Eric Flores: A New Era of Justice - Restorative CommUnity Coalition.

A New Era of Justice: Eric Flores on Re-entry, Restoration, and Whatcom County's Future

In a new episode of the iChange Justice podcast, host Joy Gilfilen introduces Eric Flores, the new president of the Restorative Community Coalition. Eric brings a unique blend of personal experience and professional insight to his new role.

As a Care Coordinator with the Freedom Project, Eric works as a peer mentor, guiding individuals currently or formerly incarcerated back into the community. His own experience with incarceration gives him profound empathy for the challenges of re-entry, and he helps clients develop detailed support plans to overcome barriers and achieve their goals. He notes that the attention to detail from his previous job as an inspector surprisingly transfers to his current role, allowing him to hold people accountable with genuine interest.

The Freedom Project provides crucial support for re-entry, including rental assistance, food, and clothing. Eric emphasizes that having a private space is the "cornerstone" of stability. However, he highlights a key challenge in Whatcom County: a lack of funding and a "gatekeeping" mentality among some non-profits that hinder collaboration. He believes greater cooperation is essential to serve the community effectively.

Eric also discusses the "Rip Van Winkle" effect of returning to a world transformed by technology and the struggle to adapt to digital life. The Freedom Project's digital literacy program helps bridge this gap. Through personal transformation and the encouragement of mentors, Eric has flipped a "criminal mindset" into a positive one, rebuilding his life and career to empower others.

Looking forward, Eric expresses hope for a future defined by empathy and understanding. He stresses the importance of community ties and working together to build a better era of public safety.

For more information, visit RestorativeCommunity.org and FreedomProjectW.org.

In this podcast we again welcome Kurt Krueger as we dive into the many faces of peace and how this applies to what's happening right now in 2025. We discuss the crucial links between the personal feeling of peace inside of us and how it affects what is happening in the space around us. Using real-world experiences, Kurt brings his wisdom to bear on today's challenges that we all are facing. He discusses how it works in real time physiologically, then in real situations, and how this ripples out to achieve a state change in the community. How do we "calm the waters" when people all around the world are confronting different types of trauma, tension, and stress?

Join Whatcom County's own Joy Gilfilen as she welcomes special guests Mel Hoover and Rose Eddington of Mel Rose Ministries.

This isn't just encouragement; it's wisdom, knowledge, hope, and a vision for navigating turbulent times. Mel and Rose, elders wise in years, share profound insights from their lives spanning eras from the Civil War to the present. They dive into how historical shifts, media, and cultural narratives have shaped our understanding of justice, community, and nationhood.

Prepare for a deep conversation that untangles the "snaggletooth" layers of chaos in our society, from the impact of early television to the complexities of Christian nationalism and the true meaning of "we the people." This episode challenges listeners to ground themselves, confront the forces of oppression, and consider how obscene wealth impacts our collective well-being and the planet.

Don't miss this crucial dialogue on learning from the past to shape a more just future for all generations.

Find iChange Justice every Thursday locally and everywhere you get your podcasts.