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 |
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 has a background of working in support roles in the health field, and supporting youth and children in various capacities over the past 15 years. She has also volunteered in anti-trafficking initiatives for the past 10 years. 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. She is a huge asset to Hope City! |
Volunteers
Bonita Ahring
Juvenile Hall Liaison |
Bonita has spent more that twenty-two years as a director, founder, and builder of schools in the USA as well as Latin America, with sixteen of those years spent on the mission field in Costa Rica building a K-12 school that is still going strong today. After moving to Redding in 2011 and attending school for three years she now works as the Chaplain for Shasta County Juvenile Rehabilitation Center and volunteers with HOPE City. Bonita has recently developed the L.O.T. Program which stands for Leaders Of Tomorrow. As a HOPE City volunteer she facilitates the L.O.T. program in the Juvenile Rehabilitation Center. Bonita is an encourager first and foremost and uses her vast teaching experience to benefit all those who come in contact with her. |