Staff

Jamila Hodge, Chief Executive Officer

Jami became EJUSA’s second executive director in 2021 bringing more than 15 years of criminal justice experience as a prosecutor, policy advisor, and technical assistance provider. Her goal is to establish EJUSA as a leader in building solutions to violence outside of the criminal legal system by demonstrating the impact of EJUSA’s work and expanding its reach throughout the country. She comes to EJUSA after launching the Reshaping Prosecution Program at the Vera Institute of Justice, where she and her team worked with progressive prosecutors, community-based organizations, and people impacted by the system to develop policy and practice reforms to end mass incarceration and reduce racial disparities within the system. One of the signature initiatives she launched was Motion for Justice, which centers racial equity in transforming the role of the prosecutor and aims to implement concrete racial equity strategies in partnership with community-based organizations. Before Vera, Jami logged many achievements across a 12-year career in the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. She spent four of those years as a community prosecutor focused on intervention and prevention of harm.. She also served in the Office of Legal Policy, where she helped shape policies for people returning from incarceration and those seeking access to counsel in criminal proceedings. Later, she worked in the office of then-Vice President Joe Biden as an advisor on criminal justice and drug policies. Jami has demonstrated her expertise on CBS, MSNBC, ABC Nightline, and many other media outlets. She earned her law degree from Duke University School of Law and her bachelor of arts in psychology and sociology at the University of Michigan. She lives in the greater Washington, D.C. area with her husband and two daughters.

Dr. Loy Azalia, Research and Evaluation Director

Loy joined EJUSA in March 2023 and works on the strengthening and development of community-centered research and evaluation strategies. She believes in the power of using community-based participatory research, to support communities and programs to help achieve long term and sustainable systems change. Loy has worked within public health, education, poverty and youth issues for over 12 years. She received a bachelors in history from Delaware State University and received her masters and a PhD from the Department of African Studies and Research at Howard University.

Mona Cadena, Advocacy and Campaigns Director

Mona works with EJUSA strategists implementing death penalty repeal and violence reduction campaigns across the country. She uses her expertise in community-based organizing to provide training, strategic guidance, and hands-on assistance to over a dozen state death penalty campaigns. Before joining EJUSA in 2009, Mona spent 10 years with Amnesty International, coordinating teams to win legislative victories in six states. She has a B.A. in political science/policy studies from University of Colorado Boulder and a master's certificate in international relations/human trafficking and migration from Trinity College in Washington, DC.

Sarah Craft, Death Penalty Director

Sarah manages EJUSA’s strategy to end the death penalty in the United States. Since joining the organization in 2005, she has provided hands-on assistance, training, campaign coordination, and strategic guidance to organizations and activists in almost every state with the death penalty still on the books. Sarah’s work with partners in Colorado helped lead to death penalty repeal in 2020. Before her start at EJUSA, Sarah worked with the American Friends Service Committee and the Unitarian Universalist Association, covering national policy issues and managing get-out-the-vote and poll-monitoring campaigns in Washington, DC.

Patrick Egan, Chief of Strategic Communications

Patrick joined EJUSA in 2018 to oversee the organization’s growing work to shift the national narrative around violence, trauma, and race, and position EJUSA as a thought leader on criminal justice issues. Previously, Patrick worked at several nonprofits, including Children’s Aid and the Center for Reproductive Rights. As a journalist, his work appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and City Limits. He earned a master’s degree from the Columbia Journalism School.

Cymone Fuller, Senior Restorative Justice Director

Cymone is a bridge builder committed to building across differences and supporting people in their learning about restorative justice while reducing their belief in and reliance on punitive/carceral systems. She began her career as an organizer building and leading a campaign to address the school-to-prison pipeline in her home state of Minnesota. She went on to spend many years focused on systemic reforms in the youth criminal legal system at the Vera Institute of Justice in New York and Columbia University’s Justice Lab. Before joining EJUSA in 2023, she worked as the director of Impact Justice’s Restorative Justice Project. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and social justice from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in public administration from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.

Christine Henderson, Healing Justice Program Director

Christine supports communities and their grassroots leaders in addressing trauma in transformative ways that promote healing and create systemic change. Previously, she elevated local voices to speak out about the chaos in Florida's death penalty system. Prior to EJUSA, Christine worked at the Southern Poverty Law Center and was instrumental in building the case against an abusive juvenile justice facility that ultimately led to its closure. Christine has always been a fierce advocate for social justice change.

Lionel LaTouche, Trauma to Trust Director

Lionel joined EJUSA in February 2018, focusing his efforts on the enhancement of the Police & Community Collaborative Training Program based in Newark, NJ. Lionel is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist, providing therapy to adolescents, adults and families. He received a master’s degree in social work at New York University. Prior to EJUSA, Lionel served as an in-community therapist for several years, providing services to adolescents and families in Bergen, Essex and Hudson Counties of New Jersey.

Mikaela Levons, Chief of Development

Mikaela, a native of Jamaica, joined EJUSA’s fundraising team in 2021 to increase and deepen relationships with donors. Previously, she was the director of advancement at Princeton AlumniCorps, an independent nonprofit that mobilizes people, organizations, and networks for public good. She has also worked with a variety of nonprofits as a grant writer and communications coordinator. She received her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University’s School of Public & International Affairs and her master’s in nonprofit leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. She serves on the boards of the Fergus Simpson Foundation, a nonprofit operating in Jamaica, and Young Audiences of NJ/Eastern PA.

Louise Marchena, Chief of Program Operations

Louise builds, manages, mentors, and inspires an extraordinary team of change-makers to foster a spirit of collaboration, innovation, and learning. Before joining the team in 2019, she was the Senior Director of Youth Programs at Planned Parenthood of New York City for 15 years. She oversaw the coordination of a series of community-based teen pregnancy prevention and sexual health programs citywide. Louise has more than 20 years of experience working in the mental health field, specializing in children and family therapy. Louise graduated from Fordham University with a Master of Social Work degree.

Tanya Mascary Thompson, Chief of People and Culture

Tanya brings over 10 years of leadership experience in nonprofit and higher education. Tanya is a passionate advocate, a thoughtful leader, and a great strategist. She has helped develop intentional diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) strategies and strong talent and hiring frameworks for many spaces, including AmeriCorps, Tufts University, and the NAACP. She earned a bachelor's in finance from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a master’s in counseling from the University of Bridgeport.

Tonjie Reese, Learning and Practice Director

Tonjie is a Detroit native, creative, and violence preventionist. With over 10 years of youth serving and violence prevention work, she has used her passion to advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, develop educational resources, facilitate healing spaces, and provide capacity building at the local, state, and national level. She holds a BS in Behavioral Science and a MA in Education, Leadership, & Change. Tonjie was promoted to Director of Learning and Practice in 2023 to development and oversee our Training Institute and Capacity Building Fellowship programs.

Will Simpson, Community Safety and Justice Director

William was promoted to director in 2021 and leads our strategy, content, and partnerships to promote and strengthen alternative responses to violence. Before joining EJUSA, William served as director of My Brother’s Keeper Newark where he worked to create policy changes that increase life outcomes for boys and men of color. Born, raised, and a current resident of Newark, NJ, William attended Morehouse College and is involved with several different civic and nonprofit organizations. He serves on the board of directors of GlassRoots Inc.

Jasmyn Elise Story, Restorative Justice Director

Jasmyn (they/them) is an accomplished leader in restorative justice and community engagement. As the founder and executive director of Freedom Farm Azul and Honeycomb Justice, they have forged initiatives that blend agriculture with restorative practices, fostering healing and sustainability. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in integrative public policy and development at Tuskegee University, their research focuses on heir property. With over a decade of experience in human rights activism and leadership roles, including at the Sierra Club and the city of Birmingham, Jasmyn is a recognized speaker and thought leader dedicated to creating equitable, community-centered solutions.

Andrea Yaffe, Chief of Program Strategy

Before joining EJUSA, Andrea worked in criminal legal reform in New York City for over 15 years, advocating for individuals and communities impacted by the criminal legal system. In various senior leadership roles, she developed strategies for diversion, violence intervention, and healing programs in organizations such as CASES, Exodus Transitional Community, the NYC Health Department, and the Manhattan District Attorney. Andrea, who holds a bachelor’s degree from New School University and a master’s degree in forensic mental health counseling from John Jay College for Criminal Justice, is dedicated to elevating peer-based work and leadership for formerly incarcerated individuals, drawing from her experience as an in-community therapist for youth and caregivers involved in the legal system.

Josie Alexander, Senior Louisiana Strategist

Josie (she/her) is a Louisiana native and community organizer. She spent her organizing years advocating for social change and creating spaces for young people to talk about police brutality and systemic racism. Josie also served as the program coordinator for the Baton Rouge Community Street Team. Prior to her work in the Baton Rouge public safety ecosystem, Josie was the president and founder of My Sister's Keeper (MSK) Southern University and A&M Collage chapter, a Black Women’s Health Imperative signature program. She received the 2024 Founder of Excellence Award from MSK. Josie has organized anti-violence marches and mobilized community members and policy makers around the importance of equitable resource distribution. Josie holds a B.S. in psychology from Southern University.

Anusha Alles, Senior Manager of Donor Engagement

Before joining EJUSA in 2024, Anusha (she/her) served as the Behind the Walls Staff Organizer and then executive director at the Rhode Island-based community organization Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE). She organized with DARE and partners across the state to win Fair Chance Licensing legislative reform, as well as protections for incarcerated Rhode Islanders during the early COVID-19 shutdowns. Later, she helped develop the BAIL ON 32 campaign for statewide legislative probation reform. Prior to DARE, she organized with campaigns for indigenous and climate justice. She is passionate about political education and has years of experience as a facilitator and teacher, including teaching undergraduate courses on postcolonial literature and histories of Western empire.

Kisha Arthur-Fontenelle, Senior Operations Manager

Kisha holds over 10 years of experience in implementing strong administrative structures, policies, and procedures for rapidly growing nonprofits. Prior to EJUSA, Kisha helped implement the strategic vision of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions. Passionate about women’s empowerment, Kisha contributed to the founding of the NPower Women’s Initiative, a program committed to engaging girls and women in tech. She holds a master’s of science degree in organizational leadership from Nyack College, and a bachelor’s in psychology from Hunter College.

Jaylah K. Cosby, Research and Impact Manager

Jaylah leads research initiatives, providing critical insights that inform advocacy efforts, program development, and policy reform strategies. Prior to this role, she engaged with online audiences across all digital platforms and provided communications support for programs and development efforts. She also served as a Jefferson County Memorial Project Research Fellow, conducting research on African American victims of racial terror in Jefferson County, Alabama, and facilitating community conversations to help reconcile with and heal from historic racial trauma. Jaylah holds a master’s degree in anthropology, specializing in sociocultural anthropology, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Nicholas Cote, Conservatives Concerned - Western Region Strategist

Nicholas educates and mobilizes conservatives throughout the western United States to support campaigns against the death penalty. In 2022, he returned to Nevada, where he grew up, after living and working in the Washington, D.C., area for over a decade. Nicholas’s previous experience includes working in communications and development at the National Right to Work Foundation and volunteering on various causes and campaigns. He served on the Board of Directors of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, which successfully worked with partners across the ideological spectrum to end capital punishment in 2021. Nicholas received his bachelor's degree in political science and American studies from Providence College.

Colleen Cunningham, Senior Campaigns Strategist

Colleen has worked with EJUSA since 2009 and has been a lead strategist on the successful death penalty repeal campaigns in Illinois, Connecticut, and Nebraska. In Connecticut, she helped coordinate the nearly 200-strong coalition of murder victims' family members, who were central to repeal. Colleen previously served as the first Statewide Coordinator and Executive Director for Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (MADP). Now, Colleen leads community safety campaigns to end gun violence and foster public safety. Colleen lives in St. Louis with her husband, son, and daughter.

Kristina Dezendorf, Trauma to Trust Manager

Kristina (she/her) is a licensed social worker in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She joined EJUSA in 2023. She has worked to build effective training programs for adult learners both locally and around the country, served as a community organizer working towards change in the EBR public school system, and is a licensed psychotherapist. Kristina combines her experience in teaching and learning with her experience in mental health and trauma-informed approaches to foster spaces of healing and growth. Kristina is also the founder of The Baton Rouge Mom Network, a diverse community of nearly 8k moms in the Baton Rouge area that connects families with resources. Kristina holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, both from LSU.

Amanda Dozier, Administrative Coordinator

Amanda joined the EJUSA in 2022, bringing with her years of administrative experience from a variety of industries. Though new to social justice and nonprofits, she has always had a passion for helping animals and people in need, and she spends her free time volunteering at her local humane society. As the administrative coordinator, she builds and strengthens EJUSA’s administrative framework to help the organization grow and expand its mission and vision into more communities.

Grace Gámez, PhD, Restorative Justice Strategist

Dr. Grace Gámez (she/her/ella) is a keeper of stories, a steward of collective wisdom, and a practitioner of radical care. Grace's path is guided by a belief in the power of community and the urgency of personal and social transformation. In her recent role as the assistant director of advocacy at Boston University's Center for Antiracist Research, Grace worked alongside communities to uplift pathways for collective liberation. Her recent research, including the Barrio Centro Community Safety Participatory Research Project and Beauty in the Struggle: Insurgent safety and abolitionist commoning in Arizona, invite us to reconsider not just what safety means but what makes us safe, prompting us to invest in the well-being of our communities. Grace's work is a practice of listening — to the land, to her ancestors, to the communities she serves. She dreams, builds, and holds space for the world that is possible — a world where we all have the opportunity to heal and to be free.

Paola Guzman, Grassroots Capacity Building Manager, Sustainable Funding

In her work across the education, mental health, and immigration sectors, Paola has led the operations and logistics of multi-partner collaborative projects to streamline access to services, strategic development, and cultural sensitivity with communities impacted heavily by oppression, trauma, and over-policing. Paola holds a B.A in sociology and spanish and a master of social work degree specializing in Community Organizing, Planning, and Administration from the University of Southern California.

Meaghan Hamilton, Institutional Giving Manager

Meaghan engages with foundations, corporations, and government agencies to expand EJUSA’s network of funding partners. She works to elevate EJUSA’s advocacy, narrative shifting, and ecosystem-building work across the country to a funding audience. Before joining EJUSA in 2022, Meaghan worked as a development manager and grant writer for Per Scholas, a national workforce development organization focused on diversifying the tech industry. She has a B.A. in Politics and International Studies from Fairfield University. She is also an Americorp VISTA alumnus.

Sam Heath, Evangelical Network Manager

Sam leads EJUSA's Evangelical Network. His faith background enables him to tell stories about the realities of justice and injustice in America and hold together a view of the world as a place both exceptional and exploitative. Before coming on board with EJUSA in 2021, Sam taught high school history for 10 years in North Carolina and Virginia. He has a B.A. in education and psychology from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a master’s in theology, ethics, and culture from the University of Virginia.

Lindsey Hogan, People and Operations Manager

Lindsey Hogan joined EJUSA in 2023 as the People and Operations Manager. Before joining EJUSA, Lindsey was a People Operations Coordinator for a tech start-up based out of Ann Arbor, MI, a school-based therapist in southwest Detroit, and a City Year Boston alumna. Passionate about ending the school-to-prison pipeline and reducing life sentences, Lindsey previously worked with youth in Detroit to foster community engagement and expand mental health awareness and resources. She holds a master’s of social work from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s of communication from Ferris State University.

Aja Isler, People and Culture Manager

Aja (she/her) joined EJUSA in August 2023 and is dedicated to improving the employee experience and collectively cultivating a transformative organizational culture. She is passionate about equity, a problem solver, and an advocate for the power of community. Aja earned a master’s degree in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice leadership at Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree in education and African American studies from Colgate University.

Gracey Jean-Bernard, Campaigns Strategist

Gracey comes to us after organizing in South Florida for the 2022 elections, where she specifically focused on colleges and universities to turn out young voters of color. Before that, she ran massive grassroots organizing and mobilization campaigns with organizations like Nextgen Florida, Dream Defenders, and the Florida Democratic Party. Gracey is new to the death penalty movement but has already proven her chess-master strategy prowess through her involvement in multiple issue campaigns including Dream Defenders campaign against Florida's anti-protest law, H.B. 1. Gracey is based in Palm Beach, rounding out our growing EJUSA Florida delegation. She'll also join the EJUSA Caribbean contingency, as she originally hails from Haiti.

Jenna Kress, Restorative Justice Strategist

Jenna is committed to disrupting the harm of the criminal legal system, uplifting alternative community accountability processes, and fostering meaningful experiences and dialogues that promote transformative community building and healing. Before joining the EJUSA team, Jenna served as a Senior Program Associate for Impact Justice’s Restorative Justice Project where she supported communities across the country in developing and launching their own restorative justice diversion programs. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia and earning her master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington, Jenna worked at Community Works West In Oakland, CA, where she supported program development efforts and facilitated restorative justice diversion processes for serious incidents of harm.

Libbie Love, Program Administrative Manager

Libbie is the Programs Administrative Manager at EJUSA and brings over 25 years of experience in the non-profit space. She previously worked at Vera Institute of Justice for over 10 years in office management and government affairs. Her social and economic justice commitment has made her an activist, community organizer, and candidate for public office. She worked closely with the late civil rights legend, Bob Moses, as a consultant to Moses’ Algebra Project making math literacy a civil rights issue. Her background includes teaching classes on the Theology of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., combining activism and theology. She holds a B.A. degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Divinity from Howard University.

Taylor Mason, Grassroots Capacity Building Manager

Taylor Mason (they/them) is a capacity building specialist and healing arts practitioner from California and rooted in Chicago. A graduate of UCLA and Columbia College Chicago, Taylor has worked in programming, development, and communications for organizations centering gender justice, ending the sexual abuse to prison pipeline among girls and women of color, and decarceration for twelve years. A certified yoga teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and reiki practitioner, Taylor works to merge political advocacy and healing justice in all that they do.

Demetrius Minor, Conservatives Concerned Manager

Demetrius educates and mobilizes conservatives around the systematic flaws with the death penalty. He is a preacher, advocate, relationship builder, and a writer who brings a strong track record of building bridges and winning campaigns. He has been the director of coalitions in Florida for Americans for Prosperity, where he worked in partnership with the NAACP, Urban League, and others to build bipartisan support and pass legislation. In addition, he comes to us with experience as a program director and co-host for political radio, TV, and podcasts; a White House intern; and a pastoral assistant.

Natalie Mortenson, Accounting Coordinator

Natalie joined EJUSA in 2024 with over four years of experience working for a biotechnology nonprofit organization. She started her career in customer support then transitioned to the finance department working in accounts receivable. Natalie has a degree in early childhood education and psychology & human development from Wheelock College in Boston, MA. When she’s not working, Natalie enjoys cooking and baking gluten free recipes as well as spending time with her mini Schnauzer.

Zayid Muhammad, New Jersey Strategist

Zayid joined EJUSA in 2021 and leads the organizing and coalition-building efforts while driving systems change work in New Jersey. He has a radical activist profile of over 40 years. He is a proud cub of the Black Panther Party and the founding press officer of NY's Malcolm X Commemoration Committee. He was recently featured in the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary “Who Killed Malcolm X?” He is a stage actor and poet.Currently, he is the organizer for Newark Communities for Ac­countable Policing, which works on on Newark's groundbreaking new Civilian Review Board over the Newark Police Department.

Ben Podnar, Senior Digital Strategist

Ben grows and strengthens digital audiences and tools to support the work of activists, survivors, and changemakers. Before EJUSA, he worked at Amnesty International USA, honing digital advocacy and fundraising skills. A passionate supporter of his coworkers, Ben was a founding organizer of digital agency M+R's union. There, he bolstered the digital audiences of Wildlife Conservation Society, CARE, and Operation Smile. Most recently, he built an online advocacy program for Center for American Progress to connect people to their local representatives, while also generating the first positive online list growth in five years.

Karen Schousboe, Senior Restorative Justice Training Manager

Karen is driven by a commitment to community building, collective trauma-healing, and truth-telling around historical harms. Before joining EJUSA in 2023, she was a program specialist on the Restorative Justice Project at Impact Justice. She has over eight years of experience in restorative justice and has been honored to design, build, and facilitate experiential trainings for community-based organization partners launching restorative justice diversion programs. Karen has also facilitated restorative justice dialogues, survivor support groups and convenings, and in-prison programs centered around healing with the Ahimsa Collective. She holds an M.A. in conflict analysis and transformation from the Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Sierra Scott, Content Manager

Sierra is a writer, content creator, storyteller, and longtime advocate for survivors of violence. Before joining EJUSA, Sierra worked as the senior content writer and strategist for the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization at RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Sierra is passionate about documenting human experiences transformed by healing and community. Sierra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a Master of Arts in English Literature with a Certificate in Professional Writing and Rhetoric from George Mason University. Her research in graduate school explored the healing effects of writing for survivors in the body, the mind, and the soul.

Melquea Smith, Development Coordinator

Melquea Smith is the Development Coordinator for EJUSA and holds an associate's degree in Art and Multimedia Design. Though new to the field, Melquea joins EJUSA with over four years as a Development Coordinator, entering and reporting on contributions for nonprofits. Melquea is an admin of BlackCreators Headquarters and a published illustrator, where she uses her skills to uplift Black and Brown children through her craft. When not working, you can find her dreaming up new ideas for illustrations, testing recipes, and spending time with her partner and two tabby cats.

Tracee Thomas, Senior Trauma to Trust Manager

Tracee brings over 15 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit, social justice, education and project management spaces. A proud Newark, NJ native and community leader, Tracee has worked on the ground on many Newark-based projects including design of a trauma-informed leadership retreat for youth and serving as program director for social-emotional learning with Newark Public Schools. Tracee is passionate about healing generational trauma and being an advocate for individuals, families, and organizations to reach their highest potential. Tracee holds a bachelor of arts in African American Studies and English from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in secondary and special education from Chestnut Hill College.

Jaraad Thompson, Senior Accounting Manager

Jaraad joined EJUSA in 2020, bringing more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit finances. He will help manage EJUSA’s day-to-day accounting and financial management functions, and assist with increasing the efficiency of the organization’s financial systems. After graduating from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Jaraad secured a finance internship that ultimately led to a job as an accounting technician. Prior to joining EJUSA, he worked five years as an operations manager, where he acted as the liaison between the finance and fundraising departments.

Erica Washington, Senior Restorative Justice Strategist

Erica has studied the American punishment system for more than a decade, with an interest in transformative models for addressing harm. Prior to joining EJUSA in 2023, she worked as a senior program associate for Impact Justice’s Restorative Justice Project. Before that, she spent almost three years with the Center for Death Penalty Litigation defending people on death row in the American South and working to challenge the racialized dehumanization that sustains the capital punishment apparatus. Simultaneously, Erica helped to build and lead a restorative justice criminal diversion program in Durham, NC. Erica received her J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Virginia in political philosophy, public policy, and law; as well as African and African American studies.