Dr. Kareem Brown is a dedicated community leader, educator, and advocate with over 16 years of experience serving marginalized and high-risk populations. He currently serves as the Director of Pushing Progress Philly, the City of Philadelphia’s community violence intervention model, where he leads citywide efforts to reduce gun violence and support returning citizens. His work has contributed to a 38% decrease in gun violence in Philadelphia, demonstrating the power of community-led, data-informed solutions.
Formerly, as Director of Interventions in the Philadelphia school system, Kareem developed programs centered on restorative practices, youth development, and systems change. He is passionate about empowering others to lead, especially those impacted by violence and incarceration, and he continues to champion healing, equity, and transformation in every space he enters.
Kareem holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Drexel University, with a research focus on social-emotional learning and trauma-informed care.
Thomas Crees currently serves as the Director of Violence Reduction for St. Louis County, where he leads the countywide implementation of trauma-informed crisis response and community violence intervention strategies. In this role, he works across sectors to align law enforcement, behavioral health systems, and community partners in reducing gun violence and improving public health outcomes.
Prior to his current role, Tom held leadership positions in nonprofit behavioral health and homeless service organizations, where he supported access and continuity of care for underserved populations. He oversaw operations, clinical teams, and street outreach programs, emphasizing integrated care for individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, and behavioral health crises.
Tom previously served nearly a decade in law enforcement, including as the first Homeless Outreach Officer in the St. Louis region and as a Crisis/Hostage Negotiator. In these roles, he helped develop regional crisis response programs and provided direct support to individuals in need. Tom is also a US Army combat veteran, having served with the 101st Airborne Division.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from Webster University and a Professional Certificate in Data Science from Harvard University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University.
Dante Dauz was born and raised in San Diego and is currently the Director of Prevention, Diversion, and Reentry with the County of San Diego. His role primarily involves management of the County’s Alternatives to Incarceration Initiative and the Gun Violence Reduction Program. Both programs demand high levels of planning, engagement, and implementation through comprehensive, collaborative efforts with multiple County justice and health departments, the City of San Diego, law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, faith-based entities, and community leaders.
Prior to this role, Dante served as a Director with the nonprofit Union of Pan Asian Communities for 15 years, developing and overseeing numerous impact programs focused on community violence and gang prevention, crisis response, youth mentoring, business development, social enterprise, supported employment, and neighborhood empowerment.
Dante is well respected, with a reputation for being on the front lines of issues that impact San Diego’s most vulnerable populations. Throughout his career, the heart and motivation of all his work has been providing genuine care, support, advocacy, and empowerment for the community.
Dante received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from San Diego State University and his Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Ariana Donaville serves as Communications Director for the Public Health - Seattle and King County Regional Gun Violence program. In this role, Ariana focuses on communicating the urgent public health crisis gun violence presents and reshaping the narrative around gun violence by amplifying the voices of directly impacted communities through intentional and balanced storytelling.
Ariana is an experienced communications professional who began her communications career in San Francisco, where she developed an impressive client portfolio including numerous Fortune 500 companies and organizations in the tech, government, and healthcare industries.
After graduating with her Master of Science degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications, Ariana continued to grow her client portfolio in Portland, Oregon, with clients in national and local nonprofit, healthcare, and public administration spaces.
Increases in violence during the pandemic, coupled with her lived experience with gun violence, called Ariana to action and redirected her focus to violence prevention efforts. She joined the Public Health - Seattle and King County communications team as the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention liaison in August 2022.
Hailing from Oakland, California, Ariana is a proud University of Oregon double-duck who enjoys serving alongside her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., sisters, practicing yoga, taking long scenic walks, and cheering on her fellow ducks (#GoDucks).
Lili Gamero is a dedicated violence prevention professional with over 11 years of experience in victim advocacy, public safety policy development, and intervention program management. She currently oversees the Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI) for the San Francisco Police Department.
Lili previously worked as a victim advocate with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and as a mayoral public safety advisor under Mayor Edwin M. Lee's administration. Throughout her career, Lili has led key public safety initiatives, strategic partnerships, and community engagement, with a commitment to addressing community violence, fostering community trust, and developing data-driven strategies that reduce harm. She brings a wealth of experience in cross-sector collaboration, trauma-informed care, and policy development.
Darcell Harrison currently serves as Violence Reduction Program Coordinator at the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. At NICJR, Darcell provides leadership, training, and technical assistance for organizations across the country. He also supports a team of Life Coaches in the Bay Area.
For more than 17 years, Darcell has worked on the frontlines of violence reduction, reentry, and youth development. He has served in several capacities, including mentor, case manager, life coach, violence interrupter, and youth workshop facilitator. Prior to joining NICJR, Darcell served as Program Supervisor at Community and Youth Outreach in Oakland. Previously, he spent several years as a Life Coach supervisor in Oakland’s successful Gun Violence Reduction Strategy.
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.
Joshua Jones, Director of Mobile’s first Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program at USA Health, brings a wealth of diverse experience to the role.
Joshua previously served as Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator for the City of Mobile and as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service. Joshua also dedicated six years to the City of Mobile as a Police Officer and contributed eleven years of service as an Officer in the Army National Guard.
With over a decade of experience in law enforcement, Joshua has emerged as a prominent advocate for implementing 21st Century Policing Practices, violence prevention strategies, and community mobilization tactics.
Beyond his professional role, Joshua serves as Treasurer for Mobile United and as a board member of the Helios Alliance. He was a graduate of the 2023 Leadership Mobile Class and a 2017 graduate of Connect Mobile. He is also an active member of the esteemed 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile.
Joshua was honored by Mobile Bay Magazine in 2017 for his outstanding work with the Santa with a Badge initiative, and he was recognized in Mobile Bay’s 40 under 40 class of 2023. Through his multifaceted contributions, Joshua continues to be a driving force for positive change in Mobile.
Joshua is a proud alumnus of the University of South Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2011. He later obtained a Master of Arts degree from Liberty University in 2017. Of all of Joshua’s accomplishments, his most cherished role is that of husband to Dr. Alicia D. Evans and father to Ava Lynn, Eva Rose, and Mia Joi.
Courtney Lange currently resides in Denver, Colorado, where she is a Public Health and Safety Consultant with the Steadman Group; holds a grant funded, part-time position implementing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design for the City of Denver; and serves as a Research Fellow for the Community Justice Action Fund, developing the National Violence Prevention Index.
Courtney’s passions are rooted in violence and criminal legal involvement prevention, especially for underrepresented youth and young adults experiencing high levels of trauma. She has managed programming for the most at-risk youth in the juvenile correction system as well as for youth and adult diversion, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's housing and high-acuity client initiatives, and City youth violence prevention.
Courtney is also a board member for two nonprofits: Restorative Justice Healing Collaborative (a Denver-based Restorative Justice initiative) and Royal Mentoring (a Denver-based mentoring agency for at-risk and criminal-legal involved youth). She originally moved to Denver to obtain a Master's degree in Criminology from the University of Colorado, Denver, specializing in program development, implementation, and evaluation within criminal justice reform efforts.
Outside of work, Courtney is an avid reader, consistent weight lifter, and highly dedicated baseball fan. Most importantly, she is mother to her 12-year-old daughter, Karsyn, and the majority of their free time is dedicated to competitive softball and volleyball. At night, you will find them cuddled up with their 10-year-old German Shepherd, Rogue.
Tony Lopez has served as Deputy Director of Community Violence Reduction for the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) since January 2022. He joined OPHS in February 2020. As Deputy Director, Tony oversees the Indy Peace Program, a partnership between OPHS and the Indy Public Safety Foundation. Indy Peace is one part of the City of Indianapolis Gun Violence Reduction Strategy, which has resulted in a 32% reduction in criminal homicides since the program launched in 2022.
Previously, Tony worked in reentry case management for local nonprofits Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry and Community Alliance of the Far Eastside. Through this work, he was able to provide a variety of services to formerly incarcerated individuals and their families, equipping them to lead productive and responsible lives. Prior to that, Tony worked as a Security Manager for ESG Security, Inc., overseeing both in-house and event security for Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Tony also previously worked for the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC), where he was first assigned as a Correctional Officer at Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility and later promoted to State Parole Agent assigned to Indianapolis Parole District 3. At IDOC, Tony worked on the Indianapolis Parole Accountability Team program, a partnership with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department working with serious violent felons within specific police districts. During his career at IDOC, Tony was a member of the Emergency Response Team and was a certified trainer in Defensive Tactics, Transportation Skills, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, OC/SICDS, and CPR/First Aid.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Ball State University.
Jazzika Matthews is a passionate public safety strategist and servant leader with over 20 years of experience in youth development, community-based violence intervention, and ecosystem coordination. She currently serves as a Project Director at Cure Violence Global, where she leads technical assistance and grant management for national violence reduction efforts.
Jazzika previously directed Safe Hopeful Healthy Baton Rouge, a citywide initiative under the Mayor’s Office that advanced a public health approach to violence prevention through community engagement, mental health support, and high-risk intervention strategies. She is also the founder of PULSE Forward, a dual-entity initiative designed to build community violence intervention capacity and advocacy in the Deep South by equipping grassroots leaders with the tools, training, and policy support needed to sustain their work.
Rooted in her lived experience and driven by purpose, Jazzika brings a collaborative, data-informed, and equity-centered approach to public safety. She is honored to join the Violence Reduction Management Institute to strengthen her ability to lead and support holistic, community-led solutions that save lives and restore hope.
Mercedes Mayers is a Bakersfield native who currently works as the Outreach Program Supervisor in the City of Bakersfield Office of Violence Intervention and Prevention. In this role, she supervises daily intervention outreach services and actively fosters outreach in identified hot spots for violent group-related activity as needed. Her work also includes conducting community outreach and assigning tasks to build strong relationships with high-risk individuals, residents, businesses, and community groups.
Before working for the City of Bakersfield Office of Violence Intervention and Prevention, she served as a project manager for a nonprofit, where she undertook community violence intervention and prevention work with adults and justice-involved youth.
Mercedes is a servant first, and her heart lies within her community. She gives back to others and builds lasting connections. Mercedes actively attends Chester Avenue Community Church as the Women’s Ministry Leader and Fourth through Six-Grade Educational Teacher. She sits as one of the Church Elders (Board Member) and participates in community outreach, food distribution, and prison ministries.
Mercedes holds a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with a collateral field in Chicano Studies. She is actively working toward a Doctoral degree in Management and Organizational Leadership.
Latisha McNeil is a dynamic leader with over 17 years of experience in criminal justice and community safety. She has served as Director of the Community Safety Department for the City of Greensboro since its launch in September 2022. Latisha is passionate about enhancing public safety through community-driven strategies, and she is dedicated to creating safer, more resilient neighborhoods for all. She prioritizes service over enforcement and focuses on the intersectionality of social determinants of health and public safety.
Under her guidance, the Community Safety Department has initiated key programs like the Behavioral Health Response Team, Law Enforcement Assistance Diversion Program, and Violence Prevention Initiative (GSO Peace on Purpose). Latisha also trains law enforcement agencies and communities on collaboration and engagement, fostering a cooperative environment to improve public safety. She consults on civilian oversight for cities nationwide and contributes to the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement under the training committee. Additionally, she has collaborated with the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing on officer retention research and worked with the US Department of Homeland Security on community-police co-production strategies.
Before her current role, Latisha served as a Criminal Justice Administrator for Greensboro, managing the Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission and the Police Community Review Board.
Latisha is a proud graduate of the University of Chicago Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy. Her commitment to community engagement and policy advancement is evident in her active involvement in various boards, including the North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention Advisory Council.
Latisha holds a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with a focus on Police Organizational Studies from the University of Cincinnati. She is a certified law enforcement auditor. Her training spans law enforcement oversight, community violence intervention, leadership, grant writing, and racial equity.
Daniela Medina is the Deputy Chief of Direct Practice in the City of Oakland Department of Violence Prevention, where she leads efforts to reduce community violence through culturally rooted focused deterrence strategies. In her current role, she bridges direct practice with systems-level strategy, ensuring that the voices and needs of impacted communities guide violence prevention efforts.
An Oakland native, Daniela brings over a decade of experience in direct services and systems change focused on healing and safety for historically marginalized communities. Her leadership is shaped by lived experience, a commitment to equity, and a passion for community-led solutions.
Daniela’s previous roles include serving as Associate Director at Berkeley Underground Scholars and Direct Services Supervisor at Community and Youth Outreach. She has also served on multiple boards focused on restorative justice, youth development, and reentry support.
Daniela holds both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Social Welfare degree from the University of California, Berkeley, grounding her work in a strong academic foundation and a deep commitment to public service.
Through the Violence Reduction Management Institute, Daniela looks forward to strengthening cross-sector collaboration and deepening her impact in building safer, more resilient communities.
Shenna Oriabure, LCSW, is the Focused Deterrence Program Manager at the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. She oversees the operational planning, statistical analysis, establishment, execution, and evaluation of the Focused Deterrence Program.
Shenna has spent her career securing resources, resolutions, and hope for individuals and the Dallas County community. Through policy formation, strategic planning, decision making, and organizing, Shenna supports others in the improvement of their quality of life. Her areas of expertise include mental health and program management.
Shenna has been an agent of change employed by Dallas County for 15 years. She has experience in all three components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. Shenna brings the values of making a difference, competent work, reliability and dependability, ethical work, and inclusion to wherever she operates.
Shenna is a continual learner. She is a proud graduate of Sam Houston State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Shenna has been a licensed social worker for 15 years and has earned her clinical certification. She was previously certified by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education as an Advanced Telecommunicator, and she is a certified Moral Reconation Group Therapist.
Shenna is native and current resident of Dallas County. She enjoys photography and spending time with her family.
Rena Shak is a native of Youngstown, Ohio, but she has called central Ohio home for almost two decades. In 2023, Rena was appointed to a cabinet position by Columbus, OH, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, to serve as Director of the Columbus Office of Violence Prevention—the first office of its kind in the State of Ohio. In this role, she coordinates all violence prevention efforts and leads criminal justice policy initiatives for the City of Columbus on behalf of the Mayor.
Rena is committed to working collaboratively with federal, state, and local government partners as well as community organizations and city residents to reduce violence and enhance safety initiatives for all.
A graduate of The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School, Rena dedicated her previous legal career to working in the fields of criminal justice and justice policy, most notably as a tenured public defender, Franklin County judicial candidate, and In-House Counsel and Assistant Policy Director to the Office of Mayor Ginther.
LaToya R. Wilson currently works as a Public Health Administrator with Community Safety within the Behavioral Health and Wellness area of the Nashville Metro Public Health Department overseeing Group Violence Intervention work.
LaToya is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. She is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in public safety, violence mitigation, and community development. With a strong background in law enforcement coordination and cognitive-behavioral interventions, she is committed to fostering safer communities through strategic programming, outreach, and collaboration. Her leadership, analytical skills, and commitment to social change make her a driving force in violence prevention and community transformation.
LaToya previously served as a Program Manager for Violence Mitigation and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions at the Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation, where she designed and implemented evidence-based violence prevention strategies. Notably, she was the first Black woman to acquire this role on the Adult Field Services side and the second woman to be promoted from line staff to a management position. In this role, LaToya worked closely with law enforcement, social service agencies, and community organizations to enhance communication, promote resilience, and reduce risk factors associated with community violence.
Throughout her career, LaToya has held multiple leadership roles in corrections, including Acting Corrections Unit Supervisor, Senior Probation Officer, and Career Probation Officer. She has played a pivotal role in developing and overseeing community corrections programs, managing staff, and advocating for policy enhancements to improve rehabilitation services. She has also shared her expertise as an Adjunct Instructor at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Additionally, she is an expert in training stakeholders on conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques.
LaToya holds a Master of Science degree in Public Safety with a Criminal Justice Specialization from Capella University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Child Psychology from Metropolitan State University.
