remains updated on all necessary training to ethically perform her duties. While attending Massasoit, she managed to get on the honor roll and the dean’s list. She is also part of honors literature and a psychology honor student. She is a part of the PTA at her daughter’s school, and works at the Women’s Center where she is a peer leader and support for students at her college. There, they raise awareness surrounding women’s issues and organizations such as the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She is also part of the LGBT in Literature Committee where awareness is raised surrounding the lives and challenges of the LGBT community. At which time, She had the privilege to present a research paper on Lorraine Hansberry a pioneering LGBT author at UMass Undergraduate Research Conference in April 2022. In addition, she is also a member of the Health and Wellness committee where we offer students support for their well-being including yoga and meditation. She has gained skills in writing, research, data analysis and participated in research projects within her honor societies. She is also a writer and researcher who is creative and organized. Through the Transformative Justice internship program, She has learned about the critical issues that exist in social justice and the work that is needed. Through this program, she has developed her professional communication, team building, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, and gained the confidence needed to interact with the community. In the future, she plans on continuing working with Transformative Justice and will be continuing her education in psychology specializing in behavior and counseling services. She will be transferring to a four-year university where she will complete her bachelor’s degree. Afterward, she plans on pursuing her master’s degree. She also plans on getting more involved in her community or wherever she can make a positive impact. Overall, her goal and her work are aimed at reducing suffering in human condition.