iChange Justice

In this episode Joy Gilfilen, host of iChange Justice podcast, asks Irene Morgan to talk about why, as an 80-year old grandmother, she is still standing up for “Right Action for All”. What got her learning about Peacemaking, reconciliation and non-violent communication, counseling and Restorative Justice? What drove her to learn about whole family trauma recovery, abuse addiction and healing work? Join us to learn how – for she’s built a bridge to help those facing huge barriers to reentering society. What happened that she has become a spiritual healer and civic activist and started questioning how the business operations of the prison industrial complex works? As a prior co-owner operator of a meatpacking slaughter business with her husband and children she started with questions, then in the 70’s,80’s and 90’s she began volunteering at the local non-profit Northwest Youth services, the Homeless Coalition, Crisis Services, served on the Community Accountability Board before working at Sean Humphrey House. Eventually she saw the gap and found her voice as the founder of the Restorative CommUnity Coalition to work resolving jail and prison issues. “I have always been a champion for the underdog…then one evening I met Don Kirchner, author of “A Matter of Time”. He’d been incarcerated and faced up to 25 years in Federal prison, when he started working with inmates, to help them heal and as a result the prosecutor dropped the additional charges. His book opened my eyes. He’s become a champion advocating for all people involved in the jail, justice and reentry business. It inspired me to start the RCC with14 members, including several from the Dept. of Corrections in 2006. We’ve now worked with thousands of inmates, friends, families, interns, judges, and employees of law enforcement, court employees and service providers. “I have great hope for our future!” - Irene Morgan

In this episode of the iChange Justice podcast, host Joy Gilfilen explores the hidden world of financial markets and their connection to our justice system. She interviews a Wall Street bond trader to uncover how arrests are transformed into financial assets that are traded on the stock market. This episode sheds light on the complex and often invisible ways that money influences our justice system. Gilfilen highlights the lack of transparency in the process, where people working within the system often don't understand the bigger picture. The podcast follows the journey of a case, from a 911 call to a bond posted for bail, ultimately becoming part of a financial package traded on Wall Street. This raises important questions about the impact this system has on our communities and how it can become obscure and disconnected from the people it affects. ✅Every Thursday at Noon on KOYS-LPFM 94.1 Bellingham and everywhere you get your podcasts.

Joy Gilfilen, Host of iChange Justice, interviews Debbie David, President of the Restorative CommUnity Coalition, about new tools and the sciences behind Trauma Informed Workplaces. Debbie is a Home Care Aide with decades of professional and lived experience working with people of diverse abilities, mental health issues, and the types of trauma that comes from incarceration, military service and 1st responders working on the front lines. Debbie discusses how there is a plethora of new knowledge related to healing from civic trauma that is excellent. This includes the emerging awareness in systems thinking called the "biocracy". Walter B. Cannon, a physiologist in the 30s, coined the term, and now today, suddenly, people understand that our societies are part of a living system, and our interactions with that system affect us all. Understanding the links between our ecological, social, civic, and living conditions affects how we live and respond to crises. A new level of integrated research has come out related to NEAR - neuro-sciences, epigenetics, ACE's and Resilience research.

From the healing ceremonies at Wounded Knee to her work with the Grandmothers Society, Grandmother Ejna Jean Fleury shares a living teaching on consciousness, remembrance, and the return of the Divine Feminine.Host Joy Gilfilen welcomes Grandmother Ejna Jean Fleury — Miniconjou, Oglala, Hunkpapa, and Ihanktonwan of the Great Sioux Nation; First Peace Ambassador of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe; and founder of the Crow Creek Kunsi / Unci Grandmothers Society, Divine Mothers Love, Sacred Earth Council, and Healing Hearts at Wounded Knee.Recorded just before she opened an international women’s congress, this spontaneous conversation became a teaching on healing, consciousness, and the sacred feminine. Grandmother Ejna recounts her journey from the ceremonies at Wounded Knee — where she has led healing gatherings for decades — to her global outreach connecting the Divine Mother traditions found in cultures around the world.She speaks of the quantum reality of love as a field of life itself — a living energy that unites all beings beyond the boundaries of culture, language, or form. Through story, memory, and ceremony, she calls us to return to that field, to remember our relationship with Mother Earth, and to live as conscious caretakers of creation.This episode is both personal and universal — a remembrance of who we truly are and a call to embody peace in every choice we make.Healing Hearts at Wounded Knee

#209 – iChange Justice Podcast – From Chaos to Coherence: Dr. Christine Habercorn on Community, Economics & the Future of JusticeHost- Joy Gilfilen and Karen Ball welcome Dr. Christine Habercorn, an elder stateswoman of civic leadership and long-time consultant with the Restorative CommUunity Coalition. With more than 50 years of political and community experience, Dr. Habercorn brings a rare perspective shaped by decades of business, activism, teaching, and global travel.Beginning her work in the 1970s alongside Robert F. Kennedy and Jerry Brown, Christine became deeply engaged in civic reform, economic development, and community action across multiple states and countries. Her lifelong commitment to healthy social progress and her understanding of global systems provide a powerful context for this wide-ranging conversation about change, leadership, and the human spirit.Together, Joy and Karen explore with Christine discuss how the past 15 years have transformed the way we think about justice, economics, and community connection. From activism to technology, and from trauma to trust, Dr. Habercorn helps illuminate how coherence emerges from chaos when people focus on community return to service and compassion.Building on her earlier appearance in Episode #113, “The Business of Justice,” she connects economics, governance, and technology to the deeper human need for meaning, resilience, and hope.Building on her earlier appearance in Episode #113, “The Business of Justice,” she connects economics, governance, and technology to the human need for coherence and hope.

Joy Gilfilen speaks about the evolution of the iChange Justice Podcast — how a lifetime of unexpected experiences shaped her understanding of law, leadership, and community transformation.For nearly five years, Joy has hosted the iChange Justice Podcast as a thought-leadership platform exploring how restorative justice, regenerative economics, and community empowerment intersect to build a more humane society. What began as a local conversation about jail reform and reentry in Whatcom County has grown into a wide-ranging inquiry into how justice, governance, and the economy intertwine across generations and cultures.From her early life on a ranch in Eastern Washington to working inside the legislature, law enforcement, and business development, Joy shares how firsthand experiences revealed the patterns that shape modern systems. Whether in government, science, or economics, she found that systems rewarding control and extraction often undermine the life they depend on.Those insights led to her work documenting jail trauma and advocating for prevention-based justice. Through over 200 episodes, the iChange Justice Podcast has become a public forum for transformation — amplifying voices from inmates, sheriffs, elders, educators, reformers, and innovators alike.As Joy explains, “The future of public safety isn’t about control — it’s about prevention, education, and rebuilding civic resilience.” The podcast invites listeners to rediscover authentic intelligence — the human capacity for empathy, ethics, and courage that no algorithm can replicate.Each episode offers a piece of that larger mosaic — from Paul Levy’s Wetiko Mindset (Episode 165) to Patricia Anne Davis’ Indigenous wisdom (Episode 124), Don Kirchner’s justice reform (Episode 118), and Marc Santos on regenerative economics (Episode 78). Together they form an archive of social courage and civic learning.In this solo reflection, Joy connects the dots — from ranch life to policy, from justice to regeneration — to ask a question at the heart of it all:How does it work? And how can we make it work better for everyone?

Host Joy Gilfilen welcomes back Ilona Krohn, an economist whose research traces the hidden emotional and structural roots of our economic and social systems. Together they explore how the global obsession with profit and control has shaped local taxation, governance, and public safety — and how these deeply embedded behaviors are driving cycles of trauma, competition, and inequality in our communities.Ilona reveals how economic systems built on scarcity thinking have conditioned generations to believe there is never enough — not enough time, money, resources, or worth — and how that fear fuels everything from political division to personal burnout. She connects the dots between profit-driven decision-making and the erosion of community wellbeing, showing how “more concrete and steel” doesn’t stop crime; it privatizes it.This episode dives deep into the psychology of economics, the unconscious trauma that underlies modern systems, and the need for a collective shift toward conscious, compassionate leadership. Joy and Ilona challenge listeners to question the assumptions that equate profit with success — and to imagine what healthy, regenerative, community-based business models could look like if we re-centered human value over financial value.“Technology has outpaced our consciousness. Now it’s time to evolve emotionally — to reconnect our economics with empathy.”It’s a thought-provoking continuation of Ilona’s earlier appearances (#32 and #37), expanding the conversation from survival to awareness, and from scarcity to shared responsibility. Together, they outline a path toward an economy that serves life — not the other way around.

In this inspiring episode, hosts Joy Gilfilen and Karen Ball welcome educator and peace advocate Kurt Krueger to discuss the transformative work of Peacemaker Circles. From stress-relief practices to global collaboration, Kurt shares how cultivating inner calm can ripple outward into families, communities, and societies.Listeners will learn simple tools for reducing stress and building resilience, hear stories of peace initiatives in refugee camps and communities worldwide, and discover the Peacemaker’s Challenge—a project empowering youth to create change at home and in schools.This is more than a conversation; it’s a call to action. Join us as we explore how inner peace, compassion, and systemic change can create a more just and joyful world.

In this inspiring conversation, host Joy Gilfilen and co-host Karen Ball turns the spotlight toward the people behind the scenes of the iChange Justice Podcast to ask: Why do we podcast, how does it work, and what makes it impactful?Guests Jeannie Gilbert (Owner of Koys-LPFM), Ava Sakowski (Co-producer, iChange Justice Podcast), and Irene Morgan (Founder, Restorative Community Coalition) take listeners behind the curtain into the art and craft of podcasting as a tool for connection, education, and activism. From microphones and editing to distribution and promotion, this episode is a hands-on guide for community builders and changemakers who want to amplify their voices.The team shares candid lessons:How podcasting became a lifeline during COVID when in-person conversations stopped.Why audio quality and post-production matter for credibility.The difference between streaming platforms and podcast platforms—and why it matters for outreach.The essential teamwork required: hosts, editors, distributors, and promoters.How podcasts can evolve from local roots into national and even international spaces for justice.Why planning “story arcs” across multiple episodes keeps audiences engaged and deepens impact.Elder activist Irene Morgan adds heartfelt reflections on what it feels like to be a guest navigating new technology, reminding us that podcasting isn’t just about technical skill—it’s about accessibility and human connection.The conversation ends with a call to action: podcasting isn’t just media—it’s activism in action. It’s a platform for sharing truth, exposing injustice, and creating a sense of connection that moves people to act.Listen now to learn how grassroots voices become global change.

Was it 25 or 30 years ago when Whatcom County and counties across the U.S. still had a strong network of prevention and recovery programs?Back then, a small army of outreach workers, counselors, and interventionists worked daily to keep people out of jail and on the path to healing. There were treatment centers, youth programs, crisis shelters, and community services that not only supported individuals but created an entire culture of care.That infrastructure is gone. The jobs in the helping culture have been replaced by our current after arrest culture compared to the small army of helpers that existed in the 70s, 80s, and into the mid 90s it began to change. The centers closed, and the safety nets disappeared. What remains is a justice system designed around punishment. Today, when someone stumbles whether from addiction, poverty, or a bad decisionthey face stacked charges, impossible bail, and lifelong consequences. Instead of treatment, they get trauma. Instead of recovery, they get a record.We’ve witnessed the results: generations of families torn apart, homelessness exploding, and taxpayers funding more jails instead of more solutions. The loss is not just in dollars, but in human potential.That’s why the iChange Justice Podcast, hosted by Joy Gilfilen, keeps asking the hard questions: “What is justice, anyway?” She is joined often by Irene Morgan, founder of the Restorative Community Coalition, who has spent decades advocating for community-based solutions, and by one of our producers, Ava Sakowski, who helps bring these stories to life. Together, they shine a light on what has been lost and what can be rebuilt.We know justice can mean something different—restoration, healing, and giving people the tools to grow. The proof is there. With just $1,500, one pilot program helped a woman pay rent, repair her car, and get back on her feet. That small investment changed her trajectory completely.The truth is, communities thrive when we invest in people, not prisons. What we need is not more punishment, but a revival of prevention, treatment, and human-centered care.

The "iChange Justice" podcast is joined by a very special guest and longtime supporter of its mission, Mel Hoover. As an advisor, Hoover provides his unique perspective, helping to navigate the significant transitions and complex issues facing Whatcom County.The conversation with Mel begins with a personal journey, as he shares how he and his wife, both ministers and change agents, came to settle in the Pacific Northwest to be closer to their family. Mel, originally from the East Coast, reflects on his first visit to the area in the 1980s and the striking contrast between its sleepy, small-town facade and the deep, complex realities that were not immediately visible. He brings to light the area's history as a "sundown town," a fact that was unknown to even many longtime residents, including the host. This powerful revelation sets the stage for a discussion on how historical realities, often hidden, continue to shape the present.Mel's own life story is a mosaic of different cultures, religions, and races. He shares his incredible journey of being born in a segregated Columbus, Ohio, in 1944, into a family with Cherokee, Seminole, French, and Irish heritage. This early experience in a multicultural family, living in an "apartheid nation," gave him a unique perspective on the true nature of America—a perspective he was forced to reconcile with the idealized stories he was told. He recounts how his family, though highly educated, still faced discrimination, and how he learned to see the world not as a single narrative, but as a complex and multiplex reality.As the year moves into 2025, the conversation shifts to the urgent issues at the forefront of Whatcom County, from water adjudication and border complexities to global challenges and the "whiteout of truth" caused by misinformation. Mel explains that to tackle these issues, one must first build authentic relationships and find common ground. He argues that the culture has diminished the value of truth, and that it is necessary to return to smaller, trusted circles to find a way back to honest conversation and shared purpose. Mel's wisdom reminds listeners that even with all the complexities faced, the possibility of what could be is worth fighting for.Joy Gilfilen concludes the conversation by highlighting the very real and present threats people face, including the increase in natural disasters like tornadoes, firestorms, and floods, and how these events impact the food supply. However, she pivots from the negative to a message of hope and action. The episode is a call to come together and find solutions. Gilfilen emphasizes the importance of saving the waters, reminding everyone that because all are made of water, they are also saving themselves. This final thought serves as a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and shared responsibility to protect the planet and each other.

In a special milestone episode, Joy Gilfilen hosts a powerful conversation on restorative justice with Irene Morgan, founder of the Restorative Community Coalition. This episode, delves into how the justice system has shifted from a successful, community-based approach to a punitive, punishment-focused model. Morgan, who has decades of experience in this field, shares her journey and the lessons she has learned along the way.The discussion begins with Irene's early experience in the 1990s on a Community Accountability Board (CAB) in Whatcom County. This diversion program for first and second-time teen offenders had a remarkable 98% success rate, allowing young people to avoid a juvenile record by making restitution and completing community service. Despite its success, the program was quietly dismantled, and local officials later claimed that restorative justice wasn't possible, particularly for felony cases.Irene's personal story illustrates the human cost of the current system. She recounts the tragic death of her grandson in a car accident and the two years of emotional trauma and uncertainty her family endured. The justice system, in this case, provided no information about the driver responsible. When they finally met him, they discovered he was a grieving man filled with remorse and contemplating suicide. By engaging with him directly, the family was able to find healing, illustrating that forgiveness and understanding can be more powerful than a prison sentence.The podcast emphasizes that a punishment-focused system feeds a "mass industrial complex" and a social caste system, disproportionately affecting the poor. Morgan and Gilfilen argue that the first 72 hours after an arrest are crucial for providing help, not punishment, and that a lack of continuous services from the justice system makes it nearly impossible for people to get back on their feet.The episode concludes with a vision for a better way forward. Morgan proposes the creation of a "Restore a Life Center"—a place that would provide housing, employment, education, and trauma healing to those who have been through the system. This model focuses on repairing harm and helping people become productive members of society, a stark contrast to the current system's emphasis on incarceration.

Beyond Punishment: Restorative Justice and the Path to Community HealingReady for a deep dive into justice? It's our 199th episode, and Whatcom County's own Joy Gilfilen is joined by Irene Morgan, the founder of the Restorative Community Coalition. Together, they're taking a hard look at the justice system as we know it, and they're not holding back.Irene shares her incredible journey, starting with her childhood and her early observations of how the "welfare system" impacted people. She later saw those same patterns repeat in the court and justice system, leading her to a stark conclusion: the system isn't broken. It's working exactly as it was designed to—to generate massive amounts of money and capture people within its grasp.This powerful conversation unpacks the hidden truths of probable cause, the tragedy of high bail that forces people to plead guilty to crimes they didn't commit, and the devastating cycle of debt and trauma that families endure. Irene reveals that this system (traded on the New York Stock Exchange) doesn't prioritize victims but instead enriches itself. Joy and Irene discuss the true cost of incarceration, from soaring legal fees and fines to the loss of jobs, housing, and even family connections.But this episode isn't just about identifying problems; it's about pioneering solutions. Irene explains the profound healing power of restorative justice, a process that brings together victims and perpetrators to find a path to restitution, healing, and even forgiveness. They also talk about a range of other solutions, including the coalition's work in court navigation, case management, and the vision for the Restore Life Center, a project that could help people before they ever enter the jail system.The conversation touches on the inspiring progress of the tiny home community in Whatcom County, a grassroots effort that is helping people escape homelessness and rebuild their lives. As Irene says, we don't have to keep doing things the same way. We can choose a healthier, more humane path that focuses on healing rather than punishment. This is a must-listen episode for anyone who wants to understand the real justice system and what we can do to change it for the better.

In a compelling conversation, Joy Gilfilen welcomes Atul Deshmane, a dedicated public servant and Whatcom County resident, to the iChange Justice podcast. Deshmane, with his extensive background in clean energy and technology, offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our communities. He begins by drawing a crucial distinction between a politician and a public servant, arguing that the latter's true purpose is to serve the public interest, not personal gain.The discussion pivots to the concept of "intention over innovation," with Deshmane explaining that while he once believed technology alone could make the world better, he now understands that it is human intention that gives innovation purpose. This mindset is vital for addressing complex issues, from the use of artificial intelligence to how we manage our natural resources.The episode hones in on three key issues for Whatcom County in 2025: water, energy, and digital civics. Deshmane highlights the existential threat to the Nooksack River, sharing a study that shows a high probability of it running dry within 50 years. He advocates for a proactive, collaborative approach to water management that includes regenerative agriculture, increased soil carbon, and innovative storage solutions like dams built for river protection, not just energy production. The conversation also explores the need for new energy sources like geothermal power and the importance of digital civics to empower citizens.This episode is a powerful call to action, urging listeners to move beyond negative distractions and focus on collaborative, intention-driven solutions to build a more resilient and just future.

This week on the iChange Justice podcast, we're joined by John Fitzpatrick, a certified peer counselor with a unique perspective. John's journey began with a decades-long struggle with the justice system, starting at age six. But after a long history of incarceration, he’s found a new path, dedicating his life to helping others as a street outreach worker.John’s work in Longview, Washington, goes beyond simply offering a bed for the night. He's a living example of the "wraparound services" model, a holistic approach to helping people in need. He explains that true change comes from addressing the whole person—offering mental health and substance abuse counseling, employment assistance, and housing support, all guided by someone with lived experience like himself.The conversation gets real about the challenges on the streets today, including the disconnect between political promises like "housing first" and the reality of limited funding and services. John also sheds light on the evolving relationship between law enforcement and the community. He works directly with police behavioral health units, bridging the gap and ensuring that people in crisis get the help they need rather than just a trip to jail.Ultimately, John's story is a powerful reminder that change is a choice, but it's a difficult one. He challenges us all to get involved, even in a small way, by simply listening to people's stories and treating them with compassion. His message is a call to action for communities to support those who are trying to help themselves, creating a network of support that can truly change lives.