Connection First Inc.

Today we recognize and honor Juneteenth — a day that marks freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice.

We remain committed to creating spaces rooted in dignity, understanding, accountability, and community healing.

We are deeply grateful for the thoughtful words shared by Unity Eastside Church regarding their experience working with Connection First. We facilitated a Restorative Dialogue for some of their board members.

One reflection that especially stood out:
“Where hurt could harden, they created room for healing.”

Through restorative dialogue, our goal is always to create spaces where people can engage honestly, strengthen understanding, and move toward meaningful repair and growth together.

We’re thankful for the opportunity to support organizations and communities through difficult conversations with care, accountability, and compassion.

We're excited to see an organization that is near and dear to our hearts, Community Connections, highlighted in this feature.

Programs like Community Connections create opportunities for young people to build leadership skills, strengthen communication, and support one another through mentorship and restorative practices.

We’re also incredibly thankful to the City of Tallahassee for supporting and funding restorative justice programming over the past two and a half years, as well as initiatives like Community Connections that continue to create meaningful impact throughout our community.

🎥 Watch the full feature here: https://youtu.be/kZ9jPwE0nXc?si=FcyD5lId-Dx-CioD

We're excited to welcome Haylie Carver as a Peer Mentor for the Community Connections Program. 💛

When asked what she’s most looking forward to, Haylie shared:
“Building meaningful connections is deeply fulfilling to me. I also value the opportunity to support others the way that I was supported in this program as a teen.”

We’re grateful to have mentors like Haylie who are passionate about creating supportive spaces for young people throughout our community. Learn more about our Peer Mentor Initiative on our website here: https://www.connectionfirst.org/initiatives-and-involvement.

One of the most common questions we receive is: “What actually happens during a restorative justice process?”

Every situation is different, but the goal remains the same — creating space for meaningful dialogue, accountability, and healing.

These conversations are guided carefully to ensure everyone involved has the opportunity to be heard and supported throughout the process.