Jeanmarie “TWin” thebaud

Jean Marie Thebaud, lovingly known as “Twin,” is an electric restorative justice facilitator and advocate who never stops smiling. Seriously- we dare you to catch him without a giant grin on his face. Twin brings a much-needed sense of joy and humor to this work, keeping those around him feeling connected, embraced, and genuinely excited to show up.

He began practicing restorative justice in 2015, when older incarcerated men at MCI Norfolk, where he was serving a life sentence, invited him to join. At first, he was skeptical, unsure if it was just another program that wouldn’t lead anywhere. That changed quickly. As Twin puts it: “After I did the retreat, it became serious for me. I saw how I was able to be vulnerable and wanted to pay it forward. I run RJ circles because I want to put the effort into others that was put into me.”

Since coming home in fall 2024, Twin has hit the ground running. He’s taken on a leadership role in TPP’s work with Boston Public Schools, helped revitalize and reimagine Phase Trainings, and become a consistent mentor in both the boys’ and girls’ units within DYS. As one teenage girl in the program shared, “Twin isn’t like other men. He’s safe.” It’s hard to find words that capture him more clearly than that.

Twin proudly rocks TPP swag wherever he goes, sharing with anyone who will listen how the organization has been his safe landing place and chosen family since returning home. “TPP is everything to me. It’s my family. It’s my purpose.” In addition to his RJ work, Twin is a proud alum of Boston University, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies in 2023. TPP is lucky to have someone as deeply committed, passionate, and full of light as Twin.