Community Service & Cultural Stewardship
Advocating for creative conflict resolution and just social systems.
Restorative justice practitioner Sophia Solano carries more than a decade of experience in community service, resource development, and organizational stewardship. Her studies and activism have led to a diverse career in nonprofit and community consulting, grant writing, education and training, case management, group facilitation, mediation, team agreement building, legislative advocacy, library services, legal research, equity assessment and more. She has worked with and for a wide range of entities, including her own small business collective, schools, government agencies, Tribal organizations, coalitions, housing cooperatives, and other social service providers.
Sophia’s unique approach to community development and conflict resolution is first rooted in relationship, beginning with a thorough introduction conversation so that services can be informed and co-created by key stakeholders and those most impacted.
Areas of Practice
Restorative Dialogue
Difficult conversations provide opportunity for individual growth as well as sustainable community development. A facilitated dialogue allows for enhanced communication that results in deeper understanding, improved relationships, security and stability through conflict and harm.
Harm Reparation
When things go wrong, essential relationships become strained in ways that can affect entire communities. Direct impacts are often avoided or ignored. Rather than punishing those who have caused harm, reparation plans and processes can facilitate healing and accountability, repairing impacts and restoring balance between individuals and our communities.
Agreement-Building
Conflict is always an opportunity for meaningful reflection and change. Structured agreement-building can provide a pathway through conflict that honors the people most impacted, empowering individuals and communities to create next steps and solutions together.
“Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.” – Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Get in Touch
All services are individualized on a case-by-case basis to meet the interests and needs of your unique circumstances. Use the button below to schedule an Introduction so we can get to know each other better!