Welcome to Circles of Peace!

History of the Organization
In 2004, Judge Mary Helen Maley (Santa Cruz County Justice Court), in collaboration with Dr. Linda Mills (New York University’s Center on Violence and Recovery), decided to develop a program that would meet the needs of underserved family violence victims in Santa Cruz County in a holistic, culturally sensitive manner. Maley convened a diverse group of fifty community leaders from law enforcement, health and social services and faith based communities to craft a program. The result was the establishment of Circles of Peace. Since then, Circles of Peace has been successfully treating families affected by domestic violence as well as mobilizing the community into action around this issue. Circles of Peace now represents a model for discussion and replication across the nation. The Center on Violence and Recovery at New York University was awarded a grant in 2004 by the National Science Foundation to study the Circles of Peace program in comparison to the local Batterers Intervention Programs. The study has been completed. Please call our office for more information.
What we do
Circles of Peace is one of the first domestic violence treatment and prevention programs that uses a restorative justice circle approach to reduce violent behavior in families. The program consists of 26-52 weeks of conferences, or Circles, that bring the abusing person together with their families (including the victims, if they choose to participate) as well as trained professional facilitators and community volunteers in order to encourage dialogue and goal-oriented change. Someone who is close to the family is identified to help monitor the safety of the victim throughout the weeks of treatment. The Mission of Circles of Peace is to offer innovative treatment options that contribute to ending the cycle of abuse for individuals, families and communities. As a social justice organization, Circles of Peace is committed to advancing a holistic and culturally sensitive approach to treating domestic violence locally, nationally and internationally. Circles of Peace is an Arizona Department of Health licensed domestic violence treatment provider and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Staff and Board
Staff
Judi Lopez serves as the Interim Director at Circles of Peace. She received her bachelor’s degree in Educational Psychology from Prescott College. She is a member of the Santa Cruz County Coordinated Response Team and Task Force Against Domestic Violence dedicated to educating and advocating for the reduction of violence in the community. She continues her mission by working at Circles of Peace where she provides direct services to families, facilitates community trainings and actively volunteers in Santa Cruz and Pima County. She is proud to work alongside extraordinary individuals who share in a steadfast commitment to reduce violence in the community. Deena Stewart serves as Clinical Director for Circles of Peace. Deena Stewart graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, and later earned two Master's Degrees from Ottawa University, focusing on Developmental, Forensic, and Clinical Assessment. Ms. Stewart has over 20 years of experience in the field of domestic violence counseling, helping people with co-occurring substance abuse, mental health, trauma, and developmental concerns. She has also conducted research on Organizational Development, Gender Issues, and Offender Treatment, while serving as the chair of Pima County Domestic Violence Task Force Committees. Ms. Stewart is the Clinical Director for Old Pueblo Counseling's and for Circles of Peace. Zarina Hernandez is a Circle Keeper at Circles of Peace. Zarina has been conducting Circles since September of 2007. She has a Bachelor's degree in Human Services from the University of Phoenix and an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Central Arizona College. Zarina is also a teacher and has worked for Child Parents Centers: Head Start for almost 15 years. Zarina is a native from Nogales, Arizona, married with three children.	Blanca Acosta is a Circle Keeper at Circles of Peace. She has been working in the Social work field since 1999, serving as a Health Promoter in various programs providing education, training and advocacy for low income families. She also has over two years of experience as a facilitator for non-violence programs. Her main interest is preventing domestic violence in order to strengthen individuals, families and the community. Along with serving as a Circle Keeper, Blanca works for Child Parent Centers: Head Start as a Health and Nutrition Specialist for the past 4 years. She was born in Mexico and has lived in Arizona for 19 years. She is married and has three teenagers. Blanca is working towards a Bachelors degree in Human Services. Peggy Delgadillo is a Circle Keeper at Circles of Peace. She has a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology and multiple teaching credentials. She is finishing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Saybrook Graduate School, where she also completed a certificate program in Expressive Arts with Natalie Rogers, the daughter of Carl Rogers, one of the founders of Humanistic Psychology. She has studied with a number of other well known art therapy experts. For two years she was a teacher in Nogales, Arizona at Pimeria Alta Academy, an accommodation junior high/high school. And her Ph.D. dissertation project involves designing a curriculum for equine assisted therapy/learning for her former students and other at risk adolescents. Monica R. Pansza is a Circle Keeper at Circles of Peace. She was born in Mexico City. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. She has been living in Arizona for the past 18 years and working in the Mental Health and Child Development fields for the past 8 years. She has been working as a Circle Keeper since November 2007 and enjoys it very much.
Board
President Judith Claremon Vice-President Rev. Lucie Thomas Secretary/Treasurer John Anthony Sedgwick Lee Ann Ayers Orlando Blake Adeline Cripe Veronica Kraushaar Lourdes Paez-Badii Patricia Thomas	Board Assistant Yael Shy, Esq. Ex-Officio Member Mary Helen Maley (Founder) Ex-Officio Member Linda Mills (Founder) Interim Director Judi Lopez
News/Events
Circles of Peace has been chosen as one of Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Institute Top 50 Innovation in Government! considered the nation's premier public sector honor, the innovations in American Government Awards program is annual award that recognizes exemplary models of innovative government in all domestic policy areas. Specifically, Circles of Peace was one of eight semi-finalists for the Annie E. Casey Innovations Award specifically for children and Family System Reform in 2008. For more information about these awards, visit the following links: • Top 50 Innovations in Government • Children and Family System Reform Semifinalists * Circles of Peace Co-Founder, Dr. Linda Mills, has just published a new book: “Violent Partners: A Breakthrough Plan for Ending the Cycle of Abuse.” (Basic Books, 2008). “In this groundbreaking book, Linda Mills – feminist, scholar, activist and survivor – challenges assumptions, tears down myths, and offers solutions to the problem of physical and emotional abuse.” Read more at www.nyu.edu/cvr. Order your copy today! * Please call our office or send an email to find out the next date of our community member training!
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