Undefinable Relationship: The Journey To Find My Voice And Begin To Heal

SESSION INFO

Wednesday, February 28, 2024
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Session Type: Workshop

It is impossible to imagine sitting down to engage in conversation with the person responsible for the death of a loved one, let alone forgive them. During this presentation you will witness a true story of the power of forgiveness, accepting responsibility and how lives can be changed through the process of Victim Offender Mediation. You will also hear about the real challenges that come as a result of the process, which may last a lifetime. It is never easy to confront tragedy face to face, but it is even harder to never have the opportunity to gain insight and clarity allowing the process of healing to begin. This presentation will allow you to hear Sheila’s story and the path she took to engage with the person responsible for the death of her mother, to find a different vision of what could happen for both of them, and, to turn tragedy into hope and anger into forgiveness.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Sheila Kembel
District School Safety Manager, Lake Washington School District


Sheila Kembel grew up in the Pacific Northwest prior to relocating to Tucson Arizona where she graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Sociology and a Minor in Criminal Justice. She went on to graduate from the University of Cincinnati with her master’s degree in criminal justice. In 2018, she retired from Pima County Juvenile Court after serving as a Probation Officer, Supervisor and JDAI Coordinator. Following her retirement, Sheila returned to the Pacific Northwest to be close to family and her now five-year-old granddaughter. She is currently working in Lake Washington School District as the District School Safety Manager and continues to share her personal journey through victim offender mediation in hopes of allowing others the unique insight into the process and how impactful it can be to those involved.