Jill Evans (she/her)
Director
802-876-6791
jevans@essex.org
I grew up in South Burlington and graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Social Work. I worked for 30 years for the Vermont Department of Corrections because of my passion for social justice and systems inequities, hoping to make change from the inside out. Half of my career focused on violence against women and the other on gender-responsivity and trauma informed practices for criminal justice involved women and children who are impacted by parental incarceration. In 2015 I retired and took the part time position as the Director at the Essex Community Justice Center. Being able to work in a mission driven organization with like minded people toward real criminal justice reform has been feeding my soul ever since. I moved from the south end of Burlington, where we raised our two sons, to the city of Essex Junction in 2018. I love living in the community my organization serves and engages with. One of my 2 adult sons also lives in the city of Essex Junction with his wife and 2 children. The other still lives in the south end of Burlington.
When I’m not at work I am passionate about spending time with my family, and especially my 2 grandchildren to whom I am knows as “Bibi”. I also love hanging out with friends, playing all manner of games, including Mah Jongg, feeding my artistic tendencies through fused glass and jewelry making, and taking cooking classes. I can also be found taking Yoga classes and playing with my two kittens, Izzie and Leo.
Susanna Weller (she/her)
Essex Restorative Justice Panel Coordinator
802-876-6792
sweller@essex.org
I grew up in northern New Jersey, in a NYC suburb called Teaneck. Growing up I would visit my maternal grandmother in Vermont; the geography of this state felt like a hug from someone I love. In the fall of 2000, I finally made Vermont my home. I came to the Essex Community Justice Center in 2016, after 15 years working in public health. Both restorative justice and public health acknowledge and address the social inequities that impact our communities and residents. I am happiest when my work allows me to address social justice issues. In my time here I have coordinated Restorative Justice Panels, provided support to victims of crime, and helped develop and implement justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) training for the restorative justice community. When not at work, I enjoy listening to books (especially magical realism), solving puzzles, taking art classes, and hanging out with the people and fuzzy creatures I love.
Michelle Teegarden (she/her)
Colchester and Milton Restorative Justice Panel CoordinatorSafe Driving Program Coordinator
802-876-6797
mteegarden@essex.org
After retiring from a decades long career in college admissions in 2019, I began volunteering at the Essex CJC as a panel volunteer in 2020 to pursue my lifelong interest in social justice. In March of 2021 a part time position as a Restorative Justice Specialist became available and I jumped at the chance to join the ECJC team. My work with those responsible for crimes seeking to repair harm and supporting victims impacted by crime is both meaningful and gratifying. I am also grateful for the opportunity to work with extraordinary volunteers from our local communities who serve on Restorative Justice Panels.
My husband and I live in Essex where we raised two children who are now fully adulting in different parts of the world. He and I both grew up and lived in the Midwest (Indiana and Ohio respectively) but intentionally sought out a life in Vermont over 30 years ago for its beauty, lifestyle, and progressive communities. As a full-fledged flatlander my attempt at skiing was short lived so instead, I enjoy (distant) views of beautiful snow-covered peaks and fall mountain hikes on solid ground. I am shamelessly passionate about pickleball, enjoy mahjong and book group with friends, and swear by the motto, “laughter is the best medicine.”
Karen Dolan (she/her)
Special Projects Coordinator
802-876-6794
kdolan@essex.org
I have called Vermont home for my entire life. As a child, I primarily grew up in the Northeast Kingdom where I could see Canada from one window and a cornfield from the other. A few years after graduating from the University of Vermont, me and my husband, Jason, decided to move to Essex Junction. We have lived in the community since 2007, raising two amazing children and our quirky family dogs.
Public service has anchored my entire career with a focus on leading initiatives to strengthen opportunities for Vermonters. My work efforts have spanned from food security systems and work readiness programs to criminal justice reform and facilitating community dialogues. I was thrilled to join the Essex Community Justice Center in 2016 as an opportunity to support restorative justice right in my backyard. In 2020, I furthered my capacity to serve the community when I was elected as a State Representative.
Outside of my time at the Essex Community Justice Center, I do my best to stay active by taking part in Zumba, local community runs, mountain biking and even some ultimate frisbee from time to time since that is the sport that brought me and my husband together.
Stacy Jones
Community Connections Coordinator
802-876-6793
sjones@essex.org
Though born in New Jersey, many of my formative years were spent in and around Vermont. Peripatetic in spirit and in practice, I don’t have a particular place I call home; Vermont is the nearest similitude. In much the same way, my career path has been eclectic, spanning various fields. It has taken me through a myriad of roles in Vermont’s nonprofit arena, each one adding a unique layer to my understanding of the human experience we share, and each adding to the way I approach the world.
Some of my roles have included supporting young parents, LGBTQ+ youth, survivors of intimate and/or domestic partner violence, unhoused community members, individuals addressing substance use challenges, those in mental health crises, and my own two children. These experiences have allowed me to cultivate a deep commitment to listening, understanding, advocating for, and standing with the marginalized and at-risk individuals who populate the world we share in service of a more equitable and thriving community.
Things that bring me joy include creating of all sorts, from cooking to carpentry and fiber arts to community building. I also enjoy bodies of water, forests, mountains, and time with the people I hold as family.