Joy Gilfilen, mother and taxpayer, talks about her life experiences and learning curve living in Whatcom County since the 70’s and witnessing the changes in local to global law and justice issues up close and personal. Joy, the president of the Restorative CommUnity Coalition then shares how her views created different kinds of beliefs, blinders and blind spots as a student, a businesswoman, a mother and as a civic leader. Each had its related behaviors, trust and trauma points that allowed her to navigate the world of business, taxes, safety and police for 40 years. Joy was unaware of the trouble brewing beneath our habit-forming establishment practices, our economic and social systems.

Then, by discussing it with Debbie David and Chene Keltz (and their experiences of the world over the same time frames) you will hear how she discovered that Whatcom County’s political, professional, and police influences have led to the development of a privateering industry that sits in the underbelly of poverty, homelessness, economic and societal distress that we are dealing with today. To get to the roots of the dysfunctions, Joy did a hands-on study of 79 people who were involved in a crisis incident that led to an arrest; and discovered how this event triggers an unknown and unexpected cascade of investigations, incarcerations, court processes, prosecution, punishment, and a plethora of aftereffects that change families forever. Will you come listen?