Benjamin Chambers is a consultant with the Research and Evaluation Center on issues related to communications, publications, and social media. He works with the National Juvenile Justice Network as well as providing communications assistance to other nonprofit and public interest groups. Benjamin launched and was the founding editor of the Reclaiming Futures blog, where he also developed social media channels on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Previously, Benjamin worked for the Multnomah County (Oregon) Department of Community Justice and the National Office of Reclaiming Futures at Portland State University. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago.

Renata Cobbs Fletcher is a consultant for the Research and Evaluation Center as well as other public and private agencies and universities. She has expertise in researching, designing, implementing and distilling the effects of social change initiatives and programs to support distressed communities. Previously, Renata served in several executive capacities, including Vice President for Youth Connections & Reentry, with Public/Private Ventures (P/PV), a national nonprofit research organization. During eight years at P/PV, Ms. Cobbs Fletcher provided fund-raising, project design, and staff supervision for initiatives with combined budgets exceeding $15 million. She graduated (cum laude) from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jennifer Lynn-Whaley is a consultant for the Research and Evaluation Center. Her work focuses on alternatives to incarceration and the expansion of positive youth development and trauma informed care models for at-risk and justice-involved youth. She has published work on juvenile transfer laws, children of incarcerated parents, mental health courts, mental health services in the juvenile justice system, and developmental psychology and student misbehavior. Previously, Jennifer was a senior research associate at the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy at University of California, Berkeley Law. She earned the Ph.D. from American University’s School of Public Affairs in the Department of Justice, Law, and Society.