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Consensus Council facilitates conversations and builds agreements that empower people, transform communities, and advance the public good.

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/

07/16/2026

Today we highlight Dr. Rachel Bachmeier, a member of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council.

Dr. Bachmeier is the Principal of West Fargo High School. She began her career through Teach for America, serving as a Corps Member on the Rosebud Indian Reservation where she taught eighth-grade language arts at Todd County Middle School. She later joined West Fargo High School as an English Learner Social Studies instructor and has since served in school leadership.

She earned her doctorate from the University of North Dakota in 2024, with her dissertation focused on restorative practices. Dr. Bachmeier has seen firsthand the positive impact restorative approaches can have on students and school communities.

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

07/14/2026

Today we highlight Joel Friesz, a member of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council.

Joel Friesz serves as the Executive Director of the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ), bringing over two decades of experience as a restorative justice practitioner. He has worked extensively across North Dakota and the surrounding region to implement restorative practices in K–12 schools, the juvenile justice system, and adult corrections.

Joel joined the Council because he cares deeply about the safety and well-being of communities and schools in North Dakota and believes restorative justice is essential to achieving these goals.

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

07/09/2026

Today we highlight Elizabeth Hilt, a member of the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council.

Elizabeth Hilt serves as Associate Director of Consensus Council and has nearly 20 years of experience advancing restorative justice philosophies and practices across communities and systems. Her work focuses on creating space for meaningful dialogue that builds empathy, accountability, and stronger relationships.

She has led North Dakota’s statewide Restorative Justice program in partnership with Juvenile Court and the Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation since 2018 and is a strong advocate for restorative practices as both a response to harm and a prevention tool that builds belonging and resilience in schools and communities.

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

07/07/2026

Behind every lasting initiative is someone who builds the foundation and keeps shaping what comes next.

When the North Dakota Restorative Practices Council launched in Spring 2024, Natasha Gourd convened its first statewide advisory group and served as inaugural Coordinator. She set the vision, helped secure the funding that supports the work, and shaped the guides the Council uses today.

Natasha now serves as Director of Education Strategies for Consensus Council, providing strategic leadership for restorative practices across the state. Grounded in her Dakota identity as Wicanphi Tokca Win ("Different Star Woman"), she brings more than a decade of experience in restorative practices, Indigenous peacemaking, and community leadership.

The Council's daily coordination is now led by Lusiana Keller, who builds on the strong foundation Natasha created.

Thank you, Natasha, for the vision and leadership that launched this work.

Learn more: https://ndrpc.org/

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