Augie M. Torres, Executive Director
atorres@readingbetweenthelines.org
Augie M. Torres is a second-year Master’s program student at The University of Chicago’s School of Social Work with a focus on administration. His previous work includes positions at Acclivus Inc, READI Chicago (Heartland Alliance) Edovo, Cure Violence Chicago (UIC), SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP), and The Education Justice Project (UIUC). Augie currently sits on the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council (SPAC) which reviews the effectiveness and efficiency of current sentencing policies & practices and reports directly to the Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the Governor.
Board of Directors
W. Ken Berry, Chair
Marquis Miller, Vice Chair
Veronda Pitchford, Secretary/Treasurer
James Schad
Lakeisha Isom
Ken Kuwamura Jr.
Andrea Martonffy
Alex Kotlowitz, Senior Advisor
nviramontes@readingbetweenthelines.org
Nelly joined Reading Between the Lines (RBL) as Administrative Manager bringing 25+ years of nonprofit administrative experience. In the past year she has transitioned to become RBL’s Operations Manager. She has previously worked for political based organizations like The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and CHANGE Illinois. Nelly has also worked for a community lending organization Allies for Community Business where she assisted located entrepreneurs obtain grants and loans for their businesses, allowing them to be successful during hard times. She brings a wide range of experience to RBL and helps oversee the day-to- day actvities of the organization, Nelly is also a certified facilitator for our sessions at all sites we presently work with.
ebuck@readingbetweenthelines.org
Edmund Buck is a formally incarcerated individual who served nineteen and a half years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Since his release ten years ago Edmund has dedicated his working life to the realm of restorative justice where he continues to serve the justice impacted, with the goals of ending mass incarceration and reforming the criminal justice system. Edmund Buck has worked as a Reentry Case Manager and Associate Content Manager for Edovo. Before Edovo, Edmund spent two years as a Personal Assistant to people with disabiliUes with the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Department of RehabilitaUve Services Home Services Program. And he most recently worked as a Youth Development Coach (with Ucan Chicago) for the READI Chicago Project before joining the RBL Team as a Program Specialist.
Maria Garza,
Program Coordinator
mgarza@readingbetweenthelines.org
Maria Garza is a restorative justice practitioner, activist, and prison reform advocate, who began fighting for improvements to the criminal legal system during her 12 years of incarceration in state prison. Maria values the humanity in all people and believes involvement in the criminal legal system should not hinder a person from realizing their rights, fully participating in society, and living a life of dignity. In addition to her work on community violence intervention through Heartland Alliance, she is the cofounder of Challenge II Change, a non-profit organization that offers comprehensive pre-release and reentry planning and resources needed for successful transitions back into communities. She is the Coordinator for People’s Liberty Project, a direct justice impacted-led group of women and men, focused on alternative policy frameworks and creating healing spaces. She is on the Governing Board for the Fully Free Campaign, a campaign to end the 1189 permanent punishments in Illinois that restrict the rights of people with records after incarceration. She volunteers for MidAmerica Service Dogs’ Foundation and Paws Giving Independence, two non-profit organizations that train service dogs to assist people living with disabilities. Maria is a student for Northwestern University Prison Education Program (NPEP) working towards her Bachelor’s in Social Science.
