Malika strategically oversees all operations, activities, and events, ensuring alignment with MEND’s mission and vision. Malika brings a wealth of expertise to the conflict resolution table. She has a Master of Law and Diplomacy from Tuft's Fletcher School of Global Affairs in International Organizations, Global Governance, and International Legal Studies and a Master of Philosophy in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation from Trinity College Dublin Irish School of Ecumenics. Malika fosters peace, and her dedication to her field is evident and impactful. She has written a restorative justice curriculum and has served in leadership roles on advisory councils. Her outstanding contributions have been recognized through prestigious accolades such as the James Haire Dissertation Award, a testament to her groundbreaking research in peacebuilding through cyberspace dialogue. Malika was a research assistant at The Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies. She gained hands-on experience in the Peace and Reconciliation Department at Clonard Monastery in Belfast, Northern Ireland, further solidifying her impact in the field. Malika holds an MA in Practical Theology from Regent University.

Cece is a co-host on the Mend the World podcast, an initiative of Mend. Cece holds an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and a unique life perspective that fuels her daily commitment to combat racism and advocate for marginalized communities. Over the past two decades, Cece has cultivated partnerships with national organizations and prominent brands like Levi's and Tampax. Cece is a current fellow in The Obama Foundation's Leaders program. She has been at the forefront of dynamic grassroots movements and has utilized her powerful voice to address issues of equity and inequity. Her activism encompasses a wide range of causes, from the death penalty abolition to the advocacy for menstrual equity. Cece's work extends to grassroots efforts that create immediate impact and high-level forums where she influences policy changes, raises awareness, and promotes education. She also served in the historic Obama Administration under Ambassador Ron Kirk, the first African American U.S. Trade Representative. Notably, she is celebrated for her instrumental role in creating the #JusticeforJulius campaign, which successfully halted the execution of Julius Jones in Oklahoma just hours before his scheduled execution in 2021. Cece's dedication to justice and equity inspires change on local and national levels.

Jordan directs all of our Restorative Justice programming, facilitates circles, conducts trainings and workshops, and speaks and teaches. Jordan holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Oklahoma. She spent the early years of her career in the business sector in accounting and finance. In 2021, she shifted into the nonprofit space, where she is now doing work more aligned with her values. She contracts on justice- and community-focused projects across Oklahoma City. Jordan is trained in Restorative Justice circle facilitation through RJ Village and NYU, and she has led a community-building Restorative Justice circle cohort locally. She also volunteers with the Department of Corrections, walking with women in incarceration on their healing journeys, and plans to pursue TBRI certification in 2026.

Amanda facilitates dialogue for the Peacemaker cohort and works on curriculum and research for MEND. Amanda is a researcher, writer, and educator in peace work. She is a current Ph.D. candidate in Education at Syracuse University in Central New York. She holds an M.A. in Education from Oklahoma State University and is a former K-12 educator. She also holds a Mindful Outdoor Guide Certification from Kripalu. Hopefully, right now, she is outside hiking or on the water, but she is probably answering emails. 

Jayden Oliver handles the logistics and coordination of the Mend the World podcast, and she is a co-facilitator for our Restorative Justice Circles. Jayden is a proud member of the Kiowa and Caddo Tribes of Oklahoma and mother to Ace Oliver, embodies resilience, passion, and community empowerment. From a collegiate basketball player to a dedicated sports and social justice advocate, Jayden’s journey reflects her commitment to uplifting others. Beyond the court, she channels her love for basketball into a thriving training business, imparting athletic skills and life lessons to aspiring players. As the founder of The Jayden Oliver Foundation, she provides a platform to drive change and foster growth in communities nationwide. Recognizing basketball as more than just a game but a catalyst for transformation, her foundation engages, inspires, and develops children and communities through innovative programs and initiatives. Jayden’s enthusiasm for social justice, human rights, and mental health awareness is evident in her work. Through the #itscooltocare mindset championed by The Jayden Oliver Foundation, she underscores the significance of compassion and unity in shaping a brighter future for all generations. goes here

Dr. Smith, a Mental Wellness Coach, clinician, and community advocate whose work is rooted in liberation, healing, and collective care, is a co-facilitator of Mend’s Restorative Justice Circles. Dr. Smith is also the founder of REAL Liberation Coaching & Consultation Services, a practice dedicated to supporting individuals—particularly Black women, caregivers, and high-achieving professionals—who are navigating stress, trauma, and the quiet exhaustion that comes from living in systems not designed for their well-being.

Dr. Smith earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Howard University and later completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Oklahoma. Her academic training, grounded in culturally responsive and community-centered care, informs a trauma-informed approach to mental wellness that honors both evidence-based practice and lived experience.

Throughout her career, Dr. Smith has worked in spaces where suffering is often overlooked, and support is too often delayed. She previously led the mental health unit at Oklahoma’s largest women’s prison, walking alongside justice-impacted women as they processed trauma, grief, and loss while navigating deeply inequitable systems. These experiences shape her belief that mental wellness is not solely an individual responsibility—it is deeply connected to systems, policies, and access.

In 2024, Dr. Smith was appointed to the Oklahoma City Crisis Intervention Advisory Group (CIAG), where she helps guide the city’s approach to mental health crisis response. Her work centers compassion over punishment, de-escalation over force, and dignity over stigma—advocating for responses that recognize humanity first.