Meet our Team

Mr. Carlos Alvarez is a speaker, researcher, and innovator in Right Brain Restorative Practices. With a graduate degree in Forensic Psychology specializing in sexual deviancy and an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice focused on juvenile offenders, Carlos has extensive expertise in the field. As the founder and trainer in Right Brain Restorative Practices, he is committed to transforming school discipline and culture. His work aims to address youth and community violence through innovative approaches. Carlos’s dedication to restorative justice practices has made him a leader in reshaping how schools and communities handle conflicts and behavioral challenges. His efforts have positively impacted countless schools, administrators, teachers, and students.

Ms. Adriana Silva is a U.S. Army Veteran, clinician, and trainer specializing in high-risk incident response and the forensic processing of critical cases, including suicide, loss of life, and institutional violence. She holds a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy, and an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, focusing on counseling and treatment. Her field experience includes high-risk gang probation supervision and treatment, working directly with justice-involved individuals and families. As a researcher and facilitator with LAIRP and right-brain circles, she teaches practical, trauma-informed restorative approaches built for real-world conditions. Her military service, combined with her clinical and probation experience, gives her a rare command of both the investigative and therapeutic sides of critical incidents, making her a grounded, effective, and knowledgeable leader at LAIRP.

Janelle Naomi Rouse is an educator, trainer, and speaker, born and raised in Washington, DC. Her work as an education consultant is focused on decolonizing education, self empowerment for liberation, and critical thinking about the world. In New York, Janelle has taught in the classroom, supported teachers as a school administrator, and coach educators as an education consultant. She has had the opportunity to present at conferences to share pedagogical practices, academic research, and supports for neurodivergent students. Janelle has continued her work as an educator, a facilitator, and a life-long learner through consulting with schools to build culturally relevant learning environments that are supportive of youth developing a strong sense that allows them to actively participate in transforming the condition of their communities through the liberation of their minds and understanding of historical experiences.

Jennifer Anaya Sanchez was the principal of Valor Academy High School at Bright Star Schools in Los Angeles, where she led with a deep commitment to student growth, equity, and academic excellence. She began her career in education as a high school social studies teacher at Bright Star Schools, teaching global studies, U.S. history, and AP U.S. History while also leading the 11th grade team and history department. She later served as Assistant Principal of Instruction before stepping into her current role as principal in 2022. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Santa Barbara, a master’s degree in education from Loyola Marymount University, and an administrative services credential from California State University-Dominguez Hills. Her leadership reflects years of service, instructional expertise, and a strong dedication to creating opportunities for students to succeed in school and beyond.

Ms. Verenice Silva’s journey highlights her strong commitment to education and social justice. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chicano Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where her passion for community service began. Early in her career, she led an afterschool program for gang-affected youth, gaining firsthand experience with vulnerable populations.Motivated to address the challenges of juvenile offenders, Ms. Silva pursued a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University. During her studies, she noticed a significant overlap between forensic and special education sectors, particularly the stigma around Special Education, which shifted her career focus.Ms. Silva then specialized in Special Education, supporting high-needs students in general education. This stigma led her to pursue a second Master’s Degree in School Psychology from CalStateLA to bridge gaps between educators, parents, and students.

Brittany Domenick is a dedicated behavioral consultant, educator, and founder of NeuroRelational Co., where she supports schools, families, and communities through regulation-based parenting and education practices. With experience at iLEAD Charter School, she brings a strong background in child development, student support, and relationship-centered learning. Her work focuses on helping others build emotional regulation, resilience, and healthier communication patterns that foster positive growth. Brittany’s approach blends practical strategies with compassion, making her a trusted partner for educators and caregivers seeking meaningful change. Through her leadership and consulting, she helps create environments where children and adults can better understand behavior, strengthen connections, and thrive. Her professional path reflects a commitment to supporting whole-child development and empowering communities with tools that promote well-being, learning, and long-term success.

Dr. Katerina Soulou is a researcher specializing in criminal law and restorative justice. She holds a PhD in Criminal Law from Aix-Marseille University (France), awarded the 2024 France-Americas Thesis Prize. Her dissertation explores the ethical, penological, and political foundations of restorative justice through a critical and comparative lens, focusing on France and Brazil. A former researcher at the French National Academy of Prison Administration (ÉNAP), Dr. Soulou is currently Head of Research and Development in Social Sciences at the Social Link Laboratory (Labo du lien), a Paris-based social economy enterprise promoting social cohesion. She collaborates with the Los Angeles Institute for Restorative Practices (LAIRP) on research in criminal justice, school community justice, and restorative practices. She is also the Scientific and Organizational Lead of the international conference Relations, Culture and Violence Interruption (June 1–4, 2027, Crete, Greece).

Viana Torres Rodriguez is an educator with over 20 years of teaching experience, committed to fostering positive youth development through leadership education. She has designed and currently leads an innovative Peer Mediation Student Leadership Program at Olympian High School. Her program emphasizes self-awareness, compassion, forgiveness, and inter-generational healing. Under her guidance, student leaders acquire the skills necessary to mediate conflicts, promote understanding, and contribute to a respectful and supportive school environment.Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Viana graduated from California State University Monterey Bay with a major in Human Communication, making her the first in her family to receive a college degree. In 2004, she completed her Master’s Degree in Teacher Education with an emphasis in Social Science at Claremont Graduate University. Mrs. Torres Rodriguez was recognized in 2014 as one of five “Teachers of The Year” for the Sweetwater Union High School District.

Leah is a Greek Cretan national who completed her undergraduate studies in Sociology at the University of Crete, where she developed a solid grounding in social theory and research. After working in the private sector and offering her support to young victims in a variety of settings, Leah pursued a Master in Research in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies at the University of Manchester in order to deepen her methodological and analytical skills. She successfully completed her doctoral studies in Criminology at the University of Essex in 2022, focusing on the intersections between harm, justice, and social responses. Prior to her doctoral studies, Leah co-ordinated research projects on restorative justice and other topics related to criminology, gaining experience in interdisciplinary inquiry. During her doctoral research, she was involved in teaching as an Assistant Lecturer in Criminology and Sociology at both the University of Essex and Royal Holloway, University of London, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in these fields.