Our Team

David Muhammad is a leader in the fields of violence reduction, youth development, and criminal justice reform. David is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. 

Through NICJR, David provides leadership and technical assistance to gun violence reduction strategies (GVRS) in cities across the country. In Oakland, David helped lead a partnership of organizations and technical assistance providers that achieved a 50% reduction in shootings and homicides. NICJR’s work in Oakland and David’s own experiences as a justice-involved youth in the city were profiled in the New York Times Magazine in January 2025. In Indianapolis, David led the NICJR team that worked with the City to implement the successful Indianapolis Gun Violence Reduction Strategy. In the first three years after the launch of GVRS (through the end of 2024), Indianapolis saw a 29% reduction in murders and nonfatal shootings.  

David also helped lead development of the national CVI Action Plan, which set out a groundbreaking, community-led vision for the field of community violence intervention. 

David’s prior experience leading nonprofit organizations includes serving as the first Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) in Los Angeles. ARC has grown to become one of the largest and most prominent service providers and policy advocacy organizations for the formerly incarcerated in California. He also previously served as Executive Director of The Mentoring Center in Oakland. During his tenure there, David was contracted by the City of Richmond, CA, to help design the Office of Neighborhood Safety, which has since been credited with bringing significant violence reductions to the city.

David has worked to implement positive youth development into youth justice systems around the country. For three years, he was extensively involved in developing a detailed reform plan for the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the largest probation department in the country. He also served as the technical assistance provider for the Sierra Health Foundation’s Positive Youth Justice Initiative, providing training and consulting to several California probation departments.

David has also supported justice system reform as a monitor in several jurisdictions. He was the federal court appointed monitor overseeing reforms in the Illinois juvenile justice system in the MH v. Monreal Consent Decree. He was also the federal monitor in the Morales Settlement Agreement, which requires the Illinois Parole Review Board and the Illinois Department of Corrections to reform its parole system. In addition, for six years David was a member of the Antelope Valley Monitoring Team, which is charged with monitoring the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department’s implementation of a federal Settlement Agreement. He has also served as an expert witness in numerous juvenile and criminal justice federal lawsuits.

David also spent nearly a decade leading justice agencies in three major jurisdictions: He is the former Chief Probation Officer of Alameda County, CA (Oakland); he was the Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation; and he served as the Chief of Committed Services for Washington, DC's juvenile justice agency, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.

A graduate of Howard University’s School of Communications, David has an extensive journalism career and has authored numerous op-ed articles in prominent media outlets, including the Washington Post, LA Times, Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, and many others. David also completed a course on “Systems Dynamics for Senior Managers” at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, MA. In August of 2008, David completed a certificate program on Juvenile Justice Multi-System Integration at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.

Diana Dahl is NICJR’s Director of Development and Operations. By ensuring high quality deliverables, igniting operational efficiencies, impacting key partnerships, and building organizational capacity, Diana’s leadership and expertise helps to advance NICJR’s sustainability and mission impact. She brings 18 years of experience leading nonprofits and small businesses serving historically marginalized and underserved populations across a wide variety of human service domains, including education, health, and justice.

Diana’s leadership centers on big picture visioning paired with the development of deliberate processes and relationships; data-driven decision-making that allows freedom to take reasonable risks required for innovation; an intentional balance of supporting yet challenging institutional systems; and active curiosity and inquiry as tools to enhance operational productivity, service quality, and team dynamics.

Prior to joining the NICJR team, Diana led Development, Marketing, and Operations for Resource Development Associates, a California-based consulting firm dedicated to social justice and equity. Diana led efforts to ensure a sustainable pipeline of mission-aligned work, tripling proposal development while increasing the organization’s award rate. She also provided oversight and quality assurance for grant services contracts, including grant writing that was awarded over $108 million for clients across California.

As former Executive Director of Middle Park Medical Foundation in Colorado, Diana tripled the Foundation’s service area and increased its giving tenfold. She developed what has become the largest fundraising event of its kind in the county, and she collaborated with other local leaders to design and seek funding to integrate mental health care into primary care and hospital settings, resulting in the largest mental health grant ever awarded in the county.

Within four years of development work in Philadelphia at ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania, Diana brought in over $25 million to build organizational capacity and expand learning programs within their PreK-12 bilingual school system. She designed summer work programs for middle and high school youth that resulted in 1st and 3rd place awards from Philadelphia’s citywide WorkReady system and she played a key role in acquiring two school management contracts totaling $100 million over five years.

Diana holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Pennsylvania State University. She is also a graduate of Community Resource Center’s Nonprofit Leadership Development Program; the Special District Association of Colorado’s Leadership Fellowship focused on executive roles and ethics; and completed a Practitioner Inquiry Fellowship with the National Afterschool Matters Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Mikaela Rabinowitz is the Director of Data and Research at NICJR. She supervises NICJR’s team of Policy Analysts as they complete research and data analysis in criminal and juvenile justice, youth development, and violence reduction.

Mikaela is a long-time social science researcher who believes that rigorous investigation can help drive more just and equitable public policy. Prior to joining NICJR, she held a number of policy, research, and advocacy positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Until July 2022, she served as the Director of Data, Research, and Analytics for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office under DA Chesa Boudin. In this role, she was responsible for establishing a research agenda aligned with the office’s strategic priorities and policy initiatives and overseeing the implementation of this agenda through internal projects and partnerships with academic and nonprofit research organizations. As part of the DA’s senior leadership team, Mikaela was part of an unprecedented effort to reduce the footprint of the criminal justice system in San Francisco, while increasing the infrastructure for diversion and restorative justice.

Mikaela is also an advocate for improving the quality, uniformity, and transparency of criminal justice data. To this end, she has been involved in local, state, and national criminal justice data transparency efforts, including the BJA-sponsored Justice Counts initiative and the recently signed Justice Data Accountability and Transparency Act in California.

In 2021, Mikaela published her first book, Incarceration without Conviction: Pretrial Detention and the Erosion of Innocence in American Criminal Justice with Routledge Press. Based on the results of a mixed-methods analysis of pretrial detention in Cook County, IL, she argues that the Supreme Court’s increasingly narrow interpretations of the presumption of innocence and due process protections for pretrial defendants, and the corresponding increase in pretrial detention, have fundamentally undermined the meaning and value of innocence in the criminal justice system.

Mikaela holds a PhD in Sociology from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in African American Studies from Columbia University.

Shantay Jackson is the Director of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN) at NICJR. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic evolution of the Network’s support to offices of violence prevention, including growing its membership, cultivating a leadership pipeline, coordinating with national training and technical assistance (TTA) partners, and assisting with the jurisdictional institutionalization of offices. Shantay is passionate about advocating for social justice issues, including procedural justice, restorative practices, and education.

Prior to NICJR, Shantay served as Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement in Baltimore City. As a member of Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s Cabinet, she was responsible for addressing violence as a public health issue; serving as the accountability partner for all city agencies and local, state, and federal partners; delivering public safety policy recommendations; and conducting meaningful engagement with Baltimore City’s neighborhoods in the work of co-producing public safety.

Before dedicating her life to public service, Shantay spent almost 20 years in the private sector as the Assistant Vice President of Global Solutions and Technology at T. Rowe Price Associates and a Principal at Brown Advisory. After the Baltimore uprising in 2015, Shantay left corporate America and became Executive Director of the Baltimore Community Mediation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing interpersonal conflict and community violence in Baltimore City by increasing the use of non-violent conflict resolution strategies. During her time there, she expanded the organization’s reach by rolling out a Police and Community Program, introduced community listening tours, and provided moderation and facilitation services to grassroots organizations and city agencies. This work led to her federal appointment as Community Engagement Liaison for the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Consent Decree. Shantay also previously worked as Chief Operating Officer for the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Leadership and is the Founder and CEO of EVOLVE to Lead, an organizational leadership development consultancy.

Shantay’s background in the private sector, coupled with her nonprofit experience and personal lived experiences, enable her to authentically and seamlessly navigate political, private, and non-governmental arenas. She is often called upon by local, state, and national partners to share her philosophies associated with leadership, change, violence prevention, and police/community relations. Notably, this includes serving as Baltimore’s representative for the White House Community Violence Intervention Collaborative, providing funding recommendations for violence prevention to Baltimore City’s Congressional Delegation, meeting with members of the Maryland Governor’s executive team, and speaking to members of the Maryland Judiciary on transformative change for organizations and strategies for data evaluation when serving the community. Most recently, Shantay was honored by Black Girls Vote and Radio One for her work as a woman in the political sphere.

Shantay attended Villa Julie College, majoring in Computer Information Systems. She is a certified mediator and large-group facilitator, licensed consultant through the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, certified scrum master, and project management professional. She is also certified to conduct a host of organizational development trainings.

Keiland Henderson serves as the Violence Reduction Associate Director at NICJR where he coordinates and manages the communication, technical assistance, and training for jurisdictions NICJR is supporting to develop Gun Violence Reduction Strategies (GVRS). This includes supporting the cities that are members of the National Offices of Violence Prevention. He also conducts ongoing research and writes reports on gun violence reduction.

Prior to joining NICJR, Keiland worked as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) where he played a crucial role in implementing a city-wide violence reduction strategy. He also served as a Violence Interrupter and Outreach Supervisor; supervising a team of life coaches and case managers.

Prior to OVP, he worked as the Executive Director for the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network and with Faith-Based Solutions; working for over ten years in nonprofit management, business development and community outreach.

He currently serves on Delta College’s Pathway to Law Advisory Board, San Joaquin County’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission and is an inaugural graduate of NICJR’s Professionals of Color Fellowship.

Amy Arthur is NICJR’s Content Development Specialist. Amy is passionate about harnessing the power of the written word to fund innovative programming and accessibly communicate research to decisionmakers and the communities they serve. A seasoned writer and editor with more than eight years of experience developing winning grant proposals and RFP responses, Amy’s writing has led to grant awards totaling more than $122 million from foundations and city, state, and federal entities.

As NICJR’s lead writer and editor, Amy partners with staff across the organization to craft compelling proposals, communicate progress to funders, and develop reports and other deliverables that disseminate NICJR’s research and share lessons learned from the implementation of direct service initiatives such as the Neighborhood Opportunity and Accountability Board.

Prior to joining the NICJR team, Amy served as Associate Director of Business Development for Resource Development Associates, a California-based consulting firm dedicated to social justice and equity. At RDA, she bolstered organizational sustainability and growth by leading the competitive proposal development process. She also led grant writing and fund development capacity building contracts with numerous government and nonprofit agencies. Prior to joining RDA, Amy managed fundraising and communications for Rebuilding Together San Francisco and worked as a member of the development and communications team for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, where she developed winning proposals both for property acquisition and funding for new construction and critical home repair.

Amy holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Poetry from Johns Hopkins University. Before entering the nonprofit sector, Amy taught composition and creative writing at Hopkins University and Goucher College. She also served as an Editorial Assistant for the Hopkins Review and as Summer Director of the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference. Her poems and literary criticism have appeared in the Birmingham Poetry Review, Measure: A Review of Formal Poetry, Literary Matters, Blackbird, and elsewhere.

Anna Marie Keppel Benson is the SafeStat Program Manager at NICJR. Their work focuses on building standardized, evidence-informed tools that help jurisdictions collect, analyze, and share data to guide CVI programming and demonstrate the impact of these public safety strategies. This includes leading the development and implementation of SafeStat—a case management and data dashboard system designed to strengthen community violence intervention ecosystems. In this role, Anna manages cross-sector partnerships with local offices of violence prevention, community-based organizations, and tech partners. 

Anna is passionate about ending mass incarceration and using technology to address systemic inequities. Their work is grounded in a commitment to opportunity, dignity, and respect for people impacted by incarceration and violence. They believe in community-based systems of support that recognize the full humanity of every person and build safety and stability outside of the justice system. 

Prior to joining NICJR, Anna served as a Senior Curriculum Developer at The Last Mile, designing accessible, engaging web development and coding education programs to prepare justice-impacted individuals for employment opportunities after release. There, Anna’s work focused on creating inclusive and empowering technology education adapted to learners’ lived experience. Anna also brings years of experience working as a software engineer in the tech industry, including roles at AppDynamics/Cisco Systems and SAS that focused on front-end development, statistical analysis, and data visualization. 

Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science with a minor in Political Science from Duke University. 

Brandon Brown is the Graphic Designer at NICJR. In this role, he collaborates with staff to create digital, print, and video products that support criminal justice reform and violence reduction.

Prior to joining NICJR, Brandon served as a Media Designer for the Solid Waste Association of North America, where he led design and branding efforts across campaigns and marketing channels, significantly enhancing the organization’s visual identity and public engagement. Before that, he worked as a photographer specializing in portrait, fashion, and commercial photography.

Brandon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing degree from the University of Houston-Downtown. He is passionate about the creative process of turning abstract ideas into impactful visual experiences that resonate with target audiences.

Deven Ray Rivera is a National Offices of Violence Prevention Network Program Manager at NICJR. In this role, he provides technical assistance to NOVPN members and supports other innovative initiatives related to reducing gun violence.

Deven is passionate about addressing both the prevention and intervention aspects of community violence. His focus has been on ensuring that organizations and institutions work together to tackle root causes while securing the necessary resources to achieve meaningful impact. Before joining NICJR, Deven served as the Community Safety Fund Program Manager at Everytown for Gun Safety, where he managed a multi-million dollar grant program investing in community-based violence intervention and prevention (CVIP) organizations across the US. In this role, he delivered $5.5 million in grants to CVIP organizations across 36 cities. He also provided virtual and in-person convenings, capacity-building initiatives, and advocacy efforts for grantees. Before Everytown, Deven served as the Director of Career Readiness for the Center of Community Alternatives, where he managed multiple projects, including grant operations, a tiered workforce development program for system-involved youth, peer mentorship, and access to sustainable employment. Deven also supported New York’s Raise the Age legislation that increased the minimum age for youth held on Rikers Island to 18 years old.

Deven holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from St. Francis College and a Master of Public Administration degree from John Jay College.

Darcell Harrison is the Violence Reduction Program Coordinator for NICJR. For more than 17 years, Darcell has worked on the frontlines of violence reduction, re-entry, and youth development. Darcell has served in several capacities, including mentor, case manager, life coach, violence interrupter, youth workshop facilitator and he has spent several years as a Life Coach supervisor in Oakland’s successful Gun Violence Reduction Strategy. Prior to coming to NICJR, Darcell served as Program Supervisor at Community and Youth Outreach in Oakland.

Darcell has been directly impacted by violence and the criminal justice system, having been seriously injured as a victim of violence and having been formerly incarcerated. For nearly two decades, Darcell has been an example and source of inspiration for others through his personal transformation and his exceptional work as a mentor, violence intervention specialist, and supervisor.

At NICJR, Darcell provides leadership, training, and technical assistance for organizations across the country. He leads Life Coaching and violence intervention training as well as supervises a team of Life Coaches in the Bay Area.

Emmanuel Hernández is a Violence Reduction Project Manager for NICJR. In this role, he works with the Associate Director of Violence Reduction to coordinate and deliver training and technical assistance (TTA) to community-based organizations (CBOs), law enforcement agencies, offices of violence prevention, and other government entities. Emmanuel is passionate about partnering with cities to promote the collaboration of diverse stakeholders and the coordination of violence reduction efforts.

Prior to joining NICJR, Emmanuel worked at the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab as a Qualitative Research Manager for a qualitative study of cognitive behavioral training programs in Chicago. Prior to the Crime Lab, he worked as a Project Coordinator for Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Mexico City, where he managed the development and implementation of a Group Violence Intervention Strategy in Mexico City’s Police Department in collaboration with Yale University, the California Partnership for Safe Communities, Mexico City’s law enforcement and social services agencies, and local nonprofits. Emmanuel also collaborated on the adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of Procedural Justice training for Mexico City’s Police Department. Prior to IPA, Emmanuel worked in the nonprofit sector, advising local governments and conducting participatory research on school and urban violence prevention.

Emmanuel holds a Master in Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago. Currently, he teaches a class on Citizen Security in the Public Space and Urban Mobility Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Ems Schnee is the Operations Manager for NICJR. In this role, they support project team logistics, contract management, and human resources to maintain efficient organizational operations. They bring over nine years of experience in the nonprofit sector with a strong focus on criminal justice reform. Their background reflects a deep commitment to reforming justice systems that unjustly deny individuals fair treatment, particularly as relates to the intersection of race, gender, sexuality, family structure, health, class, and ability.

Before joining NICJR, Ems served as the Senior Grants Specialist for the Aspen Institute, where they honed their expertise in federal grants and project management. Previously, they worked as Development Project Manager and Board Liaison at The Marshall Project, where they managed grants and donor relations and executed quarterly board meetings. Ems also served as Project Coordinator at the International Association of Chiefs of Police, focusing on trauma-informed responses to violence against women and gender-based violence. Additionally, they worked at the Human Rights Campaign as the Community and Volunteer Relations Coordinator, concentrating on volunteer and board member engagement.

Ems holds a Master of Science degree in Justice, Law, and Criminology from American University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ems is excited to leverage their skills in operations, contract management, event coordination, and relationship building to further NICJR’s mission.

Hilary Bass is the Senior Manager of Bay Area Initiatives at NICJR. In this role, she manages NICJR’s projects and direct service programs in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Neighborhood Opportunity and Accountability Board (NOAB) Initiative. Hilary is a dynamic public sector leader with a proven track record in driving results through innovative public safety initiatives, community development, and strategic collaboration. Known for her expertise in creative placemaking and community engagement, Hilary is dedicated to establishing vibrant public spaces and improved public systems that foster positive societal change and long-term improvements in public safety.

Prior to NICJR, Hilary served as Executive Director of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs’ Activities League (DSAL), leading the development and daily oversight of the organization. Under her leadership, DSAL grew to become a 70-person organization with a nearly $3 million budget. Over the course of 12 years, she secured over $30 million in funding for impactful community-based projects, shaping outcomes in public safety, public health, and economic and community development. Her efforts with DSAL included working from within the Sheriff’s Office to develop a hyper-local food system in Alameda County as a strategy to address economic development for the reentry community while simultaneously reducing food insecurity and increasing health outcomes for thousands of county residents. Her work also included the development of a free athletics department serving the low-income youth and families of unincorporated Alameda County as a strategy to prevent crime by building healthy people. Additionally, she brought in resources for local community development initiatives such as murals on 11 facades of small businesses to make neighborhoods safer and help the business community thrive. Through all of this work, she has developed strong expertise in operations, program development, and fundraising as well as excellent skills in building positive relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Hilary holds a degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from Boston University and was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 as an Emerging Leader.

Isabel Tayag Parker is the Communications and Operations Specialist for NICJR. In this role, she leads the graphic design of violence reduction and justice reform deliverables and content, coordinates and executes communications strategies, and manages the organization’s recruitment process.

Isabel graduated from the University of San Francisco where she received a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology, Law and Society. Prior to joining NICJR, Isabel was a Policy Fellow with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office and Digital Organizing Fellow with Justice Teams Network (JTN), where she supported grassroots organizing efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Isabel also serves as a Project Director for No More Tears (NMT), a violence and crime prevention program founded by incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison. At NMT, Isabel leads the infrastructure and capacity building efforts of the organization as it works to expand its reentry, community, and youth programming.

Isabel’s passion lies at the intersections of media and mass incarceration, and she hopes to help organizations like NICJR shift cultural narratives around crime, policing and incarceration.

Jeremy Page is the Justice Reform Program Manager at NICJR. In this role, he assists in the coordination and management of communication, TA, and training for various juvenile justice initiatives while also supporting NICJR’s participation in local and national advocacy efforts.

Jeremy is a leader whose mission in life is to move the needle on criminal and juvenile justice reform. He has a deep passion for working with our youth, especially those who are system impacted. Over the last decade, his advocacy career has included working with the child welfare system, system-impacted adults and youth, and those who are impacted by mental health and substance use concerns. These experiences contribute to Jeremy’s philosophy around prevention and intervention within the justice system, alternatives to incarceration, and reducing recidivism.

Before joining NICJR, Jeremy served first as a Bail Disruptor and then as Operations Manager for the Ohio sites of The Bail Project (TBP). In addition to working on the front lines, he led two teams to secure the freedom of over 2,000 individuals in the State of Ohio who were detained pretrial. He also ensured the coordination of services to support court return and eventual case closure. In his work with TBP, Jeremy utilized qualitative and quantitative data to encourage stakeholders to shift practices regarding the use of cash bail to better serve the people of Ohio. He also worked with the Ohio Legislature to advocate for statewide bail reform.

Previously, Jeremy worked as a Family Service Worker with Hamilton County Job and Family Services, providing case planning services for families who were involved with the child welfare system. He later transitioned to a Child-Specific Recruiter role within the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, where he worked to establish permanency for children in the custody of the county.

Jeremy is an alumnus of Northern Kentucky University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Social Work, and Eastern Kentucky University, where he received his Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Policy and Leadership with a concentration in Juvenile Justice. He is a graduate of the Urban League African American Leadership Development Program Class 28 and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Jeremy recently completed a year-long fellowship with Feedback Labs as a Feedback Champion.

Jesslyn Mitchell-Laguna is a Senior Policy Analyst at NICJR. She supports the Policy Team by collecting data and conducting research on policies, programs, strategies, and organizations in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice, youth development, violence reduction, organizational development, and other relevant areas. She writes and contributes to NICJR publications, assists with NICJR advocacy efforts, and supports NICJR community outreach as needed. Jesslyn also manages grants and contracts in support of NICJR’s strategic growth and development by liaising with community partners, government agencies, and other philanthropic entities.

Jesslyn is a fierce proponent of intersectional race, gender, and economic equality. Prior to her work with NICJR, Jesslyn was an educator, researcher, and advocate in the US and abroad. Jesslyn previously worked in Tanzania and Uganda to build coalitions for women’s economic rights at the local, national, and international level. She worked in post-conflict zones where she learned first-hand how societal trauma and systemic poverty affect community violence and crime.

Jesslyn received her Master of Public Policy degree from the Luskin School of Public Affairs with a certificate in International Institutions and Policies. She studied Human Rights Education at Vassar College, where she received her B.A.

Kimberly Thomas is a Senior Life Coach within NICJR’s Neighbourhood Opportunity and Accountability Board program, where her profound lived experience and certification in Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavior Life Coaching enable her to effectively guide youth and their parents. In this role, she manages intake of youth referrals; organizes NOAB hearings; connects youth, families, and victims to community-based services and interventions; coordinates with service providers to track youth outcomes and achievement; and provides one-on-one support to NOAB participants. 

Kimberly is a forward-thinking and strategic leader dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities through personal growth, skill development, and employment initiatives. She excels at identifying the root drivers of unhealthy behavior and collaboratively establishing goals and strategies that foster healthier life paths. Previously, Kimberly served as Director of the Dig Deep Farms Food Hub, where she spearheaded the creation of comprehensive soft skills training programs for reentering individuals. She also oversaw daily operations, managed staff needs, and served as a compelling public role model in community outreach. Kimberly's leadership was instrumental in trainees' success, with participants excelling in their on-the-job experience and, significantly, many securing full-time employment—thus breaking cycles of recidivism. 

Kimberly possesses a diverse skill set, including certifications in Urban Farming and Permaculture Design, that have enabled her to forge meaningful connections and drive positive change. Her dedication to continuous learning and her expertise in counseling and public engagement position her as an invaluable asset to NICJR's NOAB program.

Kyra Leanani Cereola serves as Executive Assistant to the NICJR Executive Director. In this role, they provide administrative support to the Executive Director and general support to the NICJR leadership team and Board of Directors. Kyra is passionate about radical honesty and meeting people where they are, drawing on a background in feminism and disability justice to tailor communication to each team member.

Before joining NICJR, Kyra worked as an Events Coordinator for Disability Voices United, a disability advocacy nonprofit in California. In this role, they successfully organized large-scale virtual and in-person events; provided extensive IT support; and managed the organization’s communications. Kyra also supported legislative advocacy in this role, organizing and implementing meeting protocols that ultimately led to the passage of AB 1147, the Disability, Accountability, and Transparency Act. As a liaison between California legislators and disability community advocates and stakeholders, Kyra facilitated impactful meetings that drove significant policy changes.

Kyra graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Feminist Studies. Their academic research focused on LGBTQIA+ rights, accessibility in infrastructure, racial disparities in education, and the pragmatic applications of Black Feminist Science Fiction.

Mickeeya Harrison is the Program Manager of Knoxville Peace. In this role, she supervises a team of Violence Intervention Specialists and Life Coaches charged with intensively engaging the small number of individuals in Knoxville who are at the very highest risk of being involved in gun violence. She also serves as the primary contact for Knoxville Peace’s many partners and stakeholders. Mickeeya is thankful for the opportunity to serve the City of Knoxville through Knoxville Peace, working alongside community members, partners, and organizations in the pursuit of peace, justice, and unity.

Mickeeya is a social worker who has dedicated more than 23 years to serving youth and young adults living in East Tennessee. Prior to joining Knoxville Peace, she served young people and their families in East Knoxville through Emerald Youth Foundation's Calling and Career Ministry. Beginning in 2011, she was appointed by Mayor Haslam and Mayor Rogero to serve two consecutive terms on the City of Knoxville’s Neighborhood Advisory Council.

Nehali Vishwanath is a Senior Policy Analyst at NICJR. In this role, she manages the Youth Data and Intervention Initiative, an innovative project that focuses on identifying and addressing risk factors for gun violence among youth. She also conducts data analysis and develops reports in support of other NICJR research projects that uplift community-based interventions and policies within criminal justice reform, juvenile justice, and violence reduction.

Before coming to NICJR, Nehali was a Public Affairs Analyst at Becton Dickinson (BD) on their Government Affairs team. While at BD, she developed policy surrounding healthcare safety and technology, maintained their internal communications network, and helped foster a working relationship with government officials.

Nehali is passionate about advancing evidence-based policies and practices that target the underlying social determinants of health in vulnerable populations to sustain long-term improvement in violence-related outcomes.

Nehali holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health Studies from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Health degree from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she was a Bloomberg Fellow.

Nicole  Picard is the Operations and Finance Coordinator for NICJR. In this role, she supports financial operations, grant reporting, and other organizational processes as a part of the NICJR Development and Operations team.

Nicole earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Suffolk University in Boston. Following graduation, she was awarded a fellowship with the Center for Public Management, where she worked with local nonprofits on a variety of projects including research reports, designing community surveys, event management, and more.

Nicole then went on to work in the investment management industry with a focus on operations, finance, and marketing. Throughout that time, she continuously volunteered with community organizations such as Prison Book Programs, Friends of Boston’s Homeless, and local food banks. She currently serves as a volunteer with a local prison, providing direct support to those who are incarcerated. Realizing her passion for criminal justice reform, Nicole joined the team at NICJR to contribute her skills in finance, supporting the mission of working to transform the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Paty Garcia Iruegas is NICJR’s Violence Prevention Program and Project Manager. In this role, she works with the NICJR Executive Director to develop and implement the Violence Reduction Management Institute and Violence Reduction Research and Practice Network. The Institute provides training and coaching to current and aspiring leaders of violence reduction efforts across the country. The Violence Reduction Research and Practice Network, created in partnership with Princeton University, facilitates exchange and dialogue between academics, researchers, practitioners, and others in the fields of violence reduction and criminal justice reform. Paty is passionate about applying a holistic city planning perspective to this work, through which she views cities as interconnected systems that must collaborate to address complex issues such as gun violence.

Before joining NICJR, Paty was a Research Associate with the California Partnership for Safe Communities (CPSC), where she supported technical assistance to the cities of Oakland, Indianapolis, and Baltimore. Additionally, she collaborated on expanding the CPSC’s work on the impact of political governance and effective management in violence reduction strategies. Prior to that, she worked as a Project Coordinator for Innovations for Poverty Action, where she led a Gun Violence Reduction Strategy in collaboration with Yale University, the CPSC, and various governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations in Mexico City.

Paty holds a Master in City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.

Rachel Feldhaus is a Senior Policy Analyst for NICJR, where she contributes to research efforts on justice policy, gun violence reduction, and the violence intervention work of community-based organizations. In this role, she collects and analyzes relevant data, contributes to publications, and supports advocacy efforts.

Prior to joining NICJR, Rachel worked with the Institute for Justice Research and Development at Florida State University. She supported data collection efforts for prison re-entry programing research, interviewing currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and providing data management and monitoring support. Rachel previously supported interdisciplinary research efforts at Florida State University and University of Missouri for research related to mass shootings, young adult alcohol use, and trauma-informed care. Rachel has also worked with victims of crime, at-risk youth and families, and children and families involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in volunteer, case management, and therapeutic capacities.

Rachel’s experience working with justice-impacted individuals has made her passionate about reducing and healing trauma in the criminal justice system through evidence-based policy and practice. Her research interests are centered around victim-offender overlap, trauma in the criminal justice system, and translational criminology.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, an Master of Science degree in Criminology, and a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University.

Trevariana Mason is the Research and Policy Manager at NICJR. In this role, she oversees a portfolio of qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, and technical assistance projects. Trevariana will also be responsible for coordinating with other teams to ensure the smooth implementation of cross functional projects and effective development of deliverables. She will manage Senior Policy Analysts and Policy Analysts on projects and will serve as the supervisor for Policy Analysts and interns.

Trevariana is passionate about providing visibility for disadvantaged populations through research. To this end, her research career has focused on community policing, incarceration and social networks, women in prison, and marginalized groups’ experiences of police encounters and court proceedings. Through this work, Trevariana has developed a strong commitment to promoting community-based violence prevention, alternatives to incarceration, and opportunities for community healing.

Prior to NICJR, she served as a Research Associate at the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, where she oversaw the design and implementation of research projects focused on the wellbeing of system-impacted Black women and girls. Previously, as a Research Associate at Measures for Justice, Trevariana directed the implementation of quantitative research strategies and county-level data coding projects as well as oversaw performance and workload measures, decision point analyses, data publication, and community engagement. She also previously served as a Program Coordinator for the Ingham County Family Dependency Treatment Court, where she encouraged healing and strengthening of families.

Trevariana holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal and Social Justice from Central Michigan University. Her master thesis, entitled “Strategies Used by African Americans During Police Encounters and Their Effect on ‘The Talk’ Given to Black Children,” was published in 2017 at Michigan State University.

Tara de Bortnowsky is a Violence Reduction Administrative Coordinator at NICJR. In this role, she helps to organize, coordinate, and support project management for NICJR violence reduction trainings and technical assistance.

Prior to joining NICJR, Tara served as a Programs Assistant for the Ventura County Community Foundation, where she supported both the Scholarship Director and Chief Compliance Officer. In this role she prepared grants for disbursement, tracked and managed awards and reports, and acted as a liaison between students, fundholders, volunteers, and the foundation. Tara is certified in Fiduciary Essentials for Foundations and Endowments, Blackbaud Nonprofit Databases, and Fusion Labs Grants Management software.

Tara is a graduate of Seattle University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and International Studies, with an emphasis on decolonial literature.

Tionee Drumwright is the Violence Reduction Administrative Coordinator for the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network. In this role, she leverages her extensive administrative skills and experience to support NICJR’s operations and enhance the organization’s impact in the field.

Previously, Tionee served as Operations Assistant at Special Olympics Maryland, where she coordinated day-to-day operations, managed communications, and provided crucial support to athletes and staff. This experience was instrumental in shaping her approach to administrative coordination, allowing her to refine her organizational skills and gain valuable insights into effective operational practices.

In transitioning from Special Olympics Maryland to NICJR, Tionee is dedicated to leveraging her expertise to drive positive change within the criminal justice system. Her background in supporting a large and dynamic organization has equipped her with the skills necessary to excel in her current role, where she continues to make a meaningful impact through her commitment to justice reform and organizational excellence.

Tracie Campbell is the NOVPN Program Manager at NICJR. In this role, she provides technical assistance to NOVPN members and supports other innovative initiatives related to gun violence. Tracie is a seasoned public health and human services professional with more than two decades of experience working with diverse populations to leverage resources and optimize collective impact. She is committed to improving health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities impacted by violence.

Prior to NICJR, Tracie was the Senior Health Manager for the Office of Violence Prevention within Mecklenburg County Public Health. In this role, she served as a subject matter expert on the local, state, and federal levels and led the authoring of The Way Forward, the Mecklenburg County Community Violence Strategic Plan, which set a path for multi-sector collaboration to prevent community violence in Mecklenburg County. Tracie coordinated all countywide initiatives to reduce community violence in alignment with The Way Forward, including leading the multi-disciplinary Violence Prevention Data Collaborative and co-founding the Carolina Violence Prevention Collaborative. Additionally, Tracie worked to support community-based organizations through the establishment of Peacekeepers Academy, which provided technical assistance, organizational resiliency training, and financial assistance for CBOs working to reduce violence. Tracie centered the youth voice and gathered recommendations for various stakeholders with the creation of the 100 Youth Advisory Council and served as project manager for three Alternative to Violence (community violence intervention) Sites throughout the County.

Tracie is an Adjunct Instructor at North Carolina Central University in the Public Health Department. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist who holds a Master of Science degree in Human Services and Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. Tracie is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health degree.

William McCoy serves as NICJR’s Bay Area Initiatives Coordinator and as a Student and Family Support Specialist for Dublin Unified School District. He is passionate about improving the lives of system-involved youth and adults through culturally relevant interventions, transformative mentoring, and collaborative strategies.

William is a dedicated professional with two decades of experience working with high-risk youth and families, specializing in violence prevention, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice practices. His journey began as a program participant in Project Choice, where he discovered the power of personal transformation. He then dedicated himself to supporting other youth through volunteer roles with organizations like The Positive Minds Group and Transformative Manhood Group, focusing on cognitive behavioral interventions and mentorship. William further honed his skills as a Youth Service Coordinator and Administrative Assistant for Pathways to Change, gaining experience in case management, reentry services, and community outreach.

William has received extensive training in violence intervention and prevention, trauma response, and conflict resolution, and he has worked within various settings, including juvenile justice centers, community centers, and public schools. His personal and professional journey, rooted in his own experiences as a system-involved youth, fuels his commitment to reducing incarceration and violence and enhancing equity within educational and justice systems.

Yolanda Cerezo is a Policy Analyst at NICJR, where she contributes to research efforts on justice policy, gun violence reduction, and the violence intervention work of community-based organizations. Yolanda is passionate about advancing criminal justice reform that is equitable and restorative, and she is committed to creating positive, systemic change for vulnerable populations. Throughout her educational journey and professional career, she has been deeply engaged in restorative justice initiatives.

Prior to joining NICJR, Yolanda served as a Housing Specialist and Policy and Advocacy Fellow at Sanctuary of Hope, a Los Angeles-based youth development, human service, and leadership development organization dedicated to serving transition-age youth, including those impacted by the justice system. In this role, she worked to build strong relationships with government agencies, community landlords, and key stakeholders to create housing opportunities for unhoused youth.

Yolanda holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs. While earning this degree, Yolanda served as a Policy Analyst Intern at NICJR, contributing to projects like landscape analyses and cost of violence studies. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a focus in Law and Society and a minor in Education Studies from the University of California, San Diego. While at UC San Diego, Yolanda led a research project at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Hall focusing on factors influencing the well-being of incarcerated youth. She also interned at the Children’s Law Center, assisting AB12 attorneys with case management and gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges facing youth in the legal system.

David Muhammad is a leader in the fields of violence reduction, youth development, and criminal justice reform. David is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. 

Through NICJR, David provides leadership and technical assistance to gun violence reduction strategies (GVRS) in cities across the country. In Oakland, David helped lead a partnership of organizations and technical assistance providers that achieved a 50% reduction in shootings and homicides. NICJR’s work in Oakland and David’s own experiences as a justice-involved youth in the city were profiled in the New York Times Magazine in January 2025. In Indianapolis, David led the NICJR team that worked with the City to implement the successful Indianapolis Gun Violence Reduction Strategy. In the first three years after the launch of GVRS (through the end of 2024), Indianapolis saw a 29% reduction in murders and nonfatal shootings.  

David also helped lead development of the national CVI Action Plan, which set out a groundbreaking, community-led vision for the field of community violence intervention. 

David’s prior experience leading nonprofit organizations includes serving as the first Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) in Los Angeles. ARC has grown to become one of the largest and most prominent service providers and policy advocacy organizations for the formerly incarcerated in California. He also previously served as Executive Director of The Mentoring Center in Oakland. During his tenure there, David was contracted by the City of Richmond, CA, to help design the Office of Neighborhood Safety, which has since been credited with bringing significant violence reductions to the city.

David has worked to implement positive youth development into youth justice systems around the country. For three years, he was extensively involved in developing a detailed reform plan for the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the largest probation department in the country. He also served as the technical assistance provider for the Sierra Health Foundation’s Positive Youth Justice Initiative, providing training and consulting to several California probation departments.

David has also supported justice system reform as a monitor in several jurisdictions. He was the federal court appointed monitor overseeing reforms in the Illinois juvenile justice system in the MH v. Monreal Consent Decree. He was also the federal monitor in the Morales Settlement Agreement, which requires the Illinois Parole Review Board and the Illinois Department of Corrections to reform its parole system. In addition, for six years David was a member of the Antelope Valley Monitoring Team, which is charged with monitoring the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department’s implementation of a federal Settlement Agreement. He has also served as an expert witness in numerous juvenile and criminal justice federal lawsuits.

David also spent nearly a decade leading justice agencies in three major jurisdictions: He is the former Chief Probation Officer of Alameda County, CA (Oakland); he was the Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation; and he served as the Chief of Committed Services for Washington, DC's juvenile justice agency, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.

A graduate of Howard University’s School of Communications, David has an extensive journalism career and has authored numerous op-ed articles in prominent media outlets, including the Washington Post, LA Times, Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, and many others. David also completed a course on “Systems Dynamics for Senior Managers” at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, MA. In August of 2008, David completed a certificate program on Juvenile Justice Multi-System Integration at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.

Diana Dahl is NICJR’s Director of Development and Operations. By ensuring high quality deliverables, igniting operational efficiencies, impacting key partnerships, and building organizational capacity, Diana’s leadership and expertise helps to advance NICJR’s sustainability and mission impact. She brings 18 years of experience leading nonprofits and small businesses serving historically marginalized and underserved populations across a wide variety of human service domains, including education, health, and justice.

Diana’s leadership centers on big picture visioning paired with the development of deliberate processes and relationships; data-driven decision-making that allows freedom to take reasonable risks required for innovation; an intentional balance of supporting yet challenging institutional systems; and active curiosity and inquiry as tools to enhance operational productivity, service quality, and team dynamics.

Prior to joining the NICJR team, Diana led Development, Marketing, and Operations for Resource Development Associates, a California-based consulting firm dedicated to social justice and equity. Diana led efforts to ensure a sustainable pipeline of mission-aligned work, tripling proposal development while increasing the organization’s award rate. She also provided oversight and quality assurance for grant services contracts, including grant writing that was awarded over $108 million for clients across California.

As former Executive Director of Middle Park Medical Foundation in Colorado, Diana tripled the Foundation’s service area and increased its giving tenfold. She developed what has become the largest fundraising event of its kind in the county, and she collaborated with other local leaders to design and seek funding to integrate mental health care into primary care and hospital settings, resulting in the largest mental health grant ever awarded in the county.

Within four years of development work in Philadelphia at ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania, Diana brought in over $25 million to build organizational capacity and expand learning programs within their PreK-12 bilingual school system. She designed summer work programs for middle and high school youth that resulted in 1st and 3rd place awards from Philadelphia’s citywide WorkReady system and she played a key role in acquiring two school management contracts totaling $100 million over five years.

Diana holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Pennsylvania State University. She is also a graduate of Community Resource Center’s Nonprofit Leadership Development Program; the Special District Association of Colorado’s Leadership Fellowship focused on executive roles and ethics; and completed a Practitioner Inquiry Fellowship with the National Afterschool Matters Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Mikaela Rabinowitz is the Director of Data and Research at NICJR. She supervises NICJR’s team of Policy Analysts as they complete research and data analysis in criminal and juvenile justice, youth development, and violence reduction.

Mikaela is a long-time social science researcher who believes that rigorous investigation can help drive more just and equitable public policy. Prior to joining NICJR, she held a number of policy, research, and advocacy positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Until July 2022, she served as the Director of Data, Research, and Analytics for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office under DA Chesa Boudin. In this role, she was responsible for establishing a research agenda aligned with the office’s strategic priorities and policy initiatives and overseeing the implementation of this agenda through internal projects and partnerships with academic and nonprofit research organizations. As part of the DA’s senior leadership team, Mikaela was part of an unprecedented effort to reduce the footprint of the criminal justice system in San Francisco, while increasing the infrastructure for diversion and restorative justice.

Mikaela is also an advocate for improving the quality, uniformity, and transparency of criminal justice data. To this end, she has been involved in local, state, and national criminal justice data transparency efforts, including the BJA-sponsored Justice Counts initiative and the recently signed Justice Data Accountability and Transparency Act in California.

In 2021, Mikaela published her first book, Incarceration without Conviction: Pretrial Detention and the Erosion of Innocence in American Criminal Justice with Routledge Press. Based on the results of a mixed-methods analysis of pretrial detention in Cook County, IL, she argues that the Supreme Court’s increasingly narrow interpretations of the presumption of innocence and due process protections for pretrial defendants, and the corresponding increase in pretrial detention, have fundamentally undermined the meaning and value of innocence in the criminal justice system.

Mikaela holds a PhD in Sociology from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in African American Studies from Columbia University.

Shantay Jackson is the Director of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN) at NICJR. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic evolution of the Network’s support to offices of violence prevention, including growing its membership, cultivating a leadership pipeline, coordinating with national training and technical assistance (TTA) partners, and assisting with the jurisdictional institutionalization of offices. Shantay is passionate about advocating for social justice issues, including procedural justice, restorative practices, and education.

Prior to NICJR, Shantay served as Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement in Baltimore City. As a member of Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s Cabinet, she was responsible for addressing violence as a public health issue; serving as the accountability partner for all city agencies and local, state, and federal partners; delivering public safety policy recommendations; and conducting meaningful engagement with Baltimore City’s neighborhoods in the work of co-producing public safety.

Before dedicating her life to public service, Shantay spent almost 20 years in the private sector as the Assistant Vice President of Global Solutions and Technology at T. Rowe Price Associates and a Principal at Brown Advisory. After the Baltimore uprising in 2015, Shantay left corporate America and became Executive Director of the Baltimore Community Mediation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing interpersonal conflict and community violence in Baltimore City by increasing the use of non-violent conflict resolution strategies. During her time there, she expanded the organization’s reach by rolling out a Police and Community Program, introduced community listening tours, and provided moderation and facilitation services to grassroots organizations and city agencies. This work led to her federal appointment as Community Engagement Liaison for the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Consent Decree. Shantay also previously worked as Chief Operating Officer for the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Leadership and is the Founder and CEO of EVOLVE to Lead, an organizational leadership development consultancy.

Shantay’s background in the private sector, coupled with her nonprofit experience and personal lived experiences, enable her to authentically and seamlessly navigate political, private, and non-governmental arenas. She is often called upon by local, state, and national partners to share her philosophies associated with leadership, change, violence prevention, and police/community relations. Notably, this includes serving as Baltimore’s representative for the White House Community Violence Intervention Collaborative, providing funding recommendations for violence prevention to Baltimore City’s Congressional Delegation, meeting with members of the Maryland Governor’s executive team, and speaking to members of the Maryland Judiciary on transformative change for organizations and strategies for data evaluation when serving the community. Most recently, Shantay was honored by Black Girls Vote and Radio One for her work as a woman in the political sphere.

Shantay attended Villa Julie College, majoring in Computer Information Systems. She is a certified mediator and large-group facilitator, licensed consultant through the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, certified scrum master, and project management professional. She is also certified to conduct a host of organizational development trainings.

Keiland Henderson serves as the Violence Reduction Associate Director at NICJR where he coordinates and manages the communication, technical assistance, and training for jurisdictions NICJR is supporting to develop Gun Violence Reduction Strategies (GVRS). This includes supporting the cities that are members of the National Offices of Violence Prevention. He also conducts ongoing research and writes reports on gun violence reduction.

Prior to joining NICJR, Keiland worked as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) where he played a crucial role in implementing a city-wide violence reduction strategy. He also served as a Violence Interrupter and Outreach Supervisor; supervising a team of life coaches and case managers.

Prior to OVP, he worked as the Executive Director for the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network and with Faith-Based Solutions; working for over ten years in nonprofit management, business development and community outreach.

He currently serves on Delta College’s Pathway to Law Advisory Board, San Joaquin County’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission and is an inaugural graduate of NICJR’s Professionals of Color Fellowship.

Hilary Bass is the Senior Manager of Bay Area Initiatives at NICJR. In this role, she manages NICJR’s projects and direct service programs in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Neighborhood Opportunity and Accountability Board (NOAB) Initiative. Hilary is a dynamic public sector leader with a proven track record in driving results through innovative public safety initiatives, community development, and strategic collaboration. Known for her expertise in creative placemaking and community engagement, Hilary is dedicated to establishing vibrant public spaces and improved public systems that foster positive societal change and long-term improvements in public safety.

Prior to NICJR, Hilary served as Executive Director of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs’ Activities League (DSAL), leading the development and daily oversight of the organization. Under her leadership, DSAL grew to become a 70-person organization with a nearly $3 million budget. Over the course of 12 years, she secured over $30 million in funding for impactful community-based projects, shaping outcomes in public safety, public health, and economic and community development. Her efforts with DSAL included working from within the Sheriff’s Office to develop a hyper-local food system in Alameda County as a strategy to address economic development for the reentry community while simultaneously reducing food insecurity and increasing health outcomes for thousands of county residents. Her work also included the development of a free athletics department serving the low-income youth and families of unincorporated Alameda County as a strategy to prevent crime by building healthy people. Additionally, she brought in resources for local community development initiatives such as murals on 11 facades of small businesses to make neighborhoods safer and help the business community thrive. Through all of this work, she has developed strong expertise in operations, program development, and fundraising as well as excellent skills in building positive relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Hilary holds a degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from Boston University and was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 as an Emerging Leader.

Trevariana Mason is the Research and Policy Manager at NICJR. In this role, she oversees a portfolio of qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, and technical assistance projects. Trevariana will also be responsible for coordinating with other teams to ensure the smooth implementation of cross functional projects and effective development of deliverables. She will manage Senior Policy Analysts and Policy Analysts on projects and will serve as the supervisor for Policy Analysts and interns.

Trevariana is passionate about providing visibility for disadvantaged populations through research. To this end, her research career has focused on community policing, incarceration and social networks, women in prison, and marginalized groups’ experiences of police encounters and court proceedings. Through this work, Trevariana has developed a strong commitment to promoting community-based violence prevention, alternatives to incarceration, and opportunities for community healing.

Prior to NICJR, she served as a Research Associate at the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, where she oversaw the design and implementation of research projects focused on the wellbeing of system-impacted Black women and girls. Previously, as a Research Associate at Measures for Justice, Trevariana directed the implementation of quantitative research strategies and county-level data coding projects as well as oversaw performance and workload measures, decision point analyses, data publication, and community engagement. She also previously served as a Program Coordinator for the Ingham County Family Dependency Treatment Court, where she encouraged healing and strengthening of families.

Trevariana holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal and Social Justice from Central Michigan University. Her master thesis, entitled “Strategies Used by African Americans During Police Encounters and Their Effect on ‘The Talk’ Given to Black Children,” was published in 2017 at Michigan State University.

Amy Arthur is NICJR’s Content Development Specialist. Amy is passionate about harnessing the power of the written word to fund innovative programming and accessibly communicate research to decisionmakers and the communities they serve. A seasoned writer and editor with more than eight years of experience developing winning grant proposals and RFP responses, Amy’s writing has led to grant awards totaling more than $122 million from foundations and city, state, and federal entities.

As NICJR’s lead writer and editor, Amy partners with staff across the organization to craft compelling proposals, communicate progress to funders, and develop reports and other deliverables that disseminate NICJR’s research and share lessons learned from the implementation of direct service initiatives such as the Neighborhood Opportunity and Accountability Board.

Prior to joining the NICJR team, Amy served as Associate Director of Business Development for Resource Development Associates, a California-based consulting firm dedicated to social justice and equity. At RDA, she bolstered organizational sustainability and growth by leading the competitive proposal development process. She also led grant writing and fund development capacity building contracts with numerous government and nonprofit agencies. Prior to joining RDA, Amy managed fundraising and communications for Rebuilding Together San Francisco and worked as a member of the development and communications team for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, where she developed winning proposals both for property acquisition and funding for new construction and critical home repair.

Amy holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Poetry from Johns Hopkins University. Before entering the nonprofit sector, Amy taught composition and creative writing at Hopkins University and Goucher College. She also served as an Editorial Assistant for the Hopkins Review and as Summer Director of the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference. Her poems and literary criticism have appeared in the Birmingham Poetry Review, Measure: A Review of Formal Poetry, Literary Matters, Blackbird, and elsewhere.

Emmanuel Hernández is a Violence Reduction Project Manager for NICJR. In this role, he works with the Associate Director of Violence Reduction to coordinate and deliver training and technical assistance (TTA) to community-based organizations (CBOs), law enforcement agencies, offices of violence prevention, and other government entities. Emmanuel is passionate about partnering with cities to promote the collaboration of diverse stakeholders and the coordination of violence reduction efforts.

Prior to joining NICJR, Emmanuel worked at the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab as a Qualitative Research Manager for a qualitative study of cognitive behavioral training programs in Chicago. Prior to the Crime Lab, he worked as a Project Coordinator for Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Mexico City, where he managed the development and implementation of a Group Violence Intervention Strategy in Mexico City’s Police Department in collaboration with Yale University, the California Partnership for Safe Communities, Mexico City’s law enforcement and social services agencies, and local nonprofits. Emmanuel also collaborated on the adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of Procedural Justice training for Mexico City’s Police Department. Prior to IPA, Emmanuel worked in the nonprofit sector, advising local governments and conducting participatory research on school and urban violence prevention.

Emmanuel holds a Master in Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago. Currently, he teaches a class on Citizen Security in the Public Space and Urban Mobility Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Isabel Tayag Parker is the Communications and Operations Specialist for NICJR. In this role, she leads the graphic design of violence reduction and justice reform deliverables and content, coordinates and executes communications strategies, and manages the organization’s recruitment process.

Isabel graduated from the University of San Francisco where she received a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology, Law and Society. Prior to joining NICJR, Isabel was a Policy Fellow with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office and Digital Organizing Fellow with Justice Teams Network (JTN), where she supported grassroots organizing efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Isabel also serves as a Project Director for No More Tears (NMT), a violence and crime prevention program founded by incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison. At NMT, Isabel leads the infrastructure and capacity building efforts of the organization as it works to expand its reentry, community, and youth programming.

Isabel’s passion lies at the intersections of media and mass incarceration, and she hopes to help organizations like NICJR shift cultural narratives around crime, policing and incarceration.

Jeremy Page is the Justice Reform Program Manager at NICJR. In this role, he assists in the coordination and management of communication, TA, and training for various juvenile justice initiatives while also supporting NICJR’s participation in local and national advocacy efforts.

Jeremy is a leader whose mission in life is to move the needle on criminal and juvenile justice reform. He has a deep passion for working with our youth, especially those who are system impacted. Over the last decade, his advocacy career has included working with the child welfare system, system-impacted adults and youth, and those who are impacted by mental health and substance use concerns. These experiences contribute to Jeremy’s philosophy around prevention and intervention within the justice system, alternatives to incarceration, and reducing recidivism.

Before joining NICJR, Jeremy served first as a Bail Disruptor and then as Operations Manager for the Ohio sites of The Bail Project (TBP). In addition to working on the front lines, he led two teams to secure the freedom of over 2,000 individuals in the State of Ohio who were detained pretrial. He also ensured the coordination of services to support court return and eventual case closure. In his work with TBP, Jeremy utilized qualitative and quantitative data to encourage stakeholders to shift practices regarding the use of cash bail to better serve the people of Ohio. He also worked with the Ohio Legislature to advocate for statewide bail reform.

Previously, Jeremy worked as a Family Service Worker with Hamilton County Job and Family Services, providing case planning services for families who were involved with the child welfare system. He later transitioned to a Child-Specific Recruiter role within the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, where he worked to establish permanency for children in the custody of the county.

Jeremy is an alumnus of Northern Kentucky University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Social Work, and Eastern Kentucky University, where he received his Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Policy and Leadership with a concentration in Juvenile Justice. He is a graduate of the Urban League African American Leadership Development Program Class 28 and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Jeremy recently completed a year-long fellowship with Feedback Labs as a Feedback Champion.

Paty Garcia Iruegas is NICJR’s Violence Prevention Program and Project Manager. In this role, she works with the NICJR Executive Director to develop and implement the Violence Reduction Management Institute and Violence Reduction Research and Practice Network. The Institute provides training and coaching to current and aspiring leaders of violence reduction efforts across the country. The Violence Reduction Research and Practice Network, created in partnership with Princeton University, facilitates exchange and dialogue between academics, researchers, practitioners, and others in the fields of violence reduction and criminal justice reform. Paty is passionate about applying a holistic city planning perspective to this work, through which she views cities as interconnected systems that must collaborate to address complex issues such as gun violence.

Before joining NICJR, Paty was a Research Associate with the California Partnership for Safe Communities (CPSC), where she supported technical assistance to the cities of Oakland, Indianapolis, and Baltimore. Additionally, she collaborated on expanding the CPSC’s work on the impact of political governance and effective management in violence reduction strategies. Prior to that, she worked as a Project Coordinator for Innovations for Poverty Action, where she led a Gun Violence Reduction Strategy in collaboration with Yale University, the CPSC, and various governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations in Mexico City.

Paty holds a Master in City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.

Hilary Bass is the Senior Manager of Bay Area Initiatives at NICJR. In this role, she manages NICJR’s projects and direct service programs in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Neighborhood Opportunity and Accountability Board (NOAB) Initiative. Hilary is a dynamic public sector leader with a proven track record in driving results through innovative public safety initiatives, community development, and strategic collaboration. Known for her expertise in creative placemaking and community engagement, Hilary is dedicated to establishing vibrant public spaces and improved public systems that foster positive societal change and long-term improvements in public safety.

Prior to NICJR, Hilary served as Executive Director of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs’ Activities League (DSAL), leading the development and daily oversight of the organization. Under her leadership, DSAL grew to become a 70-person organization with a nearly $3 million budget. Over the course of 12 years, she secured over $30 million in funding for impactful community-based projects, shaping outcomes in public safety, public health, and economic and community development. Her efforts with DSAL included working from within the Sheriff’s Office to develop a hyper-local food system in Alameda County as a strategy to address economic development for the reentry community while simultaneously reducing food insecurity and increasing health outcomes for thousands of county residents. Her work also included the development of a free athletics department serving the low-income youth and families of unincorporated Alameda County as a strategy to prevent crime by building healthy people. Additionally, she brought in resources for local community development initiatives such as murals on 11 facades of small businesses to make neighborhoods safer and help the business community thrive. Through all of this work, she has developed strong expertise in operations, program development, and fundraising as well as excellent skills in building positive relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Hilary holds a degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from Boston University and was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 as an Emerging Leader.

Darcell Harrison is the Violence Reduction Program Coordinator for NICJR. For more than 17 years, Darcell has worked on the frontlines of violence reduction, re-entry, and youth development. Darcell has served in several capacities, including mentor, case manager, life coach, violence interrupter, youth workshop facilitator and he has spent several years as a Life Coach supervisor in Oakland’s successful Gun Violence Reduction Strategy. Prior to coming to NICJR, Darcell served as Program Supervisor at Community and Youth Outreach in Oakland.

Darcell has been directly impacted by violence and the criminal justice system, having been seriously injured as a victim of violence and having been formerly incarcerated. For nearly two decades, Darcell has been an example and source of inspiration for others through his personal transformation and his exceptional work as a mentor, violence intervention specialist, and supervisor.

At NICJR, Darcell provides leadership, training, and technical assistance for organizations across the country. He leads Life Coaching and violence intervention training as well as supervises a team of Life Coaches in the Bay Area.

Kimberly Thomas is a Senior Life Coach within NICJR’s Neighbourhood Opportunity and Accountability Board program, where her profound lived experience and certification in Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavior Life Coaching enable her to effectively guide youth and their parents. In this role, she manages intake of youth referrals; organizes NOAB hearings; connects youth, families, and victims to community-based services and interventions; coordinates with service providers to track youth outcomes and achievement; and provides one-on-one support to NOAB participants. 

Kimberly is a forward-thinking and strategic leader dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities through personal growth, skill development, and employment initiatives. She excels at identifying the root drivers of unhealthy behavior and collaboratively establishing goals and strategies that foster healthier life paths. Previously, Kimberly served as Director of the Dig Deep Farms Food Hub, where she spearheaded the creation of comprehensive soft skills training programs for reentering individuals. She also oversaw daily operations, managed staff needs, and served as a compelling public role model in community outreach. Kimberly's leadership was instrumental in trainees' success, with participants excelling in their on-the-job experience and, significantly, many securing full-time employment—thus breaking cycles of recidivism. 

Kimberly possesses a diverse skill set, including certifications in Urban Farming and Permaculture Design, that have enabled her to forge meaningful connections and drive positive change. Her dedication to continuous learning and her expertise in counseling and public engagement position her as an invaluable asset to NICJR's NOAB program.

William McCoy serves as NICJR’s Bay Area Initiatives Coordinator and as a Student and Family Support Specialist for Dublin Unified School District. He is passionate about improving the lives of system-involved youth and adults through culturally relevant interventions, transformative mentoring, and collaborative strategies.

William is a dedicated professional with two decades of experience working with high-risk youth and families, specializing in violence prevention, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice practices. His journey began as a program participant in Project Choice, where he discovered the power of personal transformation. He then dedicated himself to supporting other youth through volunteer roles with organizations like The Positive Minds Group and Transformative Manhood Group, focusing on cognitive behavioral interventions and mentorship. William further honed his skills as a Youth Service Coordinator and Administrative Assistant for Pathways to Change, gaining experience in case management, reentry services, and community outreach.

William has received extensive training in violence intervention and prevention, trauma response, and conflict resolution, and he has worked within various settings, including juvenile justice centers, community centers, and public schools. His personal and professional journey, rooted in his own experiences as a system-involved youth, fuels his commitment to reducing incarceration and violence and enhancing equity within educational and justice systems.

David Muhammad is a leader in the fields of violence reduction, youth development, and criminal justice reform. David is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. 

Through NICJR, David provides leadership and technical assistance to gun violence reduction strategies (GVRS) in cities across the country. In Oakland, David helped lead a partnership of organizations and technical assistance providers that achieved a 50% reduction in shootings and homicides. NICJR’s work in Oakland and David’s own experiences as a justice-involved youth in the city were profiled in the New York Times Magazine in January 2025. In Indianapolis, David led the NICJR team that worked with the City to implement the successful Indianapolis Gun Violence Reduction Strategy. In the first three years after the launch of GVRS (through the end of 2024), Indianapolis saw a 29% reduction in murders and nonfatal shootings.  

David also helped lead development of the national CVI Action Plan, which set out a groundbreaking, community-led vision for the field of community violence intervention. 

David’s prior experience leading nonprofit organizations includes serving as the first Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) in Los Angeles. ARC has grown to become one of the largest and most prominent service providers and policy advocacy organizations for the formerly incarcerated in California. He also previously served as Executive Director of The Mentoring Center in Oakland. During his tenure there, David was contracted by the City of Richmond, CA, to help design the Office of Neighborhood Safety, which has since been credited with bringing significant violence reductions to the city.

David has worked to implement positive youth development into youth justice systems around the country. For three years, he was extensively involved in developing a detailed reform plan for the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the largest probation department in the country. He also served as the technical assistance provider for the Sierra Health Foundation’s Positive Youth Justice Initiative, providing training and consulting to several California probation departments.

David has also supported justice system reform as a monitor in several jurisdictions. He was the federal court appointed monitor overseeing reforms in the Illinois juvenile justice system in the MH v. Monreal Consent Decree. He was also the federal monitor in the Morales Settlement Agreement, which requires the Illinois Parole Review Board and the Illinois Department of Corrections to reform its parole system. In addition, for six years David was a member of the Antelope Valley Monitoring Team, which is charged with monitoring the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department’s implementation of a federal Settlement Agreement. He has also served as an expert witness in numerous juvenile and criminal justice federal lawsuits.

David also spent nearly a decade leading justice agencies in three major jurisdictions: He is the former Chief Probation Officer of Alameda County, CA (Oakland); he was the Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation; and he served as the Chief of Committed Services for Washington, DC's juvenile justice agency, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.

A graduate of Howard University’s School of Communications, David has an extensive journalism career and has authored numerous op-ed articles in prominent media outlets, including the Washington Post, LA Times, Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, and many others. David also completed a course on “Systems Dynamics for Senior Managers” at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, MA. In August of 2008, David completed a certificate program on Juvenile Justice Multi-System Integration at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.

Dr. Mikaela Rabinowitz is the Director of Data and Research at NICJR. She supervises NICJR’s team of Policy Analysts as they complete research and data analysis in criminal and juvenile justice, youth development, and violence reduction.

Mikaela is a long-time social science researcher who believes that rigorous investigation can help drive more just and equitable public policy. Prior to joining NICJR, she held a number of policy, research, and advocacy positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Until July 2022, she served as the Director of Data, Research, and Analytics for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office under DA Chesa Boudin. In this role, she was responsible for establishing a research agenda aligned with the office’s strategic priorities and policy initiatives and overseeing the implementation of this agenda through internal projects and partnerships with academic and nonprofit research organizations. As part of the DA’s senior leadership team, Mikaela was part of an unprecedented effort to reduce the footprint of the criminal justice system in San Francisco, while increasing the infrastructure for diversion and restorative justice.

Mikaela is also an advocate for improving the quality, uniformity, and transparency of criminal justice data. To this end, she has been involved in local, state, and national criminal justice data transparency efforts, including the BJA-sponsored Justice Counts initiative and the recently signed Justice Data Accountability and Transparency Act in California.

In 2021, Mikaela published her first book, Incarceration without Conviction: Pretrial Detention and the Erosion of Innocence in American Criminal Justice with Routledge Press. Based on the results of a mixed-methods analysis of pretrial detention in Cook County, IL, she argues that the Supreme Court’s increasingly narrow interpretations of the presumption of innocence and due process protections for pretrial defendants, and the corresponding increase in pretrial detention, have fundamentally undermined the meaning and value of innocence in the criminal justice system.

Mikaela holds a PhD in Sociology from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in African American Studies from Columbia University.

Jeremy Page is the Justice Reform Program Manager at NICJR. In this role, he assists in the coordination and management of communication, TA, and training for various juvenile justice initiatives while also supporting NICJR’s participation in local and national advocacy efforts.

Jeremy is a leader whose mission in life is to move the needle on criminal and juvenile justice reform. He has a deep passion for working with our youth, especially those who are system impacted. Over the last decade, his advocacy career has included working with the child welfare system, system-impacted adults and youth, and those who are impacted by mental health and substance use concerns. These experiences contribute to Jeremy’s philosophy around prevention and intervention within the justice system, alternatives to incarceration, and reducing recidivism.

Before joining NICJR, Jeremy served first as a Bail Disruptor and then as Operations Manager for the Ohio sites of The Bail Project (TBP). In addition to working on the front lines, he led two teams to secure the freedom of over 2,000 individuals in the State of Ohio who were detained pretrial. He also ensured the coordination of services to support court return and eventual case closure. In his work with TBP, Jeremy utilized qualitative and quantitative data to encourage stakeholders to shift practices regarding the use of cash bail to better serve the people of Ohio. He also worked with the Ohio Legislature to advocate for statewide bail reform.

Previously, Jeremy worked as a Family Service Worker with Hamilton County Job and Family Services, providing case planning services for families who were involved with the child welfare system. He later transitioned to a Child-Specific Recruiter role within the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, where he worked to establish permanency for children in the custody of the county.

Jeremy is an alumnus of Northern Kentucky University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Social Work, and Eastern Kentucky University, where he received his Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Policy and Leadership with a concentration in Juvenile Justice. He is a graduate of the Urban League African American Leadership Development Program Class 28 and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Jeremy recently completed a year-long fellowship with Feedback Labs as a Feedback Champion.

Dr. Mikaela Rabinowitz is the Director of Data and Research at NICJR. She supervises NICJR’s team of Policy Analysts as they complete research and data analysis in criminal and juvenile justice, youth development, and violence reduction.

Mikaela is a long-time social science researcher who believes that rigorous investigation can help drive more just and equitable public policy. Prior to joining NICJR, she held a number of policy, research, and advocacy positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Until July 2022, she served as the Director of Data, Research, and Analytics for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office under DA Chesa Boudin. In this role, she was responsible for establishing a research agenda aligned with the office’s strategic priorities and policy initiatives and overseeing the implementation of this agenda through internal projects and partnerships with academic and nonprofit research organizations. As part of the DA’s senior leadership team, Mikaela was part of an unprecedented effort to reduce the footprint of the criminal justice system in San Francisco, while increasing the infrastructure for diversion and restorative justice.

Mikaela is also an advocate for improving the quality, uniformity, and transparency of criminal justice data. To this end, she has been involved in local, state, and national criminal justice data transparency efforts, including the BJA-sponsored Justice Counts initiative and the recently signed Justice Data Accountability and Transparency Act in California.

In 2021, Mikaela published her first book, Incarceration without Conviction: Pretrial Detention and the Erosion of Innocence in American Criminal Justice with Routledge Press. Based on the results of a mixed-methods analysis of pretrial detention in Cook County, IL, she argues that the Supreme Court’s increasingly narrow interpretations of the presumption of innocence and due process protections for pretrial defendants, and the corresponding increase in pretrial detention, have fundamentally undermined the meaning and value of innocence in the criminal justice system.

Mikaela holds a PhD in Sociology from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in African American Studies from Columbia University.

Trevariana Mason is the Research and Policy Manager at NICJR. In this role, she oversees a portfolio of qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, and technical assistance projects. Trevariana will also be responsible for coordinating with other teams to ensure the smooth implementation of cross functional projects and effective development of deliverables. She will manage Senior Policy Analysts and Policy Analysts on projects and will serve as the supervisor for Policy Analysts and interns.

Trevariana is passionate about providing visibility for disadvantaged populations through research. To this end, her research career has focused on community policing, incarceration and social networks, women in prison, and marginalized groups’ experiences of police encounters and court proceedings. Through this work, Trevariana has developed a strong commitment to promoting community-based violence prevention, alternatives to incarceration, and opportunities for community healing.

Prior to NICJR, she served as a Research Associate at the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, where she oversaw the design and implementation of research projects focused on the wellbeing of system-impacted Black women and girls. Previously, as a Research Associate at Measures for Justice, Trevariana directed the implementation of quantitative research strategies and county-level data coding projects as well as oversaw performance and workload measures, decision point analyses, data publication, and community engagement. She also previously served as a Program Coordinator for the Ingham County Family Dependency Treatment Court, where she encouraged healing and strengthening of families.

Trevariana holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal and Social Justice from Central Michigan University. Her master thesis, entitled “Strategies Used by African Americans During Police Encounters and Their Effect on ‘The Talk’ Given to Black Children,” was published in 2017 at Michigan State University.

Jesslyn Mitchell-Laguna is a Senior Policy Analyst at NICJR. She supports the Policy Team by collecting data and conducting research on policies, programs, strategies, and organizations in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice, youth development, violence reduction, organizational development, and other relevant areas. She writes and contributes to NICJR publications, assists with NICJR advocacy efforts, and supports NICJR community outreach as needed. Jesslyn also manages grants and contracts in support of NICJR’s strategic growth and development by liaising with community partners, government agencies, and other philanthropic entities.

Jesslyn is a fierce proponent of intersectional race, gender, and economic equality. Prior to her work with NICJR, Jesslyn was an educator, researcher, and advocate in the US and abroad. Jesslyn previously worked in Tanzania and Uganda to build coalitions for women’s economic rights at the local, national, and international level. She worked in post-conflict zones where she learned first-hand how societal trauma and systemic poverty affect community violence and crime.

Jesslyn received her Master of Public Policy degree from the Luskin School of Public Affairs with a certificate in International Institutions and Policies. She studied Human Rights Education at Vassar College, where she received her B.A.

Nehali Vishwanath is a Senior Policy Analyst at NICJR. In this role, she manages the Youth Data and Intervention Initiative, an innovative project that focuses on identifying and addressing risk factors for gun violence among youth. She also conducts data analysis and develops reports in support of other NICJR research projects that uplift community-based interventions and policies within criminal justice reform, juvenile justice, and violence reduction.

Before coming to NICJR, Nehali was a Public Affairs Analyst at Becton Dickinson (BD) on their Government Affairs team. While at BD, she developed policy surrounding healthcare safety and technology, maintained their internal communications network, and helped foster a working relationship with government officials.

Nehali is passionate about advancing evidence-based policies and practices that target the underlying social determinants of health in vulnerable populations to sustain long-term improvement in violence-related outcomes.

Nehali holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health Studies from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Health degree from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she was a Bloomberg Fellow.

Rachel Feldhaus is a Senior Policy Analyst for NICJR, where she contributes to research efforts on justice policy, gun violence reduction, and the violence intervention work of community-based organizations. In this role, she collects and analyzes relevant data, contributes to publications, and supports advocacy efforts.

Prior to joining NICJR, Rachel worked with the Institute for Justice Research and Development at Florida State University. She supported data collection efforts for prison re-entry programing research, interviewing currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and providing data management and monitoring support. Rachel previously supported interdisciplinary research efforts at Florida State University and University of Missouri for research related to mass shootings, young adult alcohol use, and trauma-informed care. Rachel has also worked with victims of crime, at-risk youth and families, and children and families involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in volunteer, case management, and therapeutic capacities.

Rachel’s experience working with justice-impacted individuals has made her passionate about reducing and healing trauma in the criminal justice system through evidence-based policy and practice. Her research interests are centered around victim-offender overlap, trauma in the criminal justice system, and translational criminology.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, an Master of Science degree in Criminology, and a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University.

Yolanda Cerezo is a Policy Analyst at NICJR, where she contributes to research efforts on justice policy, gun violence reduction, and the violence intervention work of community-based organizations. Yolanda is passionate about advancing criminal justice reform that is equitable and restorative, and she is committed to creating positive, systemic change for vulnerable populations. Throughout her educational journey and professional career, she has been deeply engaged in restorative justice initiatives.

Prior to joining NICJR, Yolanda served as a Housing Specialist and Policy and Advocacy Fellow at Sanctuary of Hope, a Los Angeles-based youth development, human service, and leadership development organization dedicated to serving transition-age youth, including those impacted by the justice system. In this role, she worked to build strong relationships with government agencies, community landlords, and key stakeholders to create housing opportunities for unhoused youth.

Yolanda holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs. While earning this degree, Yolanda served as a Policy Analyst Intern at NICJR, contributing to projects like landscape analyses and cost of violence studies. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a focus in Law and Society and a minor in Education Studies from the University of California, San Diego. While at UC San Diego, Yolanda led a research project at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Hall focusing on factors influencing the well-being of incarcerated youth. She also interned at the Children’s Law Center, assisting AB12 attorneys with case management and gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges facing youth in the legal system.

Diana Dahl is NICJR’s Director of Development and Operations. By ensuring high quality deliverables, igniting operational efficiencies, impacting key partnerships, and building organizational capacity, Diana’s leadership and expertise helps to advance NICJR’s sustainability and mission impact. She brings 18 years of experience leading nonprofits and small businesses serving historically marginalized and underserved populations across a wide variety of human service domains, including education, health, and justice.

Diana’s leadership centers on big picture visioning paired with the development of deliberate processes and relationships; data-driven decision-making that allows freedom to take reasonable risks required for innovation; an intentional balance of supporting yet challenging institutional systems; and active curiosity and inquiry as tools to enhance operational productivity, service quality, and team dynamics.

Prior to joining the NICJR team, Diana led Development, Marketing, and Operations for Resource Development Associates, a California-based consulting firm dedicated to social justice and equity. Diana led efforts to ensure a sustainable pipeline of mission-aligned work, tripling proposal development while increasing the organization’s award rate. She also provided oversight and quality assurance for grant services contracts, including grant writing that was awarded over $108 million for clients across California.

As former Executive Director of Middle Park Medical Foundation in Colorado, Diana tripled the Foundation’s service area and increased its giving tenfold. She developed what has become the largest fundraising event of its kind in the county, and she collaborated with other local leaders to design and seek funding to integrate mental health care into primary care and hospital settings, resulting in the largest mental health grant ever awarded in the county.

Within four years of development work in Philadelphia at ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania, Diana brought in over $25 million to build organizational capacity and expand learning programs within their PreK-12 bilingual school system. She designed summer work programs for middle and high school youth that resulted in 1st and 3rd place awards from Philadelphia’s citywide WorkReady system and she played a key role in acquiring two school management contracts totaling $100 million over five years.

Diana holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Pennsylvania State University. She is also a graduate of Community Resource Center’s Nonprofit Leadership Development Program; the Special District Association of Colorado’s Leadership Fellowship focused on executive roles and ethics; and completed a Practitioner Inquiry Fellowship with the National Afterschool Matters Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania.

Amy Arthur is NICJR’s Content Development Specialist. Amy is passionate about harnessing the power of the written word to fund innovative programming and accessibly communicate research to decisionmakers and the communities they serve. A seasoned writer and editor with more than eight years of experience developing winning grant proposals and RFP responses, Amy’s writing has led to grant awards totaling more than $122 million from foundations and city, state, and federal entities.

As NICJR’s lead writer and editor, Amy partners with staff across the organization to craft compelling proposals, communicate progress to funders, and develop reports and other deliverables that disseminate NICJR’s research and share lessons learned from the implementation of direct service initiatives such as the Neighborhood Opportunity and Accountability Board.

Prior to joining the NICJR team, Amy served as Associate Director of Business Development for Resource Development Associates, a California-based consulting firm dedicated to social justice and equity. At RDA, she bolstered organizational sustainability and growth by leading the competitive proposal development process. She also led grant writing and fund development capacity building contracts with numerous government and nonprofit agencies. Prior to joining RDA, Amy managed fundraising and communications for Rebuilding Together San Francisco and worked as a member of the development and communications team for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, where she developed winning proposals both for property acquisition and funding for new construction and critical home repair.

Amy holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Poetry from Johns Hopkins University. Before entering the nonprofit sector, Amy taught composition and creative writing at Hopkins University and Goucher College. She also served as an Editorial Assistant for the Hopkins Review and as Summer Director of the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference. Her poems and literary criticism have appeared in the Birmingham Poetry Review, Measure: A Review of Formal Poetry, Literary Matters, Blackbird, and elsewhere.

Brandon Brown is the Graphic Designer at NICJR. In this role, he collaborates with staff to create digital, print, and video products that support criminal justice reform and violence reduction.

Prior to joining NICJR, Brandon served as a Media Designer for the Solid Waste Association of North America, where he led design and branding efforts across campaigns and marketing channels, significantly enhancing the organization’s visual identity and public engagement. Before that, he worked as a photographer specializing in portrait, fashion, and commercial photography.

Brandon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing degree from the University of Houston-Downtown. He is passionate about the creative process of turning abstract ideas into impactful visual experiences that resonate with target audiences.

Ems Schnee is the Operations Manager for NICJR. In this role, they support project team logistics, contract management, and human resources to maintain efficient organizational operations. They bring over nine years of experience in the nonprofit sector with a strong focus on criminal justice reform. Their background reflects a deep commitment to reforming justice systems that unjustly deny individuals fair treatment, particularly as relates to the intersection of race, gender, sexuality, family structure, health, class, and ability.

Before joining NICJR, Ems served as the Senior Grants Specialist for the Aspen Institute, where they honed their expertise in federal grants and project management. Previously, they worked as Development Project Manager and Board Liaison at The Marshall Project, where they managed grants and donor relations and executed quarterly board meetings. Ems also served as Project Coordinator at the International Association of Chiefs of Police, focusing on trauma-informed responses to violence against women and gender-based violence. Additionally, they worked at the Human Rights Campaign as the Community and Volunteer Relations Coordinator, concentrating on volunteer and board member engagement.

Ems holds a Master of Science degree in Justice, Law, and Criminology from American University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ems is excited to leverage their skills in operations, contract management, event coordination, and relationship building to further NICJR’s mission.

Isabel Tayag Parker is the Communications and Operations Specialist for NICJR. In this role, she leads the graphic design of violence reduction and justice reform deliverables and content, coordinates and executes communications strategies, and manages the organization’s recruitment process.

Isabel graduated from the University of San Francisco where she received a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology, Law and Society. Prior to joining NICJR, Isabel was a Policy Fellow with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office and Digital Organizing Fellow with Justice Teams Network (JTN), where she supported grassroots organizing efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Isabel also serves as a Project Director for No More Tears (NMT), a violence and crime prevention program founded by incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison. At NMT, Isabel leads the infrastructure and capacity building efforts of the organization as it works to expand its reentry, community, and youth programming.

Isabel’s passion lies at the intersections of media and mass incarceration, and she hopes to help organizations like NICJR shift cultural narratives around crime, policing and incarceration.

Kyra Leanani Cereola serves as Executive Assistant to the NICJR Executive Director. In this role, they provide administrative support to the Executive Director and general support to the NICJR leadership team and Board of Directors. Kyra is passionate about radical honesty and meeting people where they are, drawing on a background in feminism and disability justice to tailor communication to each team member.

Before joining NICJR, Kyra worked as an Events Coordinator for Disability Voices United, a disability advocacy nonprofit in California. In this role, they successfully organized large-scale virtual and in-person events; provided extensive IT support; and managed the organization’s communications. Kyra also supported legislative advocacy in this role, organizing and implementing meeting protocols that ultimately led to the passage of AB 1147, the Disability, Accountability, and Transparency Act. As a liaison between California legislators and disability community advocates and stakeholders, Kyra facilitated impactful meetings that drove significant policy changes.

Kyra graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Feminist Studies. Their academic research focused on LGBTQIA+ rights, accessibility in infrastructure, racial disparities in education, and the pragmatic applications of Black Feminist Science Fiction.

Nicole  Picard is the Operations and Finance Coordinator for NICJR. In this role, she supports financial operations, grant reporting, and other organizational processes as a part of the NICJR Development and Operations team.

Nicole earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Suffolk University in Boston. Following graduation, she was awarded a fellowship with the Center for Public Management, where she worked with local nonprofits on a variety of projects including research reports, designing community surveys, event management, and more.

Nicole then went on to work in the investment management industry with a focus on operations, finance, and marketing. Throughout that time, she continuously volunteered with community organizations such as Prison Book Programs, Friends of Boston’s Homeless, and local food banks. She currently serves as a volunteer with a local prison, providing direct support to those who are incarcerated. Realizing her passion for criminal justice reform, Nicole joined the team at NICJR to contribute her skills in finance, supporting the mission of working to transform the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Shantay Jackson is the Director of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN) at NICJR. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic evolution of the Network’s support to offices of violence prevention, including growing its membership, cultivating a leadership pipeline, coordinating with national training and technical assistance (TTA) partners, and assisting with the jurisdictional institutionalization of offices. Shantay is passionate about advocating for social justice issues, including procedural justice, restorative practices, and education.

Prior to NICJR, Shantay served as Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement in Baltimore City. As a member of Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s Cabinet, she was responsible for addressing violence as a public health issue; serving as the accountability partner for all city agencies and local, state, and federal partners; delivering public safety policy recommendations; and conducting meaningful engagement with Baltimore City’s neighborhoods in the work of co-producing public safety.

Before dedicating her life to public service, Shantay spent almost 20 years in the private sector as the Assistant Vice President of Global Solutions and Technology at T. Rowe Price Associates and a Principal at Brown Advisory. After the Baltimore uprising in 2015, Shantay left corporate America and became Executive Director of the Baltimore Community Mediation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing interpersonal conflict and community violence in Baltimore City by increasing the use of non-violent conflict resolution strategies. During her time there, she expanded the organization’s reach by rolling out a Police and Community Program, introduced community listening tours, and provided moderation and facilitation services to grassroots organizations and city agencies. This work led to her federal appointment as Community Engagement Liaison for the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Consent Decree. Shantay also previously worked as Chief Operating Officer for the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Leadership and is the Founder and CEO of EVOLVE to Lead, an organizational leadership development consultancy.

Shantay’s background in the private sector, coupled with her nonprofit experience and personal lived experiences, enable her to authentically and seamlessly navigate political, private, and non-governmental arenas. She is often called upon by local, state, and national partners to share her philosophies associated with leadership, change, violence prevention, and police/community relations. Notably, this includes serving as Baltimore’s representative for the White House Community Violence Intervention Collaborative, providing funding recommendations for violence prevention to Baltimore City’s Congressional Delegation, meeting with members of the Maryland Governor’s executive team, and speaking to members of the Maryland Judiciary on transformative change for organizations and strategies for data evaluation when serving the community. Most recently, Shantay was honored by Black Girls Vote and Radio One for her work as a woman in the political sphere.

Shantay attended Villa Julie College, majoring in Computer Information Systems. She is a certified mediator and large-group facilitator, licensed consultant through the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, certified scrum master, and project management professional. She is also certified to conduct a host of organizational development trainings.

Anna Marie Keppel Benson is the SafeStat Program Manager at NICJR. Their work focuses on building standardized, evidence-informed tools that help jurisdictions collect, analyze, and share data to guide CVI programming and demonstrate the impact of these public safety strategies. This includes leading the development and implementation of SafeStat—a case management and data dashboard system designed to strengthen community violence intervention ecosystems. In this role, Anna manages cross-sector partnerships with local offices of violence prevention, community-based organizations, and tech partners. 

Anna is passionate about ending mass incarceration and using technology to address systemic inequities. Their work is grounded in a commitment to opportunity, dignity, and respect for people impacted by incarceration and violence. They believe in community-based systems of support that recognize the full humanity of every person and build safety and stability outside of the justice system. 

Prior to joining NICJR, Anna served as a Senior Curriculum Developer at The Last Mile, designing accessible, engaging web development and coding education programs to prepare justice-impacted individuals for employment opportunities after release. There, Anna’s work focused on creating inclusive and empowering technology education adapted to learners’ lived experience. Anna also brings years of experience working as a software engineer in the tech industry, including roles at AppDynamics/Cisco Systems and SAS that focused on front-end development, statistical analysis, and data visualization. 

Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science with a minor in Political Science from Duke University. 

Deven Ray Rivera is a National Offices of Violence Prevention Network Program Manager at NICJR. In this role, he provides technical assistance to NOVPN members and supports other innovative initiatives related to reducing gun violence.

Deven is passionate about addressing both the prevention and intervention aspects of community violence. His focus has been on ensuring that organizations and institutions work together to tackle root causes while securing the necessary resources to achieve meaningful impact. Before joining NICJR, Deven served as the Community Safety Fund Program Manager at Everytown for Gun Safety, where he managed a multi-million dollar grant program investing in community-based violence intervention and prevention (CVIP) organizations across the US. In this role, he delivered $5.5 million in grants to CVIP organizations across 36 cities. He also provided virtual and in-person convenings, capacity-building initiatives, and advocacy efforts for grantees. Before Everytown, Deven served as the Director of Career Readiness for the Center of Community Alternatives, where he managed multiple projects, including grant operations, a tiered workforce development program for system-involved youth, peer mentorship, and access to sustainable employment. Deven also supported New York’s Raise the Age legislation that increased the minimum age for youth held on Rikers Island to 18 years old.

Deven holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from St. Francis College and a Master of Public Administration degree from John Jay College.

Tionee Drumwright is the Violence Reduction Administrative Coordinator for the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network. In this role, she leverages her extensive administrative skills and experience to support NICJR’s operations and enhance the organization’s impact in the field.

Previously, Tionee served as Operations Assistant at Special Olympics Maryland, where she coordinated day-to-day operations, managed communications, and provided crucial support to athletes and staff. This experience was instrumental in shaping her approach to administrative coordination, allowing her to refine her organizational skills and gain valuable insights into effective operational practices.

In transitioning from Special Olympics Maryland to NICJR, Tionee is dedicated to leveraging her expertise to drive positive change within the criminal justice system. Her background in supporting a large and dynamic organization has equipped her with the skills necessary to excel in her current role, where she continues to make a meaningful impact through her commitment to justice reform and organizational excellence.

Tracie Campbell is the NOVPN Program Manager at NICJR. In this role, she provides technical assistance to NOVPN members and supports other innovative initiatives related to gun violence. Tracie is a seasoned public health and human services professional with more than two decades of experience working with diverse populations to leverage resources and optimize collective impact. She is committed to improving health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities impacted by violence.

Prior to NICJR, Tracie was the Senior Health Manager for the Office of Violence Prevention within Mecklenburg County Public Health. In this role, she served as a subject matter expert on the local, state, and federal levels and led the authoring of The Way Forward, the Mecklenburg County Community Violence Strategic Plan, which set a path for multi-sector collaboration to prevent community violence in Mecklenburg County. Tracie coordinated all countywide initiatives to reduce community violence in alignment with The Way Forward, including leading the multi-disciplinary Violence Prevention Data Collaborative and co-founding the Carolina Violence Prevention Collaborative. Additionally, Tracie worked to support community-based organizations through the establishment of Peacekeepers Academy, which provided technical assistance, organizational resiliency training, and financial assistance for CBOs working to reduce violence. Tracie centered the youth voice and gathered recommendations for various stakeholders with the creation of the 100 Youth Advisory Council and served as project manager for three Alternative to Violence (community violence intervention) Sites throughout the County.

Tracie is an Adjunct Instructor at North Carolina Central University in the Public Health Department. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist who holds a Master of Science degree in Human Services and Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. Tracie is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health degree.

David Muhammad is a leader in the fields of violence reduction, youth development, and criminal justice reform. David is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. 

Through NICJR, David provides leadership and technical assistance to gun violence reduction strategies (GVRS) in cities across the country. In Oakland, David helped lead a partnership of organizations and technical assistance providers that achieved a 50% reduction in shootings and homicides. NICJR’s work in Oakland and David’s own experiences as a justice-involved youth in the city were profiled in the New York Times Magazine in January 2025. In Indianapolis, David led the NICJR team that worked with the City to implement the successful Indianapolis Gun Violence Reduction Strategy. In the first three years after the launch of GVRS (through the end of 2024), Indianapolis saw a 29% reduction in murders and nonfatal shootings.  

David also helped lead development of the national CVI Action Plan, which set out a groundbreaking, community-led vision for the field of community violence intervention. 

David’s prior experience leading nonprofit organizations includes serving as the first Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) in Los Angeles. ARC has grown to become one of the largest and most prominent service providers and policy advocacy organizations for the formerly incarcerated in California. He also previously served as Executive Director of The Mentoring Center in Oakland. During his tenure there, David was contracted by the City of Richmond, CA, to help design the Office of Neighborhood Safety, which has since been credited with bringing significant violence reductions to the city.

David has worked to implement positive youth development into youth justice systems around the country. For three years, he was extensively involved in developing a detailed reform plan for the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the largest probation department in the country. He also served as the technical assistance provider for the Sierra Health Foundation’s Positive Youth Justice Initiative, providing training and consulting to several California probation departments.

David has also supported justice system reform as a monitor in several jurisdictions. He was the federal court appointed monitor overseeing reforms in the Illinois juvenile justice system in the MH v. Monreal Consent Decree. He was also the federal monitor in the Morales Settlement Agreement, which requires the Illinois Parole Review Board and the Illinois Department of Corrections to reform its parole system. In addition, for six years David was a member of the Antelope Valley Monitoring Team, which is charged with monitoring the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department’s implementation of a federal Settlement Agreement. He has also served as an expert witness in numerous juvenile and criminal justice federal lawsuits.

David also spent nearly a decade leading justice agencies in three major jurisdictions: He is the former Chief Probation Officer of Alameda County, CA (Oakland); he was the Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation; and he served as the Chief of Committed Services for Washington, DC's juvenile justice agency, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.

A graduate of Howard University’s School of Communications, David has an extensive journalism career and has authored numerous op-ed articles in prominent media outlets, including the Washington Post, LA Times, Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, and many others. David also completed a course on “Systems Dynamics for Senior Managers” at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, MA. In August of 2008, David completed a certificate program on Juvenile Justice Multi-System Integration at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.

Keiland Henderson serves as the Violence Reduction Associate Director at NICJR where he coordinates and manages the communication, technical assistance, and training for jurisdictions NICJR is supporting to develop Gun Violence Reduction Strategies (GVRS). This includes supporting the cities that are members of the National Offices of Violence Prevention. He also conducts ongoing research and writes reports on gun violence reduction.

Prior to joining NICJR, Keiland worked as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) where he played a crucial role in implementing a city-wide violence reduction strategy. He also served as a Violence Interrupter and Outreach Supervisor; supervising a team of life coaches and case managers.

Prior to OVP, he worked as the Executive Director for the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network and with Faith-Based Solutions; working for over ten years in nonprofit management, business development and community outreach.

He currently serves on Delta College’s Pathway to Law Advisory Board, San Joaquin County’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission and is an inaugural graduate of NICJR’s Professionals of Color Fellowship.

Darcell Harrison is the Violence Reduction Program Coordinator for NICJR. For more than 17 years, Darcell has worked on the frontlines of violence reduction, re-entry, and youth development. Darcell has served in several capacities, including mentor, case manager, life coach, violence interrupter, youth workshop facilitator and he has spent several years as a Life Coach supervisor in Oakland’s successful Gun Violence Reduction Strategy. Prior to coming to NICJR, Darcell served as Program Supervisor at Community and Youth Outreach in Oakland.

Darcell has been directly impacted by violence and the criminal justice system, having been seriously injured as a victim of violence and having been formerly incarcerated. For nearly two decades, Darcell has been an example and source of inspiration for others through his personal transformation and his exceptional work as a mentor, violence intervention specialist, and supervisor.

At NICJR, Darcell provides leadership, training, and technical assistance for organizations across the country. He leads Life Coaching and violence intervention training as well as supervises a team of Life Coaches in the Bay Area.

Emmanuel Hernández is a Violence Reduction Project Manager for NICJR. In this role, he works with the Associate Director of Violence Reduction to coordinate and deliver training and technical assistance (TTA) to community-based organizations (CBOs), law enforcement agencies, offices of violence prevention, and other government entities. Emmanuel is passionate about partnering with cities to promote the collaboration of diverse stakeholders and the coordination of violence reduction efforts.

Prior to joining NICJR, Emmanuel worked at the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab as a Qualitative Research Manager for a qualitative study of cognitive behavioral training programs in Chicago. Prior to the Crime Lab, he worked as a Project Coordinator for Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Mexico City, where he managed the development and implementation of a Group Violence Intervention Strategy in Mexico City’s Police Department in collaboration with Yale University, the California Partnership for Safe Communities, Mexico City’s law enforcement and social services agencies, and local nonprofits. Emmanuel also collaborated on the adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of Procedural Justice training for Mexico City’s Police Department. Prior to IPA, Emmanuel worked in the nonprofit sector, advising local governments and conducting participatory research on school and urban violence prevention.

Emmanuel holds a Master in Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago. Currently, he teaches a class on Citizen Security in the Public Space and Urban Mobility Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Mickeeya Harrison is the Program Manager of Knoxville Peace. In this role, she supervises a team of Violence Intervention Specialists and Life Coaches charged with intensively engaging the small number of individuals in Knoxville who are at the very highest risk of being involved in gun violence. She also serves as the primary contact for Knoxville Peace’s many partners and stakeholders. Mickeeya is thankful for the opportunity to serve the City of Knoxville through Knoxville Peace, working alongside community members, partners, and organizations in the pursuit of peace, justice, and unity.

Mickeeya is a social worker who has dedicated more than 23 years to serving youth and young adults living in East Tennessee. Prior to joining Knoxville Peace, she served young people and their families in East Knoxville through Emerald Youth Foundation's Calling and Career Ministry. Beginning in 2011, she was appointed by Mayor Haslam and Mayor Rogero to serve two consecutive terms on the City of Knoxville’s Neighborhood Advisory Council.

Paty Garcia Iruegas is NICJR’s Violence Prevention Program and Project Manager. In this role, she works with the NICJR Executive Director to develop and implement the Violence Reduction Management Institute and Violence Reduction Research and Practice Network. The Institute provides training and coaching to current and aspiring leaders of violence reduction efforts across the country. The Violence Reduction Research and Practice Network, created in partnership with Princeton University, facilitates exchange and dialogue between academics, researchers, practitioners, and others in the fields of violence reduction and criminal justice reform. Paty is passionate about applying a holistic city planning perspective to this work, through which she views cities as interconnected systems that must collaborate to address complex issues such as gun violence.

Before joining NICJR, Paty was a Research Associate with the California Partnership for Safe Communities (CPSC), where she supported technical assistance to the cities of Oakland, Indianapolis, and Baltimore. Additionally, she collaborated on expanding the CPSC’s work on the impact of political governance and effective management in violence reduction strategies. Prior to that, she worked as a Project Coordinator for Innovations for Poverty Action, where she led a Gun Violence Reduction Strategy in collaboration with Yale University, the CPSC, and various governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations in Mexico City.

Paty holds a Master in City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.

Tara de Bortnowsky is a Violence Reduction Administrative Coordinator at NICJR. In this role, she helps to organize, coordinate, and support project management for NICJR violence reduction trainings and technical assistance.

Prior to joining NICJR, Tara served as a Programs Assistant for the Ventura County Community Foundation, where she supported both the Scholarship Director and Chief Compliance Officer. In this role she prepared grants for disbursement, tracked and managed awards and reports, and acted as a liaison between students, fundholders, volunteers, and the foundation. Tara is certified in Fiduciary Essentials for Foundations and Endowments, Blackbaud Nonprofit Databases, and Fusion Labs Grants Management software.

Tara is a graduate of Seattle University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and International Studies, with an emphasis on decolonial literature.