Permaculture Justice – The art of evolution by cocreating interbeing in perma-microcommunities

Valeria Gheorghiu is an environmental and civil rights attorney integrating restorative justice into the practice of law.  She currently practices cooperative, environmental and civil rights law at her office in Kingston, New York, supporting the burgeoning resilient and regenerative local economy in upstate New York. Her more notable cases include representing the Ramapough Nation, Occupy New Paltz and advancing pagan rights in the Matter of Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater, Inc. v. McCoy et al. As a multi-lingual contract attorney, Valeria co-founded United Contract Attorneys drawing from her prior work as a global justice organizer, and as a workers’ rights attorney at NGOs such as South Jersey Legal Services.  Cooperative law is a natural progression for Valeria, integrating her background in organizing, workers's rights, environmental and business law. She is currently helping form a consumer cooperative, advising a farmers' cooperative and is giving lectures on cooperative law.

Holding permaculture, ecovillage, yoga and restorative justice certificates, Valeria graduated from Vermont Law School with a Master's in Environmental Law and Juris Doctor, and from the Evergreen State College with a B.A. in Liberal Arts, focusing on environmental studies and anthropology. She teaches yoga once a week, grows ginseng and runs monthly sustainable living themed community gatherings out of her home, a former schoolhouse and firehouse, in Kerhonkson, NY.