JUSTICE & BELONGING COORDINATOR
Akbar Abidi
YSASP & DLS COORDINATOR
Sarah Aines
Sarah (she/her) is our long-established employee, joining the team in 2010. She joined the team while in school as she needed a work study position for class. As time passed, she joined full time. Sarah works in the YSASP and DLS programs, along with Diversion. Through YSASP, she screens and supports teens relating to substance abuse. Through DLS, she assists clients with relicensing and payment plans. She has lived in Vermont all of her life. Sarah loves where she lives along with gardening, tending to her chickens, hiking, and anything that involves the outdoors. She uses experience to support clients and aims to spread happiness, be happy, and stay happy.
DIVERSION COORDINATOR & HARMED PARTY LIAISON
Mia Baker
Mia (she/her) began working at the Rutland County Restorative Justice Center (RCRJC) in 2019. Prior to working at RCRJC, Mia was a case manager at a transitional home for women on Furlough. Mia plays a lot of roles in the organization such as the Diversion Coordinator, Harmed Party Liaison, and also works with adjudicated BARJ cases through family court. Mia was born in Massachusetts and moved to Vermont at sixteen years old. She graduated from Castleton University in 2014 and currently resides in Mount Holly. Mia enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and watching horror movies. Her goals are to focus on raising her children and to continue helping people turn their lives around.
OFFICE MANAGER
Kaylyn Cottrell
Kaylyn (she/her) joined our office in April 2024, taking up the new office manager position. She oversees many of our day-to-day operations and she'll be one of the friendly faces you see when you come into our office. She also maintains our lovely waiting room houseplants, which you may notice when you walk by our offices. Kaylyn is completing her degree in mathematics: statistics at Vermont State University and is looking forward to graduating in December. She enjoys learning about the financial aspects of the nonprofit world and helps with our general bookkeeping. In her free time, she enjoys being outside with her boyfriend and dog and cares for too-many-to-count houseplants as well.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Maggie Ganguly
Maggie (she/her) came to us in 2022. She has worked in the non-profit field for 9 years, 8 of those being in the restorative or alternate justice system. She is currently on the board for Rutland County Pride and Rutland Young Professionals. She attended Green Mountain College and has obtained her bachelors in Anthropology and Sociology. Her goals at large are to create a culture of community care, where we take care of ourselves as much as our clients. Maggie has a deep passion for justice, equity, inclusion, and belonging and hopes to help shape a Rutland County for all. She currently resides in Rutland Town and enjoys kayaking, painting, volunteering, and spending time with family.
PRETRIAL SERVICES & TAMARACK COORDINATOR
Kate Goetz
Kate (she/her) began working at the Rutland County Restorative Justice Center in May of 2021 as an intern and covered the maternity leaves of two staff members before becoming a permanent part of the team in July 2022. Kate now works in Pretrial Services and coordinates Tamarack, a diversionary program with a treatment focus. From referrals to treatment providers to assistance with housing, Kate’s position provides resources and support to our participants. Kate enjoys taking walks and hikes near her home in Wallingford, Vermont. Her goal is to become a clinician and she is currently working towards a master’s degree in social work.
BARJ & RESTORATIVE SCHOOL COORDINATOR
Sam McPhail
Sam (she/her) began working at the Rutland County Restorative Justice Center in 2022 as our BARJ provider. She works to provide support for at risk and truant youth ages ten to eighteen and a half, alongside providing for her two children. She also helps youth with social and emotional skills development. Sam is from Frederick County, Maryland and graduated with her bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology at Green Mountain College. Sam joined the RCRJC team after working for three years as the Victim Liaison at BROC Community Action. Sam currently resides in Poultney, VT and enjoys dancing, hiking, and photography. Her goal is to increase support and understanding that young people receive in our communities.
OFFICE KITTENS
Waffles and Cinnamon Toast
In June of 2024, with the help of The Feline Connection, our staff was fortunate enough to be matched with two wonderful kittens. Cinna is our chatty girl; she loves receiving attention from staff as well as looking over her brother. Waffles is our quite guy; he enjoys curling up on laps and hiding in the hardest to find places. The kittens have settled in nicely with our staff, office, and families. For their first few months with us, Cinna and Waffles went home with various staff members to help get them acclimated to different environments and social atmospheres. These days, the kittens stay at the office full time, with sleepovers arranged with staff for our various long weekends. Eventually, when they retire, the kittens will settle in with a designated staff member. In the meantime, they bring an abundant amount of joy, energy, and of course cuteness, to the office. Stay tuned to see photos of these rascals as they grow into their roles as official office cats!