Ames Stenson

Ames was born on unceded land of Arapaho, Cheyenne and Ute nations and has over 25 years working to support people, families, and communities; with over 15 years working within Colorado’s robust restorative justice field.  Restorative values and practices are a compass for Ames’ life, and they deeply appreciate and honor RJ elders, especially within our state, on whose shoulders our work has exponentially grown and developed. And, with an open heart, they acknowledge the deep, ongoing needs and opportunities for further accountability, repair and transformation within ourselves, families, communities, and systems across the state and beyond.

Ames joined the RJ Council in December 2025 as a representative of the Colorado Coalition for Restorative Justice Practices (CCRJP), a statewide non-profit RJ practitioner coalition.  In their day job, Ames supports the Englewood Municipal Court Restorative Justice Program as the program manager.

Ames is a licensed social worker and earned two master’s degrees: social work from the University of Denver and theological studies from the Iliff School of Theology and has a bachelor’s in criminal justice with a minor in theology from the University of Portland. Additionally, Ames holds a certificate in religion and social change from the Iliff School of Theology and a professional certificate in servant leadership from the SC Johnson School of Business at Cornell University.  Ames is a 2022-2023 Colorado Governors Fellow, former CCRJP Board President, a founding and current Board Member for the Restorative Rainbow Alliance and recently co-wrote, with Rami El Gharib, a chapter for the North American Restorative Justice Encyclopedia (coming in late 2026).