Banquet Keynote Speaker: Amber Vlangas

Amber Vlangas is the Executive Director of the Restorative Action Alliance and the Donor Engagement Officer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut. A survivor of sexual harm and member of a system-impacted family, her work is grounded in lived experience and a commitment to prevention, restorative approaches, civil liberties, and evidence-based criminal legal reform.

After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Amber has spent more than 25 years in nonprofit outreach, organizing, coalition-building, and resource development. She co-founded the Restorative Action Alliance and Restorative Action Foundation  - complementary organizations that are dedicated to ending sexual violence and systemic injustice. 

Amber has inspired audiences across the country at rallies, legislative hearings, town halls, guest lectures and trainings. Her speaking and facilitation focus on civil liberties, restorative justice, survivor support, storytelling, community dialogue, and sustainable advocacy, with an emphasis on empowering people to move from awareness to collective action. She serves on the Steering Committee of the National Association Against Conviction Registries (NCACR), co-hosts the podcast Amplified Voices, serves on the PARSOL Advisory Board, and has served on legislatively appointed task forces designed to address the collateral consequences of criminal legal system involvement.

Amber is also a visual artist, poet, and facilitator of mindful, meditative art and sound-based experiences. She developed the Many Truths program to explore art as a form of advocacy, using creative expression to foster empathy, break down false dichotomies, spark dialogue, and help communities engage with complex social issues in more human and accessible ways.