Staff

Claudia Melendez, B.A.
Bilingual Restorative Justice Program Coordinator

Claudia graduated from Regis University and moved to Vermont to pursue a career in the environmental field with the Hulbert Outdoor Center. She worked with youth to teach them about leadership and team building through the nature and outdoors. After a year, she was motivated to move back to Colorado and continue her work with the growing homeless population in the Denver Metro area. After years of working in homeless shelters and housing case management, she made the step to return to college to get a degree in Criminal Justice. She began volunteering for the Brighton and Commerce City Police Department as a Victim Advocate. This experience kick started a new passion for working with those who experience harm from crime. She now is motivated to start up her career in Restorative Justice with LCJP. claudia[at]lcjp.org

Ramone Sanders, B.A.
Restorative Justice Training Manager

Ramone’s journey as a nonprofit professional began in Central Wisconsin as a community liaison for his fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma-Beta Gamma chapter and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portage County (BGCPC) when he was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. As a former member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America as a youth, Ramone understood the importance of a safe space and mentors to connect with. He has always had a passion for giving back and being involved in community growth and youth development. Although his education focus was communication with an emphasis on public relations, he continues to pursue a career focused on relationship building and transforming narratives. ramone[at]lcjp.org

Shalene Onyango, M.A.
Executive Director

Shalene has spent her career working to help transform communities and unite them in a common vision; this work has taken her all over the world. While a graduate student at Loyola University Chicago she worked with volunteers to help refugees and immigrants fully integrate into their new communities and earned a Master's degree in Social Justice and Community Engagement. She spent several years living in Nairobi, Kenya and working throughout Africa assisting refugees in their process of resettlement to the United States. While there, she had the privilege of spending time in Rwanda during their extended period of mourning every April after the 1994 genocide. She witnessed their reconciliation process in action and was forever inspired by their commitment to relationship and reintegration. Shalene continues to feel passionate about igniting the community to engage. As Executive Director she works on at a local level to assist the public sector, local citizens and foundations in their efforts to better support thriving, integrated communities. shalene[at]lcjp.org

Board of Directors