ABOUT TIKKUN LONG ISLAND
Tikkun Long Island is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to repairing systems through restorative solutions.
What We Believe
We believe that a healthy system is one that instills and is consistent with the philosphy of restorative justice.
What We Do
We examine systems through a restorative lens. We ask the following questions:
1. To what extent do they promote competency?
2. To what extent do they promote healing?
3. To what extent do they ensure community safety?
What We Do Next
We develop and implement programs that are restorative in nature to a system in need.
See Current Programs
Why "Tikkun"?
"Tikkun" is the Hebrew word for "Repair."
It is the first word in the phrase "Tikkun Olam," which means "Repairing the World" in Hebrew.
It is a philosophical ideal that stresses the obligation of individuals to take an active role in healing the world around them, especially in the wake of harm.
Who We Are
Board of Directors
Our
I'm another title
Dr. Paul Meller is associate professor in the Psy.D. program in the School-Community psychology program at Hofstra University. He has worked as a school psychologist or consulting psychologist in numerous school districts, head-start programs, and community mental health centers. Dr. Meller's principal research activities involve divorce, conflict in relationships, high-conflict families, and forensic psychology. Dr. Meller has held leadership positions in numerous state and national professional organizations.
Dr. Paul Meller
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Karin Caro is the President of BluChip marketing, and a loving mother to four beautiful children. In addition to her work with Tikkun, she sits on the board for the Stony Brook Children's Hospital Task Force, sits on the Advisory Board for Angela’s House, and sits on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts Suffolk County, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities. She is passionate about helping small businesses and charities reach their marketing goals.
Karin M. Caro
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Dawn Hargraves is a Partner at Hagney, Quatela, Hargraves & Mari, PLLC. Dawn is an expert in the area of Matrimonial Law. Dawn received her Juris Doctorate in Law from Touro College. Dawn is currently involved with Family Law Committee, Matrimonial Committee, Suffolk County Matrimonial BAR Association, Suffolk County BAR Association. Dawn's hobbies and interests include spending time with her family. Dawn is drawn to and passionate about charitable organizations such as this one as well as Every Child Dream and Splash of the Hope.
Dawn Hargraves
I'm another title
Jennie DiGuardia is an educator with years of experience as an elementary school teacher, a summer camp counselor and a worker for Pal-O-Mine Equestrian's Equine Assisted Learning and Psychotherapy Programs. In 2012, Jennie and Dr. Goldman piloted the No Vengeance Zone curriculum, a program to reduce violence in schools, in her Pal-O-Mine classroom, and the curriculum is now being launched in several Long Island school districts.
Jennie DiGuardia
Supporters
Our
has generously provided Tikkun with free marketing and public relations support since 2013.
has helped Tikkun to design, implement, & evaluate its mentoring program.
has provided Tikkun with pro bono legal support since 2013.
graciously opened their doors for our May 2014 "Heal a Heart, Save a Future" fundraiser.
provided Tikkun Long Island with a phenomenal spread for our Dec. 2014 Program LIVES fundraiser.
opened their vineyard to Tikkun Long Island for our Dec. 2014 Program LIVES fundraiser.
Founder
Our
Robert Goldman, J.D., Psy.D.
Dr. Goldman is a criminal defense attorney and a practicing psychologist.
In 2004, after years of watching the traditional criminal justice system fail in his community as a criminal defense attorney, Dr. Goldman decided to undertake a doctorate in Psychology and work towards a better approach to crime. He has not looked back since.
In 2005, he began working with juvenile offenders as the supervising psychologist for the Suffolk County Probation Department. The same year he also developed the T.A.S.T.E. Program, a diversion program for defendants in the Suffolk County court system. With a 98% desistance rate, the program is now being used as the building block for future evidence-based interventions.
Dr. Goldman believes passionately in healing and forgiveness in response to harm. He has written about restorative justice for the Suffolk County Bar Association, has held numerous conferences and other events focusing on his work in the community and the court system, and teaches about the principles and practice of restorative justice at St. Joseph's College.
Staff & Volunteers
Our
holds a B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University, and an MSed in School & Community Counseling from Hofstra. She has been working with adolescents on probation for about 7 years. Kim serves as our Executive Director.
graduated cum laude from Rhode Island College with a degree in criminal justice. A Rhode Island native and recent transplant to Long Island, Taylor is our program coordinator and is also an avid dog lover.
is a third-year law student at Albany Law School. He cares about criminal law, and recently completed a yearlong internship with the Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office. Alex is also heavily involved in the Moot Court program at Albany Law School.
graduated from St. Joseph's College with a degree in Criminal Justice/Psychology. Sharon works extensively with the TASTE program & appears in Suffolk Criminal Court daily. In her free time, Sharon enjoys partaking in outdoor activities such as hiking.
is a graduate student at John Jay College and has a B.A. in Criminal Justice from St. Joseph's College. She got her passion for restorative justice as a student of Dr. Rob Goldman, and her goal is to work with juvenile drug offenders as a forensic psychologist.
is an M.A. candidate in Forensic Psychology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She believes passionately in helping young people reach their goals, no matter what it takes. She is a foodie, a cupcake expert, and an avid traveller.
is a M.A. candidate in Economics at Boston University. After graduating from BU in 2011 with a degree in economics & international relations, he worked for the Millennium Campus Network, where he likes to tell himself he solved global poverty.
is a second-year law student at Touro Law School, and holds a B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College. She got her passion for criminal law & juvenile justice while mentoring inner city high school students in Atlanta, GA.
earned his M.A. in School Counseling from Hofstra University in 2009, and will finish his Mental Health Counseling degree there in 2013. He is passionate about baseball (go Phillies), his fiancé Denise, and helping others reach their goals.