About CHJ: Healing Ourselves & Our Community
We envision a world where restorative practices pave the way for resilience, opportunities, and the rebuilding of lives and communities.
Guided by These Beliefs
We believe in the principles of compassion, kindness, empathy, opportunity, equity, justice, and collaboration.
We believe in the sacred dignity of every individual. We see each other’s strengths, and believe we all can heal, succeed, and make our gifts manifest.
We believe we are all connected; if one of us suffers, we all suffer. We all need to be whole.
We sustain commitment to…
Elevating Voices for Transformation
as we keep:
:: Building a strong foundation to broaden CHJ's impact ::
:: Expanding populations served ::
:: Providing a community gathering space ::
:: Enhancing educational programming ::
:: Nurturing social enterprises ::
The CHJ Team
Committed to Building the Beloved Community
Dr. Dawn Ravella
Founder & Executive Director
Dawn is a social worker dedicated to healing individuals and systems for more than 30 years. She has worked on anti-poverty and peace initiatives locally and internationally. She works with individuals and their own healing process, builds supportive community, and encourages people to share their gifts, give back and work for change.
Her Doctoral dissertation focused on the transformation of community members who engaged in the Coming Home prison re-entry program. She is a collaborator with Beck Institute for Religion and Poverty at Fordham Graduate School of Social Work and has served as an Adjunct Professor at Fordham Graduate School of Social Service, Yeshiva Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and New York Theological Seminary (at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility). Dawn is a recent graduate of the Institute for Transformative Mentoring for Credible Messengers at The New School.
Dawn also maintains her skills as a Psychotherapist – holistic psychotherapy for trauma, loss, and transition. She recently received a certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies from the Trauma Research Foundation. Her commitment to this work stems from her belief that our own healing equips us to be peacemakers and healers in the world.
Sequan Prude
Program Director, Coming Home
Sequan has 14 years of experience working with underserved populations. He is a 2020 graduate of the Coming Home Program and has served as the coordinator and co-facilitator of Coming Home since his graduation. Sequan received his Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science (Summa Cum Laude) from Mercy College in 2017. Because of his lived experiences and his communications and management skills, Sequan is able to relate to participants and mentors alike. Our participants feel comfortable speaking to Sequan but also view him as a role model. He bridges the gap in understanding with the mentors who seek his help and advice. Sequan has championed the Coming Home program as an ambassador.
William Eric Waters
Board Member
William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters, has worked with people impacted by the criminal legal system for more than 20 years. He has earned awards for his work in the criminal legal system, including the Ralph Bunche Bridge Builder Award, which was later renamed the William Eric Waters Bridge Builder Award, and the Esther House Prison Ministry Award. He is the author of four books. He has a master’s degree from New York Theological Seminary and bachelors’ degrees from Albany University and the College at New Paltz. He is a native Brooklynite.
Caroline Gomez
Social Work Intern
Caroline's interest in social justice began as a young child of political refugee parents. While she has a bachelor's degree in corporate finance and a master's degree in "humanities and social thought," she realized, after volunteering for two years at the Freedom for Immigrants National Hotline, that to make a difference, she would have to return to school and obtain a Master of Social Work—which she is currently pursuing. Caroline has earned numerous yoga certifications and has taught yoga since 2009. In 2022, she furthered her specialization by obtaining a 300-hour Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga certification. As a social worker, Caroline will combine mindfulness and yoga with her social work practice.