Who we are

About Us

Staff

Janelle Edens, M.S. Criminology

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Janelle Edens brings over 10 years of facilitation and training experience in restorative practices and Nonviolent Communication. Prior to re-joining Connection First as ED, she served as the Restorative Practices Coordinator for Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), where she helped achieve a 26% reduction in suspension rates and a 519% increase in restorative interventions district wide in two-years. Before that, she was the statewide Restorative Practices Specialist for the Florida Dept. of Children and Families for five years. Janelle worked at HQ Dept. of Juvenile Justice before that. She is a licensed trainer through the International Institute for Restorative Practices and is trained in Nonviolent Communication. Janelle holds a master’s degree in criminology from Florida State University, earned in 2017. Catch her in her free time training for her next triathlon!

Dazz Grady, MSW

Restorative Justice Coordinator

Dazz Grady is one of the Restorative Justice Coordinator’s for Connection First. She works directly with individuals in the community to facilitate restorative practices, hold individuals accountable, allow space for healing and advance the reach of restorative justice within the community. Dazz enjoys spending time with family, reading, and traveling. Faith, family, love, joy, loyalty, support and trust are values that she holds dear. Dazz is also trained in Nonviolent Communication, and she holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from Florida State University, earned in 2018.

Juliana Rodriguez, MSW

Restorative Justice Coordinator

Juliana Rodriguez is one of the Restorative Justice Coordinator’s for Connection First. Since 2021, she has been teaching Nonviolent Communication – a practice that underlies all the workings of Connection First. She also holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from Florida State University, earned in 2023, and is pursuing Florida licensure in clinical social work. Juliana enjoys teaching and practicing yoga, rock climbing, hiking, and spending time with her family. She is interested in all mindfulness practices, anything relating to health and wellness, and community-building initiatives.

Board of Directors

Jeremiah Murphy, Ph.D.

Founding President

Kate Kile, B.B.A.

Treasurer

Professor Jeremiah Murphy is the founding president of Connection First. He has been inspired by both the lived experience and the proven impact of restorative practices and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). For Jeremiah, the work is both personal and practical: “It’s simple: Restorative Justice works, and it changes lives. When you’re in a restorative circle, you can actually feel the healing connections being made.”

Kate Kile brings to the organization over 30 years of experience in a wide variety of endeavors from banking and fiduciary tax, to accounting, budgeting and financial reporting in the nonprofit sector (primarily performing arts and churches). Kate is trained in Nonviolent Communication, a member of Leadership Tallahassee Class 37, and has served in leadership roles for many groups and organizations she holds dear including PTOs, Leon Soccer Boosters, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Capital Area Justice Ministry, and at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Married to her college sweetheart, Brad since 1994, they are the proud parents of 3 incredible humans, Jake, Lucy and Evan, 2 ill-behaved dogs, Finn and Alice, and 1 cheeky cat, Jackpot. Kate has a passion for justice, bridge-building, peacemaking and all things French. She loves meeting new people, walking in the woods, yoga, reading, dancing and traveling.

Betsy Staudt Willet, M.A.

Member

Kalin Goble Mathis, M.S.

Secretary

Betsy Staudt Willet has 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. She builds effective organizations, develops leaders, and applies systems thinking to facilitate peace and justice. She currently directs a FAMU/FSU training program for emerging scholars who research social justice issues in education. Betsy is a trained restorative justice facilitator and holds degrees in chemistry (BS) and theology (MA). She holds certificates in systems thinking and social impact strategy. Her experiences serving in campus ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and learning from the peace and justice faith traditions of the Mennonites fuel her mission to bridge divides, bring restoration for all, and build peace.

Betsy bakes all the bread her family eats, gardens with her neighbors, and loves to gather friends for meals.

Kalin Goble Mathis has almost 10 years of experience supporting grant initiatives within her community. In her professional role, she empowers service providers supporting the well-being of military families. Her work focuses on advocacy, grant management, research, and program development to positively impact organizations and communities. Kalin volunteers with Tallahassee’s juvenile diversion program, Community Connections. With this program, she works with youth to develop and strengthen social-emotional skills and strengths-based communication. Her academic achievements include a Master of Science in Sociology and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Valdosta State University. Kalin fills her cup by spending time outdoors, working around her homestead, and exploring the rivers with her husband, Jefferson.

She loves being with her friends, snuggling with her five fur babies (3 pups, 2 cats), practicing yoga, listening to music, and scrapbooking.