Fania Davis

Fania E. Davis is a leading international voice on the intersection of racial and restorative justice. She is a long-time social justice activist, civil rights trial attorney, author, educator, and scholar with a PhD in Indigenous Knowledge. Born into the crucible of the civil rights era in Birmingham, Alabama, Davis was profoundly influenced by the social upheavals of her youth, including the tragic loss of two close childhood friends in the 1963 Sunday School bombing. This experience cemented her lifelong dedication to social justice.

Davis' activism spans several decades across various movements including Civil Rights, Black liberation, women's, prisoners', peace, anti-racial violence, and anti-apartheid efforts. Her journey included an apprenticeship with African indigenous healers, deepening her commitment to healing justice. This path led her to establish the Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY) and co-found the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice. Her recent participation as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Scholar at Butler University marks another chapter in her illustrious career, where she not only shared her knowledge but actively engaged with the community through lectures and workshops.

Davis' impactful work has earned her numerous accolades which include the Lifetime Achievement award for excellence in Restorative Justice, the Black Feminist Shapeshifters and Waymakers’ award, the Tikkun (Repair the World) award, the Ella Jo Baker Human Rights award, and the Ebony POWER 100 award. Her global influence was recognized by the Los Angeles Times, which named her a New Civil Rights Leader of the 21st Century. She also received the Open Society Foundations Justice Rising Award recognizing 16 Black movement leaders working towards racial justice in the United States.

Davis writes and speaks internationally on restorative justice, racial justice, truth processes and indigeneity. Her approach also covers gender, community peace, and healing through restorative practices. A respected author, her notable works include the "Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice: Black Lives, Justice, and U.S. Social Transformation."