Alliance for Community and Justice Innovation

06/23/2026

ACJI is headed to the American Probation and Parole Association's 51st Annual Training Institute in Chicago this August, and we'd love to connect with fellow community corrections professionals.

If you'll be attending, join Dr. Alexandra Walker and Glenn A. Tapia for an informal meet up at the hotel bar on Monday, August 17, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Stop by to say hello, share ideas, and connect with colleagues from across the field.

📍 Chicago, IL

📅 APPA 51st Annual Training Institute | August 16 to 19, 2026

🍸 Hotel Bar Meetup | August 17 | 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
We hope to see you there!

https://www.appa-net.org/institutes/2026-Chicago/

APPA’s training institute delivers a comprehensive learning experience designed to support professionals across all levels of community supervision. Through a wide range of accredited workshops, focused intensive sessions, and both in-person and virtual options, attendees can tailor their experien...

05/01/2026

What if the key to behavior change isn’t telling people what to do… but helping them find their own reasons to do it? 🤔

Join us for our upcoming Learn@Work Live: Why Motivational Interviewing (MI) Matters on May 8 at 12 PM MT 🗓️

This session will break down how Motivational Interviewing helps professionals navigate resistance and support lasting change in justice and community settings ⚖️

Whether you're new to MI or looking to sharpen your approach, you’ll walk away with practical insights you can use right away 💡

Register now and be part of the conversation 👇

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1417630736700/WN_zfE2GtFIS-uw0qmNgBH-SA #/registration

ACJI's free bi-monthly webinars in 2026 will take place on the 2nd Friday of each odd-numbered month. Register for one or all of the events now. We will update this page with topics as the information becomes available. May: Motivational Interviewing (MI) July: TBD September: TBD November: TBD

04/30/2026

Compliance gets you to “good.”
Commitment gets you to “great.” 🚀

Pretrial agencies are under pressure to evolve. New tools. New policies. New expectations.

But here is the truth.
None of it sticks without the right culture. 🧠

The shift from compliance to adherence is not about being soft.
It is about being effective. ⚖️

It is about building systems where accountability and engagement work together. 🤝

Read how culture drives the future of pretrial services: https://acji.org/pretial-services-best-practices/

Discover how pretrial services can improve outcomes by shifting from compliance to adherence and building a stronger agency culture.

04/27/2026

Waiting for things to “slow down” before you think strategically?
That moment usually never comes.

So the choice is simple:
Keep reacting 🔁
Or start leading with intention 🎯
The Strategic Planning Intensive starts April 30.

In four sessions, you will build a clear, actionable plan and learn how to actually use it.
⚠️ Limited spots for live sessions

This is your moment to step out of the cycle.

Join us: https://acji.org/product/strategic-planning-intensive/

APRIL 30, MAY 7, 14, & 21 10:30-12:00PM MT As a public servant, you entered your field to help others and serve your community. You want to make a difference. However, your days are often consumed by bureaucracy, personnel issues, and political pressures. Strategic planning breaks this cycle by givi...

04/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our March '26 Learn@Work LIVE webinar 🙌

**How Shifting Culture Reduced Recidivism in Iowa** featured Dr. Beth Skinner, Director of the Iowa Department of Corrections, who shared powerful insights on what it really takes to drive culture change and achieve better outcomes 🔄

From leadership commitment to system-wide alignment, this session highlighted how intentional shifts can lead to meaningful reductions in recidivism 📉

We’re grateful to Dr. Skinner for sharing her expertise and to all who participated in such an important conversation 💡

Missed it or want to revisit the insights? Watch the full recording here 🎥👇
youtube.com/watch?v=0S355f0CL88&feature=youtu.be

Director of the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC), Dr. Beth Skinner, and ACJI’s Dr. Alex unpack how IDOC turned a long-standing challenge into measurable...

04/21/2026

Motivation isn’t something you can force 💭

But you can learn how to spark it 🔥

Join us for our next Learn@Work Live: Why Motivational Interviewing Matters on May 8 at 12 PM MT 🗓️

Motivational Interviewing is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps people move from resistance to readiness, especially in high-stakes justice and community settings ⚖️

In this session, we’ll explore how it works, why it matters, and how you can start using it right away in your work 💡

If you’re looking to strengthen engagement, build trust 🤝, and support meaningful behavior change, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Register *FREE* here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1417630736700/WN_zfE2GtFIS-uw0qmNgBH-SA #/registration

ACJI's free bi-monthly webinars in 2026 will take place on the 2nd Friday of each odd-numbered month. Register for one or all of the events now. We will update this page with topics as the information becomes available. May: Motivational Interviewing (MI) July: TBD September: TBD November: TBD

04/17/2026

Most strategic plans sound good… but never really get used.
Why?
Because they stop at ideas instead of moving into action.
The Strategic Planning Intensive is different.
Over four sessions, you will:
✔ build a plan across 4 sessions
✔ turn ideas into real decisions
✔ learn how to get buy in and implement

Led by Dr. Nicholas Powell and designed for real world leadership.

🗓 Begins April 30

If you want structure, not just inspiration, this is for you.
Register: https://acji.org/product/strategic-planning-intensive/

APRIL 30, MAY 7, 14, & 21 10:30-12:00PM MT As a public servant, you entered your field to help others and serve your community. You want to make a difference. However, your days are often consumed by bureaucracy, personnel issues, and political pressures. Strategic planning breaks this cycle by givi...

04/14/2026

Big conversations are happening on a global stage 🌏

We’re excited to see Dr. Alex joining leaders from around the world in Bali this week, contributing to conversations shaping the future of justice.

From innovative practices to cross-cultural collaboration, this gathering brings together voices committed to building safer, more compassionate communities.

More to come 👀

04/13/2026

You cannot shift culture by yourself. Real culture change takes:

🤝 shared language
🧠 new mindsets
👥 leaders growing together

That is exactly what ACJI’s Culture Academy is built for.

Over 10 weeks, you will work alongside peers across the justice field to:

✨ identify what is shaping your culture
✨ learn tools to address it
✨ apply it in practice

🗓 April 20 to June 29 - If culture change feels overwhelming, this is where to start.

Identify and address organizational culture problems with ACJI tools and knowledge in your reentry organization or justice agency. 10-week online course.

04/03/2026

Somewhere along the way, strategy got replaced with constant reaction.

Emails. Staffing issues. Urgent decisions. Repeat.

If you rarely get time to step back and think, you are not alone.

ACJI’s Strategic Planning Intensive creates that space and gives you a clear process to:
✨ set direction
✨ focus your priorities
✨ move work forward with intention

🗓 Starts April 30 (4 sessions)

This is not extra work. It is the work that makes everything else easier.

Learn more: https://acji.org/product/strategic-planning-intensive/

APRIL 30, MAY 7, 14, & 21 10:30-12:00PM MT As a public servant, you entered your field to help others and serve your community. You want to make a difference. However, your days are often consumed by bureaucracy, personnel issues, and political pressures. Strategic planning breaks this cycle by givi...