Meet Our Team
Rev. Nora B. Jacob, President & Founder
Rev. Nora Jacob founded the Restoration & Resilience Alliance (R&RA) after facilitating restorative justice (RJ) groups and creating new evidence-based RJ programs for classes with incarcerated people (IPs) at California Institution for Men, the state prison in Chino, CA. Respect, inclusion, diversity, collaboration, and co-facilitation are among her core values and practices. Being able to collaborate with prison residents, including condemned persons from San Quentin SP, to co-develop coursework and special projects has been an honor and privilege she values highly.
Nora has been an ordained Disciples of Christ pastor since 2014 with joint standing in the United Church of Christ (UCC). She serves as Minister of Restorative Justice at Covina Community Church in Covina, CA, an open and affirming UCC congregation. With the National Benevolent Association, an organization affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), she serves part-time as its Restorative Justice Consultant. From time to time, Rev. Nora also records podcasts and webinars for national and/or faith-based audiences about restorative justice topics.
In 2024, she and others incorporated the nonprofit Restoration & Resilience Alliance (R&RA), a Covina organization that provides education and reintegration support for justice-impacted persons who have committed major sexual and/or violent harm. Her favorite quote is from Bryan Stevenson: "Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done."
Karly Giacalone, Secretary
Karly Giacalone serves as Secretary of the Restoration and Resilience Alliance and brings a steady, values-driven presence to the organization’s restorative justice work. She has been involved in programming at the California Institution for Men since 2022, supporting programs such as Proof of Life, Anger, Insight, & Resilience, as well as a variety of events held inside.
Karly is drawn to restorative justice for its emphasis on dignity, accountability, and the belief that people are capable of meaningful change when met with consistency and care. Her approach is trauma-informed, relationship-centered, and guided by both lived experience and evidence-based practice. In her role on the board, she focuses on strengthening ethical governance, clear systems, and sustainable practices that allow restorative work to unfold with integrity and intention.
Outside of R&RA, Karly enjoys learning, creative projects, and time at home with her husband Anthony, her dog Luna, and her cat Hemlock. She values reflection, curiosity, courage, and the steady, patient work of creating spaces and structures that support healing, accountability, and connection over time.
James F. Menefield, Treasurer
James Fredrick Menefield is a formerly incarcerated and self-taught paralegal and legal document assistant. He spent over 30 years behind bars, beginning when he was 13 years old. He witnessed and experienced trauma on levels that few can imagine and inflicted unimaginable pain and suffering on others. Yet, through restorative justice programming and hard work on himself, James has transformed his life.
He earned an Associate Degree from Chaffey College with a 4.0 GPA and graduated as a class valedictorian. In addition to paralegal work, James contributed significantly to restorative justice initiatives, working directly with communities and individuals impacted by the justice system. Through facilitating dialogue, healing circles, and reentry support programs, James helped restore dignity and foster reconciliation, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to transformative justice both inside and outside the courtroom. In February 2025, James appeared before the Board of Parole Hearings and was granted parole at his initial hearing after only four minutes of deliberation from the parole commissioners. Upon his release, Menefield founded his own freelance paralegal business (Menefield Superior Paralegal Services). He currently attends California State University-Los Angeles where he finished his first semester with straight A's.
Mr. Menefield's story is a testament to restoration, resilience, and the belief that no circumstance is too dire to overcome. He is driven by a mission: to bridge the gap between legal theory and real-world advocacy. He wants to be the counselor who guides people through their darkest moments, offering clarity, empathy, and a fierce commitment to justice. His lived experience has shaped him into an advocate for the marginalized who is determined to use his voice and skills to help others find theirs.
Mechelle Siles, Member at Large
Mechelle Siles is a dedicated board member of a nonprofit reentry program specializing in restorative justice. With 28 years of experience in management roles across diverse human services settings, she brings deep expertise, leadership, and compassion to her work. Her professional background includes working with adolescent girls, mothers and babies, boys’ group homes, adolescent sex offenders, therapeutic foster care, and adults on probation and parole.
Throughout her career, Mechelle has focused on building sustainable resources and cultivating meaningful community partnerships that support individuals impacted by the justice system. She is deeply committed to restoring hope, strengthening personal accountability, and helping people recognize their potential, grounded in the belief that with the right people, support, and opportunities, meaningful change is always possible.
Outside of her professional work, Mechelle enjoys refinishing thrifted furniture, creative projects, and spending quality time with her husband, three adult children, one teenager, and their two dogs. She values courage, hard work, integrity, and perseverance, and believes in finding a way forward no matter the barriers.
Anthony Giacalone, Member at Large
Anthony Giacalone is a founding board member of the Restoration and Resilience Alliance and currently serves as a Board Member at Large. He previously served as Treasurer, helping guide the organization through its early formation by building practical financial and governance systems that support transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
Anthony approaches restorative justice as both a human and structural endeavor. A university lecturer by profession, his work spans computer science, cybersecurity, and ethics, with a longstanding interest in how systems shape behavior—for better or worse. Years spent teaching complex, real-world problems have reinforced his belief that meaningful change requires care, clarity, and well-designed structures that make accountability possible rather than aspirational.
Anthony is drawn to restorative justice for its ability to hold complexity without collapsing into easy answers. He values approaches that acknowledge harm honestly while still making room for responsibility, repair, and change. In his role on the board, he focuses on thoughtful decision-making, long-term risk awareness, and ensuring that the organization’s growth remains aligned with its mission and values.
Outside of R&RA, Anthony enjoys teaching, reading, tinkering with technology, and getting lost in strategy games and historical simulations. He lives in California with his wife Karly, their dog Luna, and their cat Hemlock, and values curiosity, integrity, and the often-invisible work of building things that endure.