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About David Ryan Barcega Castro-Harris
All five names for all the ancestors.
I'm the founder of Amplify RJ and a Restorative Justice practitioner, educator, and consultant based in Los Angeles.
I didn't come to this work through a training program. I came through watching people get released from incarceration and immediately hit a wall — no job, no support, no path. I was working in a church-based employment program at the time, and what I kept seeing was a system designed to punish people twice. First inside, then out.
That sent me back to school. Sociology degree. Then a Master's in Social Justice from Loyola University Chicago. During grad school I interned inside Cook County Jail, worked with Lawndale Christian Legal Center, and connected with Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation and Community Justice for Youth. That's where I first saw what restorative justice could actually do — not as a diversion program or an alternative discipline policy, but as a fundamentally different way of being in relationship with each other.
That's what I've been building toward ever since.
How I Practice
My work is grounded in Indigenous values of interconnection, abolition, anti-racism, and decolonial practice. Restorative justice, to me, is not a program you implement. It is a way of being that you embody.
I work with schools and organizations that are ready to move beyond punishment, compliance, and disconnection. That means circle work, conflict processes, training, consulting, and the kind of long-term culture change that doesn't happen in a single workshop.
I also believe this work belongs to individuals and communities, not just institutions. Through Amplify RJ I offer learning opportunities, events, and community circles that are accessible regardless of your budget.
My practice has been shaped by trusted teachers: Ora Schub, Cheryl Graves, Pamela Purdy, and the communities at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation and Community Justice for Youth, Tomas Ramirez, Miriame Kaba, Howard Zehr and Kay Pranis, and many others.
Amplify RJ
Amplify RJ started as an Instagram account. It grew into a podcast, a YouTube channel, and a full consulting practice. The through line has always been the same: make restorative justice real, accessible, until it becomes the default way we navigate relationships and conflict.
This work is not neutral. It requires us to look at power, harm, and what it actually takes to repair. I'm not interested in a version of RJ that softens those edges to make institutions more comfortable.
Work With Me
If you're a school, organization, or institution looking for training, consulting, or circle facilitation get in touch I'd like to hear what you're navigating.
If you're an individual looking to learn, connect, or find community, check out our resources or live events.