Category: Press

IIRP Restorative Works! Podcast

Community Matters’ CEO, Erica Vogel, and several Safe School Ambassadors, including SSA alum and current Alumni Coordinator Marin Broadbent Bell, were featured on the IIRP Restorative Works! Podcast.

They shared powerful stories about their experiences and what it takes to build safer and more connected school communities.These stories show the lasting impact of Community Matters programs and our supporters, reflected in the way students continue to strengthen their lives and communities long after the program ends.

Restorative Works! Podcast – Erica Vogel
Restorative Works! Podcast – Marin Broadbent-Bell

Teens drive conversation on bullying during anti-hate summit in Pittsburgh

September 17, 2025 by Megan Trotter, TRIB Live, Tarentum, PA

Safe School Ambassadors from Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, Texas, spoke on a panel about preventing violence and hate during the final day of the 2025 Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh, PA.

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Uplifting Student Voice and Leadership With an “Inside Out” Approach

Restorative Works Magazine, 2023 Year in Review, page 15

An overview of the focus and impact of Community Matters Restorative Practices and Safe School Ambassadors Programs, from the magazine of the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP).

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Hope In The Spotlight

September/October 2023, GoLocal Magazine

Community Matters CEO Erica Vogel is interviewed by Jess Taylor for Sonoma County MadeLocal Magazine.

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Transcript

Student ambassadors train against bullying, violence

September 9, 2019 KUAM News

About 400 recruited students from nine private schools and one public high school participated in the two-day Safe School Ambassadors® training that was hosted for the sixth year by the Judiciary of Guam in partnership with the Guam Department of Education.

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Safeguarding Schools Inside-Out Instead of Outside-In

April 20 2019 by Karen Bossick, eyeonsunvalley.com

Most schools adopt an adult-driven, control-driven, outside-in approach to secure schools. They rely on school resource officers, punitive policies and, often, metal detectors. That approach—keeping trouble out—may work at an airport or in a prison but not in schools, says Community Matters founder Rick Phillips.

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Most bullying happens away from adults. This Wisconsin school teaches kids to step in.

April 3, 2019 by Rory Linnane, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
(Photo: Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Safe School Ambassadors at Adams-Friendship High School in Wisconsin are making a difference in the lives of their peers.

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Cyberbullying Prevention – Rick Phillips

February 26, 2019 – Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) podcast

Community Matters founder Rick Phillips discusses the growing prevalance, causes and effects of cyberbullying on today’s youth with host Tiquan Gilbert of PRIMA.

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Diana Curtin on Sonoma County’s Talking

September 19, 2018 – KZST Radio

Community Matters Executive Director Diana Curtin is interviewed by news director and host Ted Williams on Sonoma County’s Talking and discusses CM’s mission and the Safe School Ambassadors® program.

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Together we can end bullying

December 6, 2017 (updated) by Amy Neumann, Sean Gardner, Ann Tran, Huffington Post

Bullying has become a huge issue these days, both online and off. Not just for individuals, but also for families and communities.

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