Julie and Michael McBride

Julie McBride has been teaching the joys of art to the children of the Tallahassee community as a Public School Elementary Art Instructor for many years. She has also worked as an adjunct professor at Flagler Tallahassee. Michael McBride is a senior database administrator with Montalbano and Associates, currently contracted with the Florida Department of Transportation.

In March of 2010, their lives changed when their 19 year old son, Conor, took the life of his fiancé, Ann Grosmaire. Ann’s parents, Kate and Andy Grosmaire, did not want to follow the status quo. They recommended Restorative Justice (RJ) be used in his case. Abruptly immersed in the judicial system, the McBrides witnessed the benefit of an RJ Circle in a very personal way. As the story of this tragedy gained exposure, they have provide a unique perspective as the parents of the person who did the harm.

Together, they joined the Grosmaires; sujatha baliga, a renowned RJ advocate from Oakland, CA; and Howard Zehr, the grandfather of RJ in the US, on a panel at Campbell University Law School. They again joined the Grosmaires and sujatha for a presentation at the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice national conference. Together with just the Grosmaires, the McBrides have spoken at the Florida State University (FSU) Center for Leadership and Social Change, at the FSU Law School, and participated in the University of North Alabama program at Limestone Correctional. Together, they have also presented their unique perspective at the Florida Restorative Justice Association bi-annual conference.

Separately, the McBrides advocate for RJ in distinct ways. Julie volunteers with a nationally recognized teen diversion program called Community Connections. This program uses non-violent communication and RJ as a mechanism to make the change our community needs. She serves on the Board of The Village Square, that promotes constructive opposing discourse, and the Joesph’s House, a Catholic based men’s reentry program. Michael contributes his knowledge of RJ in the Leadership Tallahassee Justice Day programs. He is the Immediate Past President of the Florida Restorative Justice Association, advocates at the City of Tallahassee Commission meetings in support of RJ programs and funding, and gathers support for RJ from government and law enforcement officials.

They take every opportunity to provide their perspective in support of restorative practices.