Consensus Council

10/13/2026

Tomorrow! Register here: https://tinyurl.com/nacrj

NACRJ - National Association of Community & Restorative Justice

10/08/2026

Consensus Council offices will be closed on Monday, October 12 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

10/01/2026

Check out our collaboration with North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations; we are truly stronger together! Worth a read. 💛

𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝.

At our June conference, nonprofit leaders from across North Dakota came together for a community roundtable to talk candidly about the challenges facing our sector —and what needs to change.

Without further ado, we’re excited to share our newest publication:

"𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐶𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝐶𝑜-𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡"
𝐀 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐤𝐨𝐭𝐚’𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫.

This is more than an NDANO publication. It is a resource created by North Dakota’s nonprofit community, grounded in real conversations, shared experiences, and ideas for building a stronger sector together.

📘 Read the full report on our website: https://www.ndano.org/

Thank you to our partner Consensus Council for your help in facilitating the conversation.

09/02/2026

Consensus Council offices will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.

08/06/2026

Meet Lusiana Keller, the Restorative Practices Council Coordinator at Consensus Council.

Since July 2025, Lusiana has led the day-to-day coordination of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council, supporting statewide efforts to expand restorative practices in schools and communities. She works alongside educators, practitioners, and community leaders to strengthen relationships, promote healing, and advance restorative approaches across North Dakota.

Lusiana holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Minot State University and is passionate about empowering youth and families, especially those from underserved backgrounds. Originally from Kelso, Washington, she has called North Dakota home since 2017 and brings energy, compassion, and a strong commitment to equality in everything she does.

We're grateful to have Lusiana leading the Council's continued growth and impact.

Learn more about the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council: https://ndrpc.org/

08/04/2026

Today we highlight McKinzie Kipp, a member of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council.

McKinzie Kipp earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice studies from the University of North Dakota in 2020. She has experience in juvenile corrections with Colorado’s Division of Youth Services, child welfare work in rural North Dakota, and currently serves as a Juvenile Court Officer in Grand Forks.

She brings a strong focus on working with at-risk and vulnerable youth, using trauma-informed, compassionate approaches that support both accountability and rehabilitation. McKinzie also served 10 years in the North Dakota Army National Guard, developing strong leadership and teamwork skills.

She joined the Council to support restorative practices that strengthen outcomes for youth, families, and communities across North Dakota.

Learn more about the Council: https://ndrpc.org/council/

07/30/2026

Today we highlight Kirsten Dvorak, a member of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council.

Kirsten Dvorak serves as Executive Director of The Arc of Bismarck and The Arc of North Dakota, where she has spent the past nine years advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She brings extensive experience in healthcare, mental health, special education support, and state-level policy work focused on equity and inclusion.

Kirsten joined the Council to support meaningful, lasting change through approaches that strengthen inclusion, relationships, and community support systems.

Learn more about the Council: https://ndrpc.org/council/

07/28/2026

Today we highlight Magdalena “Mena” de la Paz, a member of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council.

Magdalena “Mena” de la Paz is a veteran educator with 16 years of classroom experience and currently serves as Dean of Students at Four Winds High School and 21st Century Coordinator at Tate T**a Tribal School. She holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from North Dakota State University.

Her work focuses on cultural revitalization in schools, including Dakota teachings, student drum groups, ribbon work, and other cultural programming that supports Indigenous identity and healing.

Learn more about the Council: https://ndrpc.org/council/

07/23/2026

Today we highlight Seferino “Sef” Hernandez, a member of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council.

Seferino “Sef” Hernandez moved from Texas to North Dakota at age eight and is a first-generation college graduate. He holds degrees in criminal justice from Northland Community College and the University of North Dakota. He currently serves as a Juvenile Court Officer and has prior experience with campus law enforcement and county corrections.

Sef joined the Council to help strengthen restorative practices in North Dakota, with a focus on supporting youth and families and improving collaboration between systems and communities.

Learn more about the Council: https://ndrpc.org/council/

07/21/2026

Today we highlight Jayme Davis, a member of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council.

Jayme Davis (Turtle Mountain Band/Standing Rock Nation) serves as the Representative for District 9 in the North Dakota House of Representatives and Minority Caucus Chair. She brings a strong commitment to advancing equity, strengthening tribal–state relations, and uplifting the diverse communities of her district.

Jayme joined the Council because she believes in the transformative power of restorative practices to build trust, heal relationships, and create stronger, more inclusive communities.

Learn more about the Council and its members: https://ndrpc.org/council/