Submit Your Merrimack College-Affiliated Event Now
In 1974 violence and riots erupted throughout Boston, Massachusetts after Judge Arthur Garrity ordered the desegregation of Boston public schools. Six years later Dennis Everett was born, the “middle” child, into a bi-racial family. Growing up Irish, English and African American placed him squarely in the middle of a racially divided community, culture and family. Having been harmed, and navigating years of imposing harm, Dennis now uses restorative practices both as a redemptive effort and to disrupt the systemic racism and deeply embedded violence that exist in the prison industrial system.
This event is being organized by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This event is being held on Zoom.
Register for this event online.
Dennis D. Everett, Jr. is an advocate, a multi-talented artist and a passionate agent of change. He has traversed much from being a gang leader to a national thought leader and activist in prison reform, youth work and organizational development. Dennis spent his younger years in various locations across Massachusetts due to being in and out of the DSS/DYS/D.O.C systems. As a bi-racial black male navigating a home life of trauma and addictions in a time of great racial divide, his upbringing was complicated and unstable. Fueled by abandonment and neglect he soon found himself involved in gangs, selling drugs and committing crimes well into his 20’s.
Having come full circle, his passion for youth and dedication to giving back elevated him from a relief staff to an Assistant Program Director in the very agency he found himself placed in as a troubled youth, and in 2019 he was awarded the NAFI Distinguished Alumni Award. Dennis is the Co-Founder of Power of Self-Education (POSE) Inc., a social justice community engagement and advocacy organization. He has 10 years of attuned experience working in community-based initiatives as a community activist having led several cross-sector community mobilization efforts.
Currently, Dennis works as the Director of Reentry for UTEC through which he gets to engage his passion for restorative justice, which has become the heart of his focus. Through his work at UTEC, Dennis has used restorative justice to build community through creating circles within Essex County, Middlesex County, and the D.O.C. He has used his knowledge of restorative justice in partnership with VIP and the Haverhill Police Department to facilitate the Youth/ Police dialogues. Dennis is training through the Center for Restorative Justice at Suffolk University and is currently enrolled in their Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice Practices Program. Dennis is committed to continuing to learn all that he can regarding restorative justice and bringing the practice to as many communities as possible. He serves on various city, regional and state committees to address multi-systemic community issues including recently being appointed to the Massachusetts Restorative Justice Advisory Committee.
Raice Szott ’24, a defender, is one of five finalists for the prestigious national award that recognizes a college hockey player who goes above and beyond to not only positively impact their team, but also their community.
