Crystal breaks the mold of dehumanization by dedicating herself to teaching young people of color the value of self-love and self-advocacy through writing, yoga and various forms of creative expression. As a Life Navigator for the Deep Center, a non-profit organization, in Savannah, GA, she mentors justice-involved and systems impacted youth between the ages of 13-18 teaching them life skills, job skills and creative expression through songwriting and more. While mentoring the youth, she prioritizes respecting them in their full humanity and being not only trauma-informed but also trauma-responsive. Crystal advocates for the use of restorative justice within educational settings and in the Juvenile Justice system, with the understanding that punitive consequences disproportionately impact Black youth and youth of color. She’s a mother to a fiery toddler, a pre-certified yoga instructor with Yoga Renew, and an MBA student at Southern New Hampshire University.
