Leveraging a For Us, By Us Model: How to Co-Create a Collaborative Statewide Diversion Training, Technical Assistance & Development Program

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Mary Ann Dyar is the Program Director for the Adult Redeploy Illinois program created by the Crime Reduction Act of 2009 (P.A. 96-0761) and administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. As Program Director, Mary Ann is responsible for coordinating the disbursement of grants to local jurisdictions to expand alternatives to incarceration; assisting with the formulation of policies and procedures for the program; monitoring and conducting technical assistance for grantees; managing communication, outreach and reporting strategies for the program; and staffing the Adult Redeploy Illinois Oversight Board. Prior to her work at the state level, Mary Ann was Program Manager with the Justice/Violence Initiative of Chicago Metropolis 2020, a regional planning not-for-profit organization, working on policy issues related to childhood exposure to trauma and violence, juvenile justice, prisoner reentry, criminal law and sentencing reform. Mary Ann holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School, and undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Political Science from Indiana University-Bloomington. She served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya (1991-1993).

Dr. Annice E. Fisher has over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of leadership development, innovation, equity and justice across diverse sectors. From working with mayors to boards to superintendents to deans to state agencies to leaders in the criminal legal system, Dr. Fisher understands what it takes to build coalitions for change in complex systems. In 2017, Annice founded Developing Capacity Coaching and later, their sister non-profit GiveSankofa, Inc. Most recently, Annice is known for her Conscious Leadership for Equity™ work which is currently being integrated across a variety of sectors including criminal legal system reform, government, k-12 and higher education, philanthropy, corporate, non-profits, and Hollywood. She has coached executive teams, designed organizational change strategies, created leadership development programs, and led equity and justice initiatives for schools, universities, state government agencies, local non-profits, for-profits, a White House initiative, professional associations, a city-council appointed Human Relations Commission, and much more. Dr. Fisher has spoken and facilitated numerous national presentations from Harvard to Microsoft. She is the inaugural Antiracism Pedagogy Scholar at American University School of Education where designed an Exercising Conscious Leadership course and coordinates faculty learning in Antiracism pedagogy and practice. Annice often serves as a writer and speaker on topics related to race, gender, leadership, social justice, entrepreneurship, and mindset. In her efforts to democratize coaching, Annice launched The BEE FREE Institute, an online coaches certification hub for The BFW Coaches Academy & Conscious People for Equity™ Course. Annice has a B.A. in Rhetoric & Speech Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M. Ed in Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University, and Ed. L.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She holds certifications and trainings in Gallup Strengths Coach, Immunity-to-Change Coaching, HAVEN Interpersonal Violence, Safe Zone Ally, and the Social Justice Training Institute.

Kathy Starkovich is a Deputy Director at the DuPage County Department of Probation and Court Services and the coordinator of DuPage County’s Adult Redeploy program, where she has led the team since 2013. Kathy has worked within her department for 27 years and is passionate about taking a strength-based approach with clients. She believes in the intrinsic value each person possesses, and that nobody loses the ability to make change. She is an advocate for integrating evidence-based strategies in programming in a simple, pragmatic manner and that work of probation is challenging, but is always worthwhile. Kathy provides extensive training on a variety of curricula focused primarily on effective behavior management strategies and cognitive-behavioral interventions and has served as an adjunct faculty member at a local university.

Gina Walker believes in the mobilization of caring powers to improve the well-being of the children, youth, families and communities. She has learned that where substance abuse and trauma thrive the need to mediate family issues, address re-entry and create a systematic approach to referrals, collaboration and wraparound services is great. Gina has over 25 years of experience in education and behavioral health fields. She holds an EdS degree in Mental Health Practices from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has a master’s degree in human resource management from Ashford University and a bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology/communications from St Louis University. She is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (State and National), a DUI Evaluator for the State of Illinois, and a formally trained Family Mediator. Gina brings an extensive and multifaceted background in correctional education, nonprofit leadership, and grant development and implementation. With a deep foundation in counseling and program development, she has dedicated her career to empowering underserved populations through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Her professional journey spans curriculum design, instructional delivery, and direct counseling—particularly within correctional settings where she has worked closely with incarcerated adults grappling with substance abuse. Gina has also taught first-year college students, supervised parenting education programs, and supported pregnant and parenting teens, always with a focus on holistic development and resilience-building. Beyond the classroom, Gina connects program participants with critical community resources, career pathways, and educational opportunities. Her leadership in the nonprofit sector has consistently emphasized sustainable program implementation and capacity building through strategic grant acquisition. Her commitment to advocacy is equally evident in her volunteer work. She has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for youth in the foster care system, supported survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and provided crisis counseling by offering compassion and guidance in moments of acute need.