Who We Are

Professor Aparna Polavarapu founded SCRJI in 2020. As SCRJI’s Executive Director and Founder, Aparna oversees the development of restorative justice education and programming and works with organizations seeking to develop and implement their own restorative practices. She regularly speaks with local and national audiences on the use of restorative justice to address serious harms, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and incidents of hate.

Aparna’s experience with restorative justice comes from her human rights work. She has over a decade of experience working in human rights, especially focusing on how women’s rights can be promoted and inhibited by informal justice systems. Through her work in sub-Saharan Africa, Aparna came to understand and respect the contributions of community-driven justice practices.

Aparna is also a tenured Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she teaches courses in Restorative and Transformative Justice, Comparative Law, Rule of Law, Transnational Law, and International Human Rights Skills. She received an LLM and JD from Georgetown University Law Center, an MA in international affairs from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Aparna is also a commissioner on the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission, a facilitator with the University of South Carolina’s Collaborative on Race, and a Liberty Fellow under the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Mel is proud to serve as Community Care Lead at SC Restorative Justice Initiative, where they cultivate and nurture programs that deepen the roots of community well-being and resilience. In this role, they weave together, guide, and bring to life projects that offer essential support, strengthen the bonds of collective care, and honor the full spectrum of needs within our interconnected lives.

Mel is the owner and principal consultant of GrassRoots Influencing The South (GRITS), LLC, an organization that builds the power of the people to influence decision-makers. Through their role at GRITS, Mel draws from perspectives of abolition, community care, reproductive justice, and disability justice to equip community members with the knowledge and skills to not only dismantle harm-creating systems, but to build a better world for everyone. Mel previously served as Director of Organizing for Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network, a South Carolina based nonprofit organization that advances the health, economic dignity, and rights of women, girls, gender expansive people, and their families.

Mel has worked in LGBTQ+, reproductive, and gender justice advocacy since 2005, starting their career as Executive Assistant for Alliance For Full Acceptance, then Interim Executive Director for SC Equality. For nine years, they served as Executive Director of We Are Family, a Southern Grassroots non-profit organization that provides affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. Through that role, they Launched Closet Case Thrift, SC’s first queer thrift store, advanced statewide policies to protect LGBTQ+ youth, and established the Trans Love Fund, the first grant program in the state to provide direct funding to Transgender South Carolinians.

In 2018, Mel launched the All Of Us Resource Center, the precursor to the Charleston HOPE Center, for the unhoused community on a budget of $0. They co-created the Charleston YOUth Count with the Riley Center for Livable Communities, the first study focused on housing instability and food insecurity for youth in Charleston County. That same year, Mel delivered a TEDx talk on LGBTQ+ youth houselessness that got elevated to the global TED platform, earning them the status of Featured TED Speaker. Mel grew up in the small town of Mount Pleasant, SC and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the College of Charleston. 

As an Operations Consultant, Della works to contribute to the organization’s success by leveraging her skills in strategic planning, operational management, and team leadership to tackle complex challenges, and deliver tailored solutions. Her approach revolves around understanding the unique challenges facing the organization and developing tailored solutions that will drive sustainable growth.

As a seasoned professional with 25+ years of experience in project management, consulting, and operations management, Della has dedicated her career to driving efficiency and innovation across various industries. She has successfully managed cross-functional teams and delivered complex projects on time. She has led numerous consulting projects, helping organizations optimize their operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve their strategic goals.

She received an MPA from Walden University and a BS from Southern Wesleyan University. To stay at the forefront of technological advancements, she has also earned a Professional Certification as an IBM AI Developer. Her commitment to professional growth and development has been a cornerstone of her success, and she is proud to have contributed to the advancement of various organizations.

Della is also a Licensed Producer for the Sperry Agency, a Public Health Instructor (Food Safety) for Servsafe, Inc., owner of Serving Up Food Safety, a former franchise owner and a former Adjunct Professor for Aiken Technical College’s Business Development Division. As an instructor, she has the privilege of mentoring and evaluating students, fostering their academic and professional growth, further enriching her career.