Initiatives
We invite you to join us in our mission.
Together, we can make a lasting impact in healing harm and trauma in our community.
Become a sustaining, monthly contributor
Becoming a sustaining, monthly contributor is an effective way to ensure that your funds make a lasting impact. We are asking donors to partner with us to ensure our organization sustains its mission.
Click on the donate button at the bottom of this page and select which fund you would like to contribute to, and check the box next to monthly donations. Select “use my funds where needed most” if you do not wish to designate a particular fund.
Restorative Justice
Currently, we run a Restorative Justice Diversion Program for Leon County and we are grant-funded through the City of Tallahassee. However, if you would like to see Restorative Justice grow in our community, please consider donating to this fund. Your donation can help us taking on cases that involve more severe harm that are not covered by our grant. You can click on the Donate button and select “Restorative Justice”.
CFI Fellows
In loving memory of Marci Landis, Connection First established the Marci Landis Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Scholarship, which is now called the CFI Fellows Program. In her honor, this scholarship provides financial assistance and life-changing communication skills to those in need. Marci was incredibly proud of the connection, peace, and healing that her daughter, Dr. Cindy Landis Bigbie, provides through NVC training. Marci herself experienced the healing power of NVC. Being the granddaughter of Russian-Polish-Jewish immigrants who fled persecution and death, Marci was all too familiar with intergenerational trauma. Healing and interrupting the cycle of trauma was a life-long journey for her. In the twilight of her life, Marci experienced healing, sweet resolution, peace, love, and harmony. She credits NVC with some of that healing. For these reasons, Marci has been a consistent and generous supporter of our mission at Connection First.
Join Marci in spreading healing and hope. Click here to learn more about the CFI Fellow Program and how to submit a nomination.
Community Connections Program Interns
This initiative is inspired by graduates of our local Restorative Justice program for teens (Community Connections). As a testament to the success of this program, more than 30% of these teens return to volunteer. They are motivated to continue learning empathetic awareness and communication skills and to support their peers in learning these life-altering skills. Inspired by their service to our community, we have formed the Connection First Internship Program. We provide stipends for teens like these who contribute to connection, empathy, and compassionate communication.