staff

​Jackie Durant
​Director

For several years, Jackie served as a director for drug and alcohol treatment facilities and as an instructor for State certified drug and alcohol counselors in northern California. Having previously worked with both victims and offenders in the criminal justice system, she now serves as Executive Director of HOPE City Redding, a non-profit organization providing community-based programs under the umbrella of Restorative Justice Practices.

​As a Restorative Justice Practitioner, Jackie believes that trauma, crime and wrongdoing cause harm / injustice; and the fruit of justice should be healing and restoration for all stakeholders involved. She combines her leadership and passion to implement programs that motivate people towards walking in freedom and inner healing. She applies empathetic insight through teaching and program development to see healing and wholeness restored to all those seeking justice in their community.  

Certified: Hope Navigator, Nurturing Fathers, Anger Management​ 

Ana Brescia
Campus Mentoring Coordinator

​Ana is HOPE City's Campus Mentoring Coordinator and works across 7 school campuses in Shasta County to bring support and life skills development to at-risk youth. 

Originally from Brazil, Ana came to the USA in her early teens and worked in a variety of family-run catering and mechanics companies before discovering her passion for youth work in 2020.

​While still a killer chef and enjoyer of great cuisine, Ana now recruits, trains and coordinates campus mentors to deliver HOPE City curriculum to the youth of our city who are most in need of hope, support and encouragement. 

Dani Carstens
Office Manager

​Dani is originally from Dallas, Texas ​and has lived in Redding for the past 10 years. She is passionate about helping kids and families who are going through a hard time find hope, healing, and restoration. She's been a foster parent for 4 years and has been able to see the restoration of families first hand on many occasions.

Dani loves going to the ocean, hanging out with friends, and finding a good restaurant! She loves the mission and vision of Hope City and is excited to bring her administrative skills to see the programs and services thrive.

Kirsten Steele
Mentor Coordinator

​Kirsten is originally from Western Australia, born to American parents, and has lived back and forth between the two nations her whole life! She has been living in Redding for the last 6 years with her husband and 3 children.

Kirsten is passionate about family wholeness and creating a place of safety and care for young people. She has been engaged in child mentoring since 2020, and coordinates Hope City mentors for at-risk youth in our county. 

Volunteers

Rosie 
Explore Program Coordinator

​Rosie is originally from the UK and has lived in the US for over 10 years. She is passionate about the outdoors and has worked in various social work roles including residential care settings, classroom mentoring for at-risk youth, and community-based advocacy for trafficked populations since graduating in 2012. 

Rosie organizes and leads HOPE City's monthly Explore outings for Mentored Youth, exposing them to different activities and interests while developing new skillsets that help them discover what they love and are good at outside of the classroom context.