Maribel joined the team as a Juvenile Justice Manager in September of 2021. In this role, she supports the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission and its efforts to reduce racial & ethnic disparities statewide and maintain accordance with federal standards set forth by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To promote best practices and policy change at the local level, Maribel collaborates with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) staff and provides capacity building for youth-serving organizations and juvenile justice councils. Along with working with stakeholders, Maribel also partners with Alder University to oversee Illinois’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) to ensure that restorative practices are implemented within communities. Her passion is fighting oppression with a racial, social, and economic lens. Maribel holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Criminal, Law, and Justice and Political Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Outside of work, Maribel enjoys trying new food, traveling, watching crime documentaries, and spending time with friends, family, and her pets, Coco and Buster.