Christine Evans
Directory of Strategy & Growth

Meet Christine Evans, the heart behind Shared Roots Collective. Christine is passionate about fostering positive connections and resolving conflicts through restorative and transformative justice approaches, with a particular focus on addressing sexual harm.

With two decades of experience as a public interest attorney, Christine’s expertise spans the United States and international arenas. Drawing from her knowledge of the criminal legal system, victims’ and gender rights, and issues related to sexual harm, she crafts personalized processes for survivors seeking accountability and justice outside of traditional legal systems.

Beyond her dedicated work, Christine is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where she shares her wisdom on gender and human rights. She is actively involved as the president and chief funding officer of the Evans Family Foundation, supporting Chicagoland non-profits.

Christine’s academic achievements are impressive, with a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a juris doctorate and LLM in International Human Rights from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and a graduate certification in Restorative Justice from Eastern Mennonite University.

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Dana Chen
Creative Director

Meet Dana Chen, the dynamic force behind the marketing and operations of Shared Roots Collective. Dana brings a unique blend of creativity, strategic vision, and storytelling that empowers the mission of Shared Roots.

With over two decades of experience in marketing, she has made a profound impact on a range of respected nonprofit organizations, including the Museum of Science and Industry, the Evanston Art Center, World Relief, and The Trotter Project. Her passion for innovation is evident in every campaign she creates, helping bring visibility and credibility to organizations dedicated to social good.

Dana’s expertise extends beyond conventional marketing; she’s a skilled strategist who has developed tailored marketing campaigns, launched digital platforms, and guided organizational branding efforts to resonate deeply with their communities.

Her work is guided by a belief in the power of storytelling to inspire connection and change. Dana is committed to using her extensive experience to foster supportive networks, amplify Shared Roots’ mission, and connect communities to the vital work of healing and justice.

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Karen Schousboe
Restorative Justice Director

Meet Karen Schousboe, the service-oriented facilitator behind the restorative justice programming at Shared Roots Collective. Karen brings an accompaniment model to community members as they envision and build healing pathways to address both interpersonal and systemic harm,

With over a decade of experience as a restorative justice practitioner, Karen has provided technical assistance to community-based organizations across the country building restorative justice diversion programs and led numerous experiential trainings for aspiring facilitators. She is driven by a commitment to community building, collective healing, and truth-telling around historical harms.

Karen holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a M.A. in Conflict Analysis and Transformation from the Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. She considers herself a lifelong student of abolitionist world-building, mutual aid organizing, peacemaking, and politicized somatics.

Karen brings a trauma-informed approach to supporting the healing and accountability journeys of survivors of serious harm and those responsible for causing it, while dismantling the binary assumed between these two identities.

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