Our Staff |
John Ungerleider, Ed.D.
Director
john@gfcjc.org
(802)518-0302
John Ungerleider, Ed.D. teaches peace, conflict, global issues, and restorative practices to teachers and students from around the world graduate, undergrad, secondary and primary. He leads trainings as a consultant with the Greater Falls Restorative Justice Center and See Other Sides. He directs the Vermont Governor’s Institute on Current Issues and Youth Activism.
As Professor of Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation at the School for International Training (SIT) in Vermont, John started the Youth Peacebuilding and Leadership Programs, bringing over 12,000 young leaders for dialogue about the conflicts they inherited.
John lived and taught in Cyprus, Israel, Venezuela, and Spain, has trained young leaders in Uganda, Northern Ireland, Turkey, China, and Iraq, and taught courses at Brandeis, Hampshire, Marlboro, and Community College of Vermont. John is the author of books and articles that describe the impact of peacebuilding, dialogue, and youth empowerment, such as Let’s talk about it: A guide to leading youth dialogue across communities and conflicts, The Inner Peace Outer Peace Reader, Challenging Child Labor and “Structured Youth Dialogue to Empower Peacebuilding and Leadership.” He wrote and performs a participatory musical "co-opera" about global warming: Secret of the Seasons.
Director
john@gfcjc.org
(802)518-0302
John Ungerleider, Ed.D. teaches peace, conflict, global issues, and restorative practices to teachers and students from around the world graduate, undergrad, secondary and primary. He leads trainings as a consultant with the Greater Falls Restorative Justice Center and See Other Sides. He directs the Vermont Governor’s Institute on Current Issues and Youth Activism.
As Professor of Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation at the School for International Training (SIT) in Vermont, John started the Youth Peacebuilding and Leadership Programs, bringing over 12,000 young leaders for dialogue about the conflicts they inherited.
John lived and taught in Cyprus, Israel, Venezuela, and Spain, has trained young leaders in Uganda, Northern Ireland, Turkey, China, and Iraq, and taught courses at Brandeis, Hampshire, Marlboro, and Community College of Vermont. John is the author of books and articles that describe the impact of peacebuilding, dialogue, and youth empowerment, such as Let’s talk about it: A guide to leading youth dialogue across communities and conflicts, The Inner Peace Outer Peace Reader, Challenging Child Labor and “Structured Youth Dialogue to Empower Peacebuilding and Leadership.” He wrote and performs a participatory musical "co-opera" about global warming: Secret of the Seasons.
Michael Malick
Re-entry Navigator
navigator@gfcjc.org
(802) 376-0082
Michael grew up in Pennsylvania but has been a Vermonter for most of his life. He holds a Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Economics from Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont.
After his time working as Chief Operator for the Bellows Falls Municipal Wastewater facility, he refocused his efforts on the justice system of Vermont. He has worked as Juvenile Justice Coordinator for Youth Services of Brattleboro, VT, as a Probation Officer in the same community, and as a Case Manager for Health Care & Rehabilitation Services in Springfield, Vermont. He has worked as Re-entry Navigator for the Greater Falls Community Justice Center since 2013. In 2016, Greater Falls Connections awarded him the Active Community Engagement Award for public service.
Michael loves being outside, exercising, sled dogging, meditating, and doing yoga.
Re-entry Navigator
navigator@gfcjc.org
(802) 376-0082
Michael grew up in Pennsylvania but has been a Vermonter for most of his life. He holds a Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Economics from Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont.
After his time working as Chief Operator for the Bellows Falls Municipal Wastewater facility, he refocused his efforts on the justice system of Vermont. He has worked as Juvenile Justice Coordinator for Youth Services of Brattleboro, VT, as a Probation Officer in the same community, and as a Case Manager for Health Care & Rehabilitation Services in Springfield, Vermont. He has worked as Re-entry Navigator for the Greater Falls Community Justice Center since 2013. In 2016, Greater Falls Connections awarded him the Active Community Engagement Award for public service.
Michael loves being outside, exercising, sled dogging, meditating, and doing yoga.
Lauren Beigel MacArthur
Reparative Programs Manager
lauren@gfcjc.org
(802) 376-9794
Lauren Beigel MacArthur completed a BA at Marlboro College in Environmental Studies (with a specific focus on Guatemalan literature and tropical agroecology), a TESOL Certificate from the School for International Training, and an M.Ed from Antioch University New England. In the early 2000's, she worked for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona, assisting detained immigrants and refugees who faced imminent deportation. She taught Middle School Humanities at The Compass School in Westminster, VT for five years, where she served as the faculty representative and advisor to the Compass Student Restorative Justice Committee. Lauren stayed home with her children when they were very young, running a small cider business with her husband, teaching creative writing and farming. Lauren currently serves as a Guardian ad Litem to several youth through the Windham County Family Court and has served as a Parent Coordinator through the Vermont Superior Court Family Mediation Program. She enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, visiting the desert, growing and preserving vegetables, cooking, reading, spending time with her family, and participating in community life.
Reparative Programs Manager
lauren@gfcjc.org
(802) 376-9794
Lauren Beigel MacArthur completed a BA at Marlboro College in Environmental Studies (with a specific focus on Guatemalan literature and tropical agroecology), a TESOL Certificate from the School for International Training, and an M.Ed from Antioch University New England. In the early 2000's, she worked for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona, assisting detained immigrants and refugees who faced imminent deportation. She taught Middle School Humanities at The Compass School in Westminster, VT for five years, where she served as the faculty representative and advisor to the Compass Student Restorative Justice Committee. Lauren stayed home with her children when they were very young, running a small cider business with her husband, teaching creative writing and farming. Lauren currently serves as a Guardian ad Litem to several youth through the Windham County Family Court and has served as a Parent Coordinator through the Vermont Superior Court Family Mediation Program. She enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, visiting the desert, growing and preserving vegetables, cooking, reading, spending time with her family, and participating in community life.
Polly Mahoney
Reentry & Panel Coordinator for Springfield
polly@gfcjc.org
(802) 376-6998
Polly Mahoney joined the Greater Falls Community Justice Center in July 2021 as the Reentry and Panel Coordinator for Springfield, where she oversees the COSA program, helps clients get connected to services, and facilitates Rep Panels. Polly learned a lot about restorative justice from the clients and staff of the Springfield Restorative Justice Center, where she served as the Reentry Coordinator, and from the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center, where she interned, volunteered, and served as a board member since 2016. In 2019, she got her Master’s degree in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation from SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT. Polly enjoys cross-country skiing, walking her dog, and taking trips with her family.
Reentry & Panel Coordinator for Springfield
polly@gfcjc.org
(802) 376-6998
Polly Mahoney joined the Greater Falls Community Justice Center in July 2021 as the Reentry and Panel Coordinator for Springfield, where she oversees the COSA program, helps clients get connected to services, and facilitates Rep Panels. Polly learned a lot about restorative justice from the clients and staff of the Springfield Restorative Justice Center, where she served as the Reentry Coordinator, and from the Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center, where she interned, volunteered, and served as a board member since 2016. In 2019, she got her Master’s degree in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation from SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT. Polly enjoys cross-country skiing, walking her dog, and taking trips with her family.
Mel Dawson
Reentry Coordinator and Victim Advocate for Bellows Falls
Mel@gfcjc.org
(802) 376-9637
Melissa (Mel) Dawson is first and foremost passionate about honoring the humanity and dignity of all people, and working toward a more just world, beginning with her own children and family, and in the wider community. She has worked as a Family Therapist for over 20 years with families facing multiple challenges and marginalization. Mel has worked intensively with individuals who have experienced complex trauma and has recently completed a Sacred Grief apprenticeship. Mel is in the process of completing a coaching certificate in Soul-Centered Depth Psychological Coaching. Mel has also been trained as an herbalist and yoga teacher. In her less formal roles, Mel homeschools two of her three children, lives on an off-grid farm, and loves to take meandering foraging walks, grow and preserve veggies and herbs, knit, make music, and dance like there’s no tomorrow!
Reentry Coordinator and Victim Advocate for Bellows Falls
Mel@gfcjc.org
(802) 376-9637
Melissa (Mel) Dawson is first and foremost passionate about honoring the humanity and dignity of all people, and working toward a more just world, beginning with her own children and family, and in the wider community. She has worked as a Family Therapist for over 20 years with families facing multiple challenges and marginalization. Mel has worked intensively with individuals who have experienced complex trauma and has recently completed a Sacred Grief apprenticeship. Mel is in the process of completing a coaching certificate in Soul-Centered Depth Psychological Coaching. Mel has also been trained as an herbalist and yoga teacher. In her less formal roles, Mel homeschools two of her three children, lives on an off-grid farm, and loves to take meandering foraging walks, grow and preserve veggies and herbs, knit, make music, and dance like there’s no tomorrow!
Kari Freyenhagen
DRIVe Program Coordinator and Media Coordinator
Former AmeriCorps VISTA 2021-2022
Kari@gfcjc.org
DRIVe Program Coordinator and Media Coordinator
Former AmeriCorps VISTA 2021-2022
Kari@gfcjc.org
Kari Freyenhagen is the former AmeriCorps VISTA serving with GFCJC and currently the DRIVe Program Coordinator and Media Coordinator. She grew up in New Hampshire and attended River Valley Community College where she graduated with an AA in Business management in May 2020. She is currently pursing her BS in Criminal Justice at Southern New Hampshire University.