Chief Executive Officer |
Craig Berkman - FounderFounder of the Free at Last Coalition, Craig is a successful businessman and longstanding champion of civil rights with a deeply vested interest in the organization. Since 1970, during Vietnam War protests that threatened to polarize the country, Craig has worked with those in power to ensure that basic Constitutional freedoms and rights are guaranteed for all Americans. Through vast connections in the political and business worlds, as well as civic and religious organizations, Craig has diffused tinderbox situations and led opposition to ballot measures discriminating or promoting hate against certain segments of society. He is a champion of all Americans and now is focused on another marginalized group.
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Growing up in a modest setting, he earned a scholarship to Wheaton College in Illinois, then continued his education at UC Berkeley and Lewis and Clark College, earning graduate and law degrees. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army. He went on to create his businesses and built a medical device and tech corporation that became the 182nd largest company in America. Through those successes, he would be asked to sit on several boards of top companies. He was active in politics throughout most of his adult life and once ran for governor of Oregon. He would aid Gov. Tom McCall of Oregon in arranging peaceful protests of the Vietnam War during a national American Legion Convention. It became known as “Operation Tranquility” – Craig’s design. The successful, peaceful meeting of protestors and veterans would earn him praise from all sides. Craig has now taken on the mantle of fighting for those who have been denied their rights in a long-forgotten clause in the Constitution. He has set out to abolish slavery from the language in the 13th Amendment of the United States’ most fundamental and revered document. This comes after serving six years in federal prison on charges of securities fraud. It was during this time that Craig had time to reassess and change direction. After reading an editorial titled “Yep, Slavery is Still Legal,” he knew what his mission should be. He learned that the 13th Amendment carries the clause, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Like all who learn of the clause, he was shocked that language for slavery in any form still existed, and in a document spelling out laws for the beacon of freedom that is the United States. Craig called on his faith to guide him into the future with a mission of freedom for all. That was to act in securing once more the rights and freedoms for those who had surrendered them under terms of incarceration, but who were returning to society after serving their time, becoming free Americans once again. It was also a chance to reunite families and provide for those were tangentially affected by these archaic laws and the idea of one human owning another. Shortly after asking God for guidance, Craig began the mission of the Free at Last Coalition, with its message of peace and forgiveness. He is once again tapping his network of influential men and women to stand up and become involved, petitioning lawmakers to remove the language that allows slavery in any form in the 21st century. |
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Dr. Antonia Coello Novello MD - Co-ChairDr. Antonia Coello Novello was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a B.S. degree in 1965 and an M.D. degree in 1970. She served her pediatric internship and residency in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. She completed her subspecialty training in pediatric nephrology at University of Michigan and Georgetown University. Dr. Novello received a master’s in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1982 and a Doctor of Public health in May 2000. She holds countless awards, including the Legion of Merit, The James Smithson Bicentennial Medal, and the National Governor’s Association Distinguished Service to State Government Award, as well as a membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society and Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to name a few, and over 53 honoris causa. In 2011, Dr. Novello received the Don Quijote Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Dr. Novello entered the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) in 1978 after working in the private practice of pediatrics and nephrology. Her entire USPHS career was spent at the National Institutes of Health, rising to deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. While at NICHD, she chaired HHS Task Force on Pediatric HIV/AIDS, co-chaired the NIH Advisory Committee on Women’s Health Issues, and chaired the USPHS revitalization of the Commissioned Corps. While at NIH, Dr. Novello gained experience on Capitol Hill as she was detailed to the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. During this time, she made major contributions to the drafting and enactment of the Organ Procurement Transplantation Act of 1984 (P.L.98-507) and was successful in drafting warning labels concerning the health risks of cigarette smoking. On March 9th, 1990, Dr. Antonia Novello was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to serve as the 14th Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service. Her appointment marked two firsts: Dr. Novello became the first woman and the first Hispanic ever to hold this position. As Surgeon General, Dr. Novello advised the public on health matters such as smoking, AIDS, diet and nutrition, environmental health hazards, and the importance of immunization and disease prevention. After her Surgeon General tenureship, she served as United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Special Representative for Health and Nutrition where she advised the Executive Director on issues pertaining to women, children and youth. In particular, Dr. Novello provided leadership toward the global efforts to eliminate iodine and vitamin A deficiency disorders, immunizing the world’s children, and preventing smoking and substance abuse in youth. On June 3, 1999, Governor George E. Pataki nominated Dr. Novello to be the 13th New York State Health Commissioner. In this capacity, she headed one of the leading health agencies in the nation with a $49 billion budget – one-third of the whole NY state budget. Some of her responsibilities included improving Medicaid and Medicare, regulation of hospitals and nursing homes, bio-terrorism preparedness, and September 11th disaster management. Most recently, Dr. Novello served as the Executive Director of Public Health Policy at Florida Hospital, where she was in charge of advocating, translating and implementing public health issues across the board, as well as directing and organizing a lecture series involving the top medical professionals in the nation, known as The Distinguished Lecture Series at Florida Hospital. Currently, she serves as a liaison between the U.S. Embassy and the government of Dominican Republic on raising the awareness of domestic violence and spearheading efforts for national legislation. |
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Jim Liske – Co-ChairJim Liske is a Senior Team Member and the Executive Director at movement.org. He most recently served as the Lead Pastor at Christ Memorial Church in Holland, Michigan. Jim has served as President and CEO of Prison Fellowship Ministries from 2011-2015, during which that time he spoke in cities and prisons throughout the country on behalf of those incarcerated. He also served on the Colson Congressional Task Force for Federal Prison Reform. Before leading Prison Fellowship Ministries, Jim was the senior pastor of Ridge Point Community Church in Holland from 2002-2011. From 1986-2002 he served churches in Bridgman, Michigan; Alberta, Canada; and Ontario, Canada.Jim serves as the Chairman of the board of Crossroads Prison Ministries. He has been both a presenter and speaker at Movement Day in New York City, and his articles have appeared in Huffington Post, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, the Washington Times, and Real Simple magazine.
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Jim has been married to Cathy, his high school sweetheart, for 35 years and they live in Zeeland, Michigan. Jim and Cathy have two grown and married children. Daughter Allison and her husband Colin Boevers are both track and field coaches at the University of Oklahoma and the parents of Wren Catherine. Jim and Cathy’s son Joshua is a Michigan County Sheriff Deputy and corrections officer while his wife Jenn is an emergency room nurse. They are the parents of Jim and Cathy’s second granddaughter, Clara Jae, born November 15. |
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Alma Robinson – Co-ChairAlma Robinson, Executive Director of California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA), has led the organization's Arts in Corrections Initiative for the past 10 years. CLA, founded in 1974 as Bay Area Lawyers for the Arts, is a multi-faceted arts service organization that provides legal support, alternative dispute resolution services, educational programs and advocacy for the arts and justice reform. She was honored by Americans for the Arts with its 2021 Michael Newton Award, which recognizes an individual for his or her innovation in developing arts and business partnerships for the arts and/or long-term achievement in effective and creative techniques to engage the private sector.
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She serves as an informal liaison between the Free at Last Coalition and the Abolish Slavery National Network, an organization that advocates to eliminate the exception clauses in many state constitutions, as well as the U.S. Constitution. She is also a member of the Social Justice Working Group at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, which joined forces in 2020 with All of Us or None and other justice reform organizations to help pass Proposition 17, a measure that expanded voting rights for people on parole in California. In 2011, in collaboration with the William James Association and the California Arts Council, Alma led a successful demonstration project that showed the benefits of arts programs in correctional institutions through evidence-based research. As a result, the state's stellar Arts in Corrections programs, which had been defunded in 2003, were restored and now receive approximately $8 million/year from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for arts classes in all 35 state prisons. She also led a successful multi-year demonstration project that took place in 15 county jails throughout California. As part of CLA's Arts in Corrections Initiative, Alma produced a series of three national conferences on Arts in Corrections that were attended by artists and justice advocates from five foreign countries and more than 25 states. With major support from the Art for Justice Fund, she also facilitated a series of Art for Justice Forums in 2018 in six states -- Michigan, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, New York and California. With grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Andy Warhol Foundation and the Art for Justice Fund, she is currently working with state and local arts council leaders to expand arts in corrections programs in New York, Michigan, Louisiana, Texas and Ohio. With support from the NEA, the San Diego Commission on Arts and Culture, and San Diego State University, CLA is also starting a pilot project to place people returning from prison in paid internships with arts organizations in San Diego. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Alma is a graduate of Middlebury College, where she received a B.A. degree with honors in history, and Stanford Law School. Prior to joining CLA, she was a journalist at the Washington Star, served as Program Coordinator and Lecturer with Stanford's African and African American Studies Program, and taught a course called "Constitutional Law and the Black Community" in the Department of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University. She has served on numerous boards including Mills College, the Urban School, California Arts Advocates, the Museum of the African Diaspora, the San Francisco Opera Association, ArtSpace Development Corporation, Grace Cathedral Corporation and Cathedral School for Boys. Her civic involvement includes previous terms on the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the Hunters Point Shipyard Citizens Advisory Committee. She is a Fellow of the Wallace A. Gerbode Foundation. |
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Phil Burgess – Co-ChairPhil Burgess is president of The Annapolis Institute, established in 1993 to advance principled
leadership in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Burgess previously served as a C-suite executive for government relations, communications and corporate affairs for global media-telecommunications companies in the US and Australia after years as an association executive and advisor to leaders of business and government – including CEO of the Western Governors; Policy Office, during West’s energy boom years (1975-82) and chief executive of the Congressionally-chartered National Academy of Public Administration. READ MORE
For 20 years, Burgess was a university professor, teaching public affairs, policy management, national security policy and mineral economics while serving on the faculties of The Ohio State University, where he was director of the university-wide Behavioral Sciences Laboratory; the University of Colorado, where he was the founding director of doctoral programs in public administration and non-profit management; Colorado School of Mines where he was director of the Institute for Minerals and Energy Management – and visiting professorships at UCLA, Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and others. Burgess has lectured worldwide on issues related to science and technology, leadership and policy management, government regulation, aging, energy and economic and community development. He has appeared on PBS, NPR, CNN, and CNBC, and his views have been reported in regional, national and international media – including Sydney Morning Herald, The Financial Times (London), The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Denver Post, and Vital Speeches. For details see https://bit.ly/2xjTHC0. The author of nine books, including most recently Reboot! What to do when your career is over but your life isn’t, he also writes Bonus Years, a weekly newspaper column on changing aging and America’s emerging longevity culture. For examples, see https://bit.ly/3oQ0gRR. A sailor and adventurer, Burgess explored the Friday Islands in Puget Sound, sailed the Gulf of Mexico from Tampa to Key West, crossed the Atlantic from Spain to the Bahamas in an open cockpit sailboat on the 500th anniversary of the crossing by Columbus – and more recently, inland waterways, navigating navigated the Intra-Coastal Waterway (ICW) from Toronto to Stuart, Florida; the Erie Canal; and four of the five Great Lakes. He currently lives on the Chesapeake Bay with Mary Sue, his wife of nearly 40 years. He can be contacted by e-mail at [email protected]. |
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Hon. Thelton E. Henderson
Judge Thelton E. Henderson, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, retired from the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California in 2017. He subsequently joined Berkeley Law (formerly known as Boalt Hall), University of California, as a Distinguished Visitor and teaches courses in Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law.
In 2020, the National College Baseball Hall of Fame selected Judge Henderson as the recipient of the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award, honoring his post-college baseball achievements as an accomplished civil rights advocate and federal judge. As an undergraduate at the University of California – Berkeley, he was a two-year letterman in both football and baseball. READ MORE
After two years at Berkeley Law, he was drafted and served for two years in the Army as a clinical psychology technician at a mental health clinic at Fort Carson, Colorado. After graduating from Berkeley Law in 1962, he became the first African American attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. From 1968 to 1977, he served as an Assistant Dean at Stanford Law School, where he helped diversify the student body and assisted in creating an innovative clinical program. He practiced law in a private firm in San Francisco from 1977 to 1980. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the federal bench, where he served for nearly four decades, and presided as Chief Judge from 1990 to 1997. In a landmark 1995 civil rights case, Madrid v. Gomez, Judge Henderson found the use of force and level of medical care at Pelican Bay State Prison unconstitutional. During the federal oversight process, he was known to visit the prison personally. Later, he sat on a special three-judge panel that found California’s overcrowded prisons violated the U.S. Constitution’s 8th Amendment and ordered the state to reduce overcrowding to within 137.5 percent of capacity. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this decision in Brown v. Plata. He was profiled in a documentary film, Soul of Justice: Thelton Henderson’s American Journey (2005) by Abby Ginzburg, and in a biography, Judge Thelton Henderson: Breaking New Grounds (2016) by Richard B. Kuhns. Among his many awards are the American Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Award, the State Bar of California’s Bernard E. Witkin Medal, the Pearlstein Civil Rights Award from the Anti-Defamation League, the Distinguished Service Award from the National Bar Association, the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Award for Professionalism and Ethics from the American Inns of Court, and the Judge Learned Hand Award from the American Jewish Committee. |
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Presiding Bishop Michael CurryThe Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry is Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church. He is the Chief Pastor and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as Chair of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church. He was installed as the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church on November 1, 2015. He was elected to a nine-year term and confirmed at the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City, UT, on June 27, 2015. Throughout his ministry, Presiding Bishop Curry has been active in issues of social justice, reconciliation, speaking out on immigration policy and marriage equality.
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The descendant of enslaved Africans brought to North America by way of the trans-Atlantic slave routes, Presiding Bishop Curry was born in Chicago, IL, on March 13, 1953. His father was an Episcopal priest, who, with his mother and grandmother, grounded him in Christian beliefs and practices through their example and their teachings. He attended public schools in Buffalo, NY, and, even at a young age, he learned about social activism through his father’s leadership and his own dedication to righting a broken world. He graduated with high honors from Hobart College in Geneva, NY, in 1975. He received a Master of Divinity degree in 1978 from Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, CT. He was ordained to the diaconate in June 1978, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buffalo, NY, and to the priesthood in December 1978, at St. Stephen’s, Winston-Salem, NC, where he began his ministry as deacon-in-charge in 1978 and was rector from 1979-1982. He next accepted a call as rector at St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights, OH, serving from 1982-1988. In 1988 he was called to become rector of St. James’, Baltimore, MD, where he served until his election as the 11th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina in February 2000. In his three parish ministries in North Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland, Presiding Bishop Curry had extensive involvement in preaching missions; Crisis Control Ministry; the founding of ecumenical summer day camps for children; preaching missions; the Absalom Jones initiative; creation of networks of family day care providers; creation of educational centers; and the brokering of millions of dollars of investment in inner-city neighborhoods. As Bishop in the Diocese of North Carolina, Presiding Bishop Curry instituted a network of canons, deacons, and youth ministry professionals dedicated to supporting the ministry that happens in local congregations. He refocused the Diocese on The Episcopal Church’s Millennium Development Goals through a $400,000 campaign to buy malaria nets that saved over 100,000 lives. He is married to the former Sharon Clement, and they have two adult daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth. |
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Cordell Carter, Esq.Advisor | Board Director | Belonging Evangelist
Cordell brings more than 20 years to his pursuit of a society and organizational cultures where everyone belongs and enjoy equitable opportunities to thrive. He is currently managing principal of Expectant Advisory, an equity-focused consulting collaborative and the executive director of the Aspen Institute Socrates Program, a global education forum and the founding director of the Aspen Institute’s Project on Belonging. Finally, Cordell founded the Festival of the Diaspora, a convener of diasporic communities across the Americas and Western Balkans. Before his current roles, Cordell held leadership roles with the TechTown Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle Public Schools, Business Roundtable, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and the IBM Corporation. READ MORE
For the Aspen Institute, he curates more than three dozen off the-record leadership seminars annually in capital cities around the world reaching more than 1,000 leaders each year. He is also leading the Aspen Institute’s efforts to shift the national conversation on racial equity and inclusion from compliance to belonging via two annual summits entitled “Visionaries Summit: The Future of Belonging in America” and the “Festival of the Diaspora.” As the creator and lead facilitator of “Becoming an Inclusive Republic and producer of the documentary “The Road Trip to Belonging”, he is a sought-after facilitator and speaker on belonging and inclusion, post-secondary success, and democratic ideals. Over the several years, he has delivered dozens of keynote speeches, facilitated roundtables and moderated panels all over the globe. Through Expectant Advisory, Cordell advises leaders and boards of directors at various points on their enterprise-wide inclusion and belonging learning journeys. With respect to national unity, Cordell is evangelizing a certain theory of action that the real discussion should be about belonging and inclusion for all. As we seek elevate the national dialogue on challenging topics such as equity, let’s focus on the desired outcome (a society where everyone belongs and has equitable opportunities to thrive) rather than the strategy (diversity, equity and inclusion) that we are employing to get to that outcome. Given that trust in leadership and institutions are at an all-time low, it is inadequate to simply tell people they belong, we must show them pathways to success. Cordell’s leadership has been recognized all over the USA. In June 2021, President Joseph Biden appointed him Commissioner, to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. His other honors include: the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Leadership Awardee by Cultural Vistas, an Eisenhower Fellowship to China; designation as a “40 under 40” by business and civic organizations in Washington State and Tennessee; University of Notre Dame Law School alumni of the year awardee; selections as a Robert Bosch Foundation Fellow for Young American Leaders and a Broad Foundation Resident in Urban Education. As an active board advisor, he serves on Concordia’s Board of Directors and the Advisory Boards of Skillstorm, EV Passport, Tulsa Innovation Labs and WEVO Group. Mr. Carter earned a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, a M.Sc. in Public Policy and Management Studies from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington. |
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Dustin AndersonDustin Anderson is a Sr. Manager at Amazon and a 15-year veteran of the retail and logistics space with both Target and Amazon. A native of Minnesota and graduate of the University of Minnesota, Dustin has been leading teams and business portfolios across the retail product landscape and has invested the last three years helping build Amazon’s Last Mile Delivery Service Partner program, equipping small business owners in communities across North America.
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Dustin is also a founding partner of Minnesota Capital Management which operates three business units in the property management, retail entertainment, and multi-family real estate investment spaces. Growing up in the small town of Blackduck, MN, Dustin recently moved back to the rural setting in Isanti, Minnesota with his wife Ashley to focus on raising their three young children and planting roots in the local community. |
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Joel Vander KooiJoel Vander Kooi has been vice president and treasurer, Kellogg Company since 2007. In 2009, he assumed responsibility for pensions and healthcare finance. In 2013 he also assumed responsibility for commodity risk management.
Mr. Vander Kooi joined the company in 1995 in the tax department. Since then, he has held several roles in tax, treasury and corporate planning. In 2001, he was promoted to director, corporate treasury, and in 2004, to assistant treasurer, capital markets. He was promoted to assistant treasurer, risk management in 2005. READ MORE
Prior to joining Kellogg Company, he held several roles with Michigan National Bank. Mr. Vander Kooi received a bachelor's degree in economics from Calvin University and a master's degree in finance from the Ross School of Business - University of Michigan. Mr. Vander Kooi was born September 24, 1968, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He and his wife, Jackie, reside in Texas Township, Michigan. They have three children. |
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Nicky Ali Jackson, Ph.D.Nicky Ali Jackson, Ph.D. is Professor of Criminal Justice at Purdue University Northwest (PNW). She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology with a concentration in Deviance from the University of Illinois Chicago in 1992. Dr. Jackson is a Victimologist and Criminologist who is a passionate advocate for social justice working with vulnerable populations, particularly domestic violence victims and those who have been wrongfully convicted.
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Dr. Jackson is the founder and Executive Director at the Center for Justice and Post-Exoneration Assistance (CJPA) at PNW. She is also President of the Willie T. Donald Exoneration Advisory Coalition. Dr. Jackson has appeared in a variety of tv, radio, and print media outlets including People magazine, True Crime Daily, and CrimeHQ. Currently, she serves on the prison advisory boards at Indiana State Prison and Westville Correctional Center. She has also served as a Board of Director for two domestic violence shelters in Northwest Indiana. She is a strong advocate for criminal justice reform. Recognizing that wrongly convicted persons in the state of Indiana received no financial compensation post-exoneration, she initiated conversations with state legislators to address this issue and was instrumental in the passage of HB1150. The bill was passed in 2019 and provides financial compensation for exonerated prisoners. Attending the ceremonial signing of the bill in the Governor’s office was a proud moment for her. History was made in the state of Indiana and Dr. Jackson’s tireless advocacy for those wrongfully convicted led to significant policy change. For her efforts, she has received numerous awards including recognition by Chicago CBS News as a “Person Making a Difference” for her creation of “Mardi Bra,” a sold-out event collecting feminine products and brand new bras for homeless women in Northwest Indiana. Additionally, United Way of Porter County honored her with a Spirit Award for her service to the community and Housing Opportunities, an agency serving the homeless population in Indiana, presented her with the Volunteer of the Year award. Her most notable honor, to date, was receiving the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the highest civilian honor granted to an Indiana resident, for her humanitarian efforts by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. “Whereas, there has endeared herself to the Citizens of Indiana, one Nicky Ali Jackson, Ph.D. distinguished by her Humanity in Living, her Loyalty in Friendship, her Wisdom in Council, and her Inspiration in Leadership. Now, therefore, recognizing her greatness and desire to avail myself of her counsel, I do hereby appoint her as Chieftain upon my staff with the rank and title of Sagamore of the Wabash” Signed, Governor Eric Holcomb, August 30, 2021 Dr. Jackson’s most noteworthy publications include the Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence in 2007 and her book, The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction: Innocent Inmates and Indirect Victims, due to be released in July 2022. |
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Ken CauleyKen is a seasoned entrepreneur with a wide array of professional experiences and accomplishments. Starting his journey at an early age, Ken has built, scaled and sold multiple companies across a number of industries including video games, media and publishing, internet advertising, television entertainment, private equity and other financial and management consulting services. Along the way, Ken has been recognized both locally and nationally with various professional awards from media, industry peers and partners.
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Dr. Yusef SalaamIn 1989, at just fifteen years young, Dr. Yusef Salaam was tried and convicted in the “Central Park jogger” case along with four other Black and Latino young men. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. Since then, they have received a multi-million dollar settlement from the city of New York for its injustice and have been profiled in award-winning films, including The Central Park Five documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon and most recently the Emmy award-winning Netflix limited series When They See Us, written and directed by Ava DuVernay.
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Over the past two decades, Yusef has become a family man, father, poet, activist and inspirational speaker. He continues to utilize his platform to share his story with others and educate the public about the impact of mass incarceration and police brutality rooted in our justice system. He regularly advocates for criminal justice reform, prison reform and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment. Yusef is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama (2016) and more recently has shared his story and stance on current issues on CNN, MSNBC, REVOLT TV, NPR Atlanta, FOX and more. He authored his memoir Better, Not Bitter and is the co-author of Punching the Air. |
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Peter J. BuckPeter Buck retired from EDS, the information technology company founded by H. Ross Perot, in 1999 after a successful 30 year career. During his tenure at EDS, Mr. Buck held multiple supervisory and management positions responsible for major commercial and government programs in the United States and overseas. . After leaving EDS, Mr. Buck established and operated Waterford Video Productions, based in Waterford, VA. In 2010 Waterford Productions was folded into The Lincoln Studios, a video/photography production LLC located in Lincoln, VA. That same year, Mr. Buck joined Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship where he was responsible for soliciting and managing foundation grants.
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In 2019, Mr. Buck assumed the same position at Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC. In 2021, Mr. Buck retired from his position at the museum and, with his wife Lynda, moved to Pawleys Island, SC where he continues to work on video projects and actively supports the Free at Last Coalition. Peter Buck was born and raised in Bethlehem, PA. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1966 with a BA in English and was immediately drafted into the US Army. Before official induction into the Army, he was accepted into the US Navy’s Officer Candidate School and received his commission as an Ensign in January 1967. He served as Operations Officer on the USS Dash (MSO-428), an oceangoing minesweeper stationed at Little Creek, VA and later Charleston, SC. After his honorable discharge in October 1969, Mr. Buck joined EDS’ Systems Engineer Development Program. He graduated from the program a year later. Mr. Buck held various system engineer positions in Boston, New York City, and Camp Hill PA. In 1975, Mr. Buck was tapped to be on the team that established EDS’ international business unit. He relocated to Tehran, Iran to set up and help manage the company’s first international account. In 1977, Mr. Buck moved to Kuwait to assist in setting up EDS’ business office in that country. Mr. Buck managed EDS’ contract with the Central Bank of Kuwait to implement its information technology capability. The project was completed in 1981. Mr. Buck was then asked to move to London, England where he led the EDS team supporting the implementation of SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) in Bank of America branches located throughout Europe. In 1983 Mr. Buck relocated to the United States, moving to the Washington, DC area where he held proposal and program management positions serving US Department of Defense organizations including Corps of Engineers, US Navy, and the US Army. After retirement from EDS in 1999, Mr. Buck established Waterford Video Productions in Waterford, VA. In addition to providing video services to commercial customers, he donated services in support of overseas missionaries. The Champion, a redemptive 40 minute video, was shot and edited in Senegal, West Africa in the Sereer tribal language. Later, English and Wolof, the national tribal language, subtitles were added. The video is still exhibited in Senegal almost 20 years later. Another significant video project Waterford Video Productions supported was the making of the French language film Throw a Few Things on the Ground. Written by the staff of a Christian hospital in Togo, West Africa, the two hour drama was shot and edited on location. English subtitles were later added. The film tells the story of a family confronted by a modern day witch doctor and the Christian gospel. It was selected as a finalist in the full length feature film category at the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. The winner that year was the Kendrick brothers Fireproof. In 2010, Mr. Buck dissolved his video company and joined The Lincoln Studios where he continues to do part time video capture and editing. Mr. Buck was introduced to the world of criminal justice when he joined Prison Fellowship’s development team as a grant writer in 2010. Using his EDS proposal and project management experience, Mr. Buck developed and submitted hundreds of grant requests, proposals, and reports to dozens of foundations. He also participated in visits to prisons and jails with foundation directors, trustees, and staff. Institutions included Rikers Island in New York City and the Carol Vance Unit in Houston, TX. After 9 years at Prison Fellowship, Mr. Buck moved to establish a grant writer/foundation relationship position within the development team at Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC. In this position Mr. Buck not only worked with private foundations but also introduced the museum to appropriate government agencies including the Endowment for the Arts and the Endowment for Humanities. Mr. Buck retired from Museum of the Bible in May 2021. He and his wife Lynda now live in Pawleys Island, SC. |
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Pamela HillmanChaplain Pamela is the entrusted steward and founding President and CEO of LifeChangers Legacy, Chebar Ministries, a 501c3 non-profit prison and community-based ministry that help at-risk women and men incarcerated and ‘returning citizens, and their families, from the revolving doors of the prison system, nationally and internationally, since 2012. The organization helps reduce recidivism and prevent homelessness from 63% down to 2% of those within her program.
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The “I See ME Free” Incentive Mentorship Program is a one-to-one 12- 18 month program developed by Chaplain Pamela Hillman where the mentor walks alongside the mentee/student via email and video visit. She is also the entrusted steward of the “YouNiquely You” Health and Wellness Resource Center with a Hyperbarics Oxygen Therapy with a personalized health and wellness protocol designed for each individual, and “The Blessed Thrift Store” in Cumming Ga. She is a member of the AACC American Association of Christian Counseling and has taken many courses in Trauma Recovery, Childhood wounds, Amen Clinics, and many more through there as well. She is an avid steward of continuous education and growth in the learning of God’s Word. |
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Os HillmanSpeaker, Author & International Faith&Work Leader
Os Hillman owned and operated an ad agency from 1984-2001. During this time, he served clients such as American Express, Steinway Pianos, US Kids Golf, Peachtree Software, ADP Payroll Services, Parisian Department stores (now Belk), Thomas Nelson Publishers and many non-profit organizations. His company won many prestigious awards from the Direct Marketing Industry such including the Echo Award, Direct Marketing’s highest achievement for excellence in direct marketing for specific ad campaigns. READ MORE
Os has been featured on CNBC, LA Times, NY Times and many Christian media. He has been a regular contributor to Crosswalk.com, Charisma, and Christian Post. He has spoken at Harvard University and was a visiting professor at Regent University for a season. Os is an editorial contributor to Christian Post, Crosswalk.com, Charisma online, Charisma Leader magazine, and iDisciple platforms. Today Os Hillman is president of Marketplace Leaders and Aslan Group Publishing, and is involved in several entrepreneur ventures related to publishing and internet marketing. He is author of 24 books, a speaker, consultant and recognized authority in the role that faith and ethics play in the marketplace. He authors a daily internet email newsletter entitled TGIF Today God Is First that is read daily in 104 countries. Os attended the University of South Carolina on a golf scholarship and was a golf professional for three years before going into business in 1980. Os attended Calvary Chapel Bible School. Os is married to Pamela and Os has one married daughter, Charis Brown. Pamela is founder and president of Life Changers Legacy, a ministry to men and women in prison. He and his wife live in Cumming, Georgia a suburb of Atlanta with their 5 dogs. |
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Richard KindRichard Bruce Kind (born November 22, 1956) is an American actor, known for his roles as Dr. Mark Devanow in Mad About You (1992–1999, 2019), Paul Lassiter in Spin City (1996–2002), Andy in Curb Your Enthusiasm (2002–2021), and as Arthur in A Serious Man (2009). Kind is also known for his voice performances in various Pixar films such as A Bug's Life (1998), Cars (2006), Toy Story 3 (2010), Cars 2 (2011), and Inside Out (2015). He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Marcus Hoff in the 2013 Broadway production of The Big Knife. Kind voices Marty Glouberman in Big Mouth.
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Kind was born to a Jewish family, in the New Jersey capital of Trenton, the son of Alice, a homemaker, and Samuel Kind, a jeweler who formerly owned La Vake's Jewelry in Princeton. Together with his younger sister, Joanne, he grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a neighborhood called Pennsbury Heights. Richard attended Pennsbury High School with fellow actor Robert Curtis Brown, and he graduated in 1974. In 1978 he graduated from Northwestern University, where he was in the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He is also an alumnus of The Second City in Chicago. Kind portrayed Dr. Mark Devanow on Mad About You throughout the show's run, although after he took the role of Paul Lassiter on Spin City, he appeared on Mad About You with less frequency. Kind and Michael Boatman were the only two actors to appear in every episode of Spin City. Kind reprised his role in the 2019 revival of Mad About You. While these are his two highest-profile TV appearances, his first big break on television was as a member of the ensemble cast of Carol Burnett's brief return to sketch comedy, Carol & Company, which ran for two seasons beginning in 1990 on NBC. Kind served as a guest panelist on the 2000 revival of the television game show To Tell the Truth. He appeared in eight episodes of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm between 2002 and 2021 as Larry's cousin Andy. In 2006, he guest starred on Stargate Atlantis as Lucius Lavin, in the episodes "Irresistible" and "Irresponsible," making him the only actor to appear in both the original Stargate film and in Stargate Atlantis (as different characters). At the Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles on March 5, 2010. Kind had a recurring role in Scrubs as Harvey Corman, an annoying hypochondriac, who claimed that having the same name as Harvey Korman did not "get as much action as you may think". He also played a role on USA's crime comedy Psych as Hugo, an astronomer who killed a partner for credit for the discovery of a planet ("From the Earth to the Starbucks"), and later on Law & Order: Criminal Intent as a wealthy philanthropist who kills his sister-in-law and niece to protect the money he uses to fund his philanthropic work ("Privilege"). Kind guest-starred on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens, where he played the surly Uncle Chuck. He appeared in an episode of CBS' Two and a Half Men with former Spin City co-star Charlie Sheen on November 12, 2007. He also played a small role on TNT's hit show Leverage playing the part of a corrupt mayor in the second season two-part finale. He played the role of burnt spy Jesse's ex-boss Marv in three episodes of season 4 of Burn Notice. In 2011, Kind guest-starred in an episode of the ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine as Rod the Bod. He starred in the HBO series Luck until its cancellation, and he is also the spokesman for On-Cor frozen foods. In February 2013, he made a guest appearance on Kroll Show. In 2015, he played the GED instructor on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He played the mayor Aubrey James in Gotham. |
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Tony DungyAnthony Kevin Dungy is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008.
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Dungy became the first black head coach to win the Super Bowl when his Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. Dungy set a new NFL record for consecutive playoff appearances by a head coach in 2008 after securing his tenth straight playoff appearance with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Dungy announced his retirement as coach of the Indianapolis Colts on January 12, 2009 following the Colts’ loss in the playoffs. The Colts qualified for the playoffs in every season they were coached by Dungy. Since retirement, Dungy has served as an analyst on NBC’s Football Night in America. He is also the national spokesman for the fatherhood program All Pro Dad. Dungy was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 6, 2016. |
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Eric BentsEric Bents is a leadership developer and strategy coach dedicated to helping people and organizations overcome their biggest problems. In his role as Executive Director of Pinnacle Forum, as well via as his company Win Your Wars and non-profit The Storehouse Movement, Eric leverages his hard-won insights into wartime strategy and operations to provide a framework for anyone to tackle their most challenging life, business, or community challenges.
Eric served 30 years in the United State Air Force (20 years active, 10 reserve), retiring as a colonel after serving in a wide variety of combat and non-combat roles, with deployments to Afghanistan and Bosnia. |
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Jerry NicholsFrom startups to senior executive at Fortune 500 companies with 30+ years of experience in creating strategic results. $1M+ producer in banking, network marketing, business startups, and internet marketing. Experienced educator, trainer, leader, and coach. Highly skilled certified data scientist in big data analytics and data-driven target marketing.
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Passionate about inspiring others and organizations to achieve their full potential and significance according to their vision, mission, core values, and strategic goals. Committed to giving back to non-profits and those in need by serving in leadership positions on non-profit boards of large hospitals to line cook at food banks for the homeless to leading capital campaigns for multi-million building projects to raising money to resupply the food bank. Graduate of Wharton School of Business (Certified Investment Management Analyst), Thunderbird School of Global Management (MBA - International Marketing & Finance), ASU (Bachelor of Science in Political Science), and University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business (Accredited Investment Fiduciary). |
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Rev. Alvin Herring
The Rev. Alvin Herring is executive director of Faith in Action, formerly PICO National Network, an international network of 46 federations and local groups across the country. Prior to assuming this leadership role, Rev. Herring worked as the director for racial equity and community engagement for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the fifth largest foundation in the world. While serving in this role, he advanced racial justice by ensuring groups leading racial justice work they had resources to propel their campaigns and initiatives.
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Herring has been with Faith in Action as executive director since 2018, but was with the organization previously as Faith in Action’s director of training and formation. While in this role, he expanded the organization’s training program, sharpened the group’s racial equity lens and insisted the network of faith leaders go to persons living closest to the pain of oppression and isolation. It is because of his leadership, and his partnership with others, that Faith in Action’s clergy leaders stepped out of their pulpits or congregations and stepped onto the streets of Ferguson, Missouri in the aftermath of the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, Jr. He challenged the international network to live up to its deepest moral values and to disrupt the status quo, a mission they’ve been on ever since. Most notably, Rev. Herring’s leadership spans the nonprofit and academic arenas. He previously served as dean of students and assistant vice president for student life for the University of Louisville, as executive director of the Working Interfaith Network in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and as executive director of the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice in Louisville, Kentucky. Regardless of the titles he’s held, his experience has repeatedly testified to a truth about his character; he is a resourceful problem-solver, a skilled administrator and an attentive leader. The people who work closest with Rev. Herring have noted he is charismatic yet substantive, strong but loving and driven but fair. The 21st century movement for racial and social justice is fortunate to list him among the leaders reshaping how this nation utilizes faith to organize communities to achieve progress and change. Rev. Herring is a devoted husband to Debbie Herring and the proud father of two. |
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Kelly NicholsKelly Nichols has been involved with the corporate retail world for 26 years. He has worked for publicly traded companies such as CGX, and with many Fortune 500 companies, including Walmart in their media marketing and product divisions.
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He has high level business relationships in the corporate, TV and film industries. He has been a part of many global film projects. He has served on a number of national for profit and nonprofit boards of directors. Kelly has used his corporate endeavors to influence culture positively, and to use his bridge building gifts to encourage leaders worldwide to support great causes. In working with influencers of our culture he is creating the sound of music, the stories, and dreams of our lives through media. His ability to work with world leaders to assist them in utilizing their talents and gifts for good, is lifting the lives of people throughout the world. |
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Dorsey NunnDorsey Nunn is a leading expert in criminal justice reform with over 40 years of professional experience. He is the first formerly incarcerated director of a public interest law office in California. Prior to becoming Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC), he worked as a paralegal, community organizer, and program manager at LSPC, and as a paralegal at the Prison Law Office.
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Dorsey was sentenced to life in the California Department of Corrections when he was 19 years old. He was paroled in 1981 and discharged from parole in 1984. Under his leadership, LSPC has made significant advances including the development of the Elder Freeman Policy Fellowship, legal victories including the Ashker lawsuit that ended long term solitary confinement in California, and policy victories including the end of shackling of pregnant women, and the biggest drug sentencing reform passed by the California legislature in recent history (SB 180). His work as a leader of the "Ban the Box Campaign" resulted in 35 states and over 100 municipalities changing their policies related to structural discrimination of formerly incarcerated people in the field of employment. Dorsey also led the successful effort to expand voting rights for people on parole through Proposition 17, an amendment of the California Constitution that was approved by the state's voters in November, 2020. Dorsey’s leadership has helped to establish several local and national institutions and movement building projects including All of Us or None, Critical Resistance, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, the Formerly Incarcerated and Convicted People and Families Movement and Free at Last, a recovery and rehabilitation center in East Palo Alto, CA. Through his commitment to international anti-racist organizing, he has visited prisons in El Salvador, New Zealand, and South Africa. He has also served on delegations to international conferences including The International Conference on Prison Abolition in Canada and The International Conference on Youth in Cuba. He is also a frequently requested speaker at conferences and universities. Dorsey has received federal and local recognition including the White House Champion of Change Award by President Obama, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by Nancy Pelosi, the Senate Certificate of Recognition by Senator Jackie Speier and Karen Bass, Certificate of Appreciation from the California State Assembly, Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate, and recognition from the SF Board of Supervisors and Mayor Gavin Newsom. He is also the recipient of numerous awards including the Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award from the ACLU of Northern California, the Movement Builders Award from A New Way of Life, and the Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, Rosa Parks Visiting Professorship at the University of Michigan. Dorsey has been instrumental in changing the national narrative around formerly incarcerated people by centering people with conviction histories as experts in the field of criminal justice reform. His work has been featured in local and national publications including the LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, New York Times, Washington Post, and The Nation. Michelle Alexander wrote about Dorsey's work with all of Us or None in her best-selling book, The New Jim Crow, and he was featured in Ava Duvernay's seminal documentary film, 13th. Since his release from prison, Dorsey has focused on reunifying, restoring, and healing his family. He is a loving father and grandfather who is inspired by his grandchildren and great grandchildren to keep working to create a better future for all youth. |
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Jane GoldenJane Golden has been the driving force of Mural Arts Philadelphia since its inception in 1984, overseeing its growth from a small city agency into the nation’s largest public art program. Under Golden’s direction, Mural Arts has created over 4,000 works of transformative public art through community engagement. In partnership with innovative collaborators, she has developed groundbreaking and rigorous programs that employ the power of art to transform practice and policies related to youth education, restorative justice, environmental justice and behavioral health.
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For nearly 20 years, the Mural Arts Restorative Justice Department has been offering art education in jails and prisons, providing opportunities to returning citizens upon their release through the Guild job readiness Program. This ever expanding program provides art education combined with personal and professional development, and hands-on assistance on mural projects to forge the growth of strong, positive bonds between returning citizens and justice-impacted communities. Restorative Justice participants feel empowered by their accomplishments and emerge with a newfound sense of pride in their own abilities and enhanced employment readiness skills. The Restorative Justice program cultivates resilience in individuals as they transition back into civilian life. |
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Lou PiniellaLouis Victor Piniella is a former professional baseball player and manager. An outfielder in the major leagues, he played sixteen seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees. During his playing career, he was named AL Rookie of the Year in 1969 and captured two World Series championships with the Yankees (1977, 1978).
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Following his playing career, Piniella became a manager for the New York Yankees (1986–1988), Cincinnati Reds (1990–1992), Seattle Mariners (1993–2002), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003–2005), and Chicago Cubs (2007–2010). He won the 1990 World Series championship with the Reds and led the Mariners to four postseason appearances in seven years (including a record 116-win regular season in 2001). He also captured back-to-back division titles (2007–2008) during his time with the Cubs. Piniella was named Manager of the Year three times during his career (1995, 2001, 2008) and finished his managerial career ranked 14th all-time on the list of managerial wins. He was nicknamed “Sweet Lou”, both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager. |
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Jimmy Santiago BacaJimmy Santiago Baca is a prolific writer whose published works include 18 books of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. His recent work, When I Walk Through That Door, I Am: An Immigrant Mother's Quest for Freedom, describes the journey of an immigrant woman searching for her four year old son after being separated at the US-Mexico border. A winner of the American Book Award, the Pushcart Award, and numerous other honors, he facilitates writing workshops worldwide in prisons, youth offender facilities and alternative schools for at risk youth. In 2019, he was selected as the Artist-in-Residence at California Lawyers for the Arts' national conference at Santa Clara University: Arts in Corrections: Reframing the Landscape of Justice.
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Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, he was abandoned by his parents at the age of two and lived with one of his grandparents for several years before being placed in an orphanage. He wound up living on the streets, and at the age of 21, he was convicted on charges of drug possession and incarcerated. He served six years in prison, four of them in isolation. During this time, Baca taught himself to read and write, and he began to compose poetry. A fellow inmate convinced him to submit some of his poems to Mother Jones magazine, then edited by Denise Levertov. Immigrants in Our Own Land, Baca's first major collection, was highly praised. In 1987, his semi-autobiographical novel in verse, Martin and Meditations on the South Valley, received the American Book Award for poetry, bringing Baca international acclaim. That same year, he received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. His memoir, A Place to Stand (2001), chronicles his troubled youth and the five-year jail-stint that brought about his personal transformation. Baca is also the author of a collection of stories and essays, Working in the Dark: Reflections of a Poet of the Barrio (1992); a play, Los tres hijos de Julia (1991); and a screenplay, Bound by Honor, which was released by Hollywood Pictures in 1993. After writing a Mexican Roots series for HBO, he established a non-profit, Cedar Tree, Inc. that provides free books through its bookmobile and sends interns to assist teachers in rural communities. |
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Ken BlackwellKen Blackwell is the Senior Fellow for Human Rights and Constitutional Governance at the Family Research Council. He is a national bestselling author of three books: Rebuilding America: A Prescription For Creating Strong Families, Building The Wealth Of Working People, And Ending Welfare; The Blueprint: Obama’s Plan to Subvert the Constitution and Build an Imperial Presidency; and Resurgent: How Constitutional Conservatism Can Save America.
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Mr. Blackwell has had a vast political career. He was mayor of Cincinnati, Treasurer and Secretary of State for Ohio, undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. He was a delegate to the White House Summit on Retirement Savings in 1998 and 2002. During the 1990s, he served on the congressionally appointed National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform and the board of the International Republican Institute. He was Co-Chairman of the U.S. Census Monitoring Board from 1999-2001. He has received many awards and honors for his work in the public sector. These accolades include the U.S. Department of State’s Superior Honor Award for his work in the field of human rights which he received from both the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. In 2004, the American Conservative Union honored Mr. Blackwell with the John M. Ashbrook Award for his steadfast conservative leadership. Ken’s commentaries have been published in major newspapers and websites: The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and Investor’s Business Daily. In addition, he has been interviewed by many media outlets including CBS’s Face the Nation, NBC’s Meet the Press, ABC’s This Week, and Fox News Sunday. His continuing education has included executive programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. Mr. Blackwell has also received honorary doctoral degrees from ten institutions of higher education. He holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Xavier University in Ohio, where he later served as a vice president and member of its faculty. In 1992, he received Xavier’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and was inducted into Xavier’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. |
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Vijay GuptaVijay Gupta is the founder and Artistic Director of Street Symphony, a community of musicians creating spaces of connection for people in reentry from homelessness, addiction and incarceration in Los Angeles. Vijay is a co-founder of the Skid Row Arts Alliance, a consortium dedicated to creating art for - and with - the largest homeless community in America and he serves as the Senior Artistic and Programs Advisor for Young Musicians Foundation.
For his work in “bringing beauty, respite, and purpose to those all too often ignored by society”, Vijay was the recipient of a 2018 MacArthur Fellowship. In 2020, he delivered the 33rd annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy for Americans for the Arts and his 2010 TED Talk, “Music is Medicine, Music is Sanity”, has garnered millions of views. READ MORE
His work embodies his belief that the work of artists and citizens is to make a sadhana - a daily practice - of the world we envision. Hailed by The New Yorker as a “visionary violinist...one of the most radical thinkers in the unradical world of American classical music,” Vijay leads a protean career as a thought leader, performer, collaborator and communicator. He has performed as an international recitalist, soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician for over 20 years, playing his solo debut with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta. A member of the first violin section of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 12 years, Vijay has collaborated with the Kronos Quartet, the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, Yo-Yo Ma, and he appears regularly with the Strings Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He served as a member of the first violin section of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 12 years. A dynamic recording artist, Vijay recently released Breathe, an album of the piano chamber music of Reena Esmail, under his own label. His solo violin album When the Violin, a solo violin album featuring the music of Esmail, J. S. Bach, and Esa-Pekka Salonen will be available on Bandcamp in June 2021. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Marist College, and a Master’s in Music from the Yale School of Music. |
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Frank HowardFrank Howard, Jr., is a Senior Strategist with Klink Campaigns, a public affairs, political and strategic communications firm with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and Annapolis, with an affiliate office in London, England. Additionally, Mr. Howard is Executive Director of Why We Vaccinate, a 501(c)(3) health education organization that promotes research-backed facts on vaccines so individuals can make informed decisions to keep them and their families healthy
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Previously, he was Chairman, HCG Affiliates LLC, a privately held holding company, he founded in 2005. The holding company’s primary asset was Howard Consulting Group, Inc. (HCG), a public affairs and strategic communications firm with offices in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, with an affiliate office in London, England. In addition, Mr. Howard was also Interim CEO, and Chief Operating Officer, with Global Strategic Partners (www.gsp.us.com); Managing Partner and Chief Investment Strategists for HCG Venture Partners; and Chairman of the Board/Founder of D3 Connect, a health care and investment strategy firm. Before HCG Affiliates LLC was formed, Mr. Howard served as Managing Director and Senior Vice President of a national public affairs firm from 1993-1995 and was responsible for various domestic and international grassroots, political and referenda campaigns, public relations, and communications programs for many of the company’s clients. During the last thirty+ years, Mr. Howard represented numerous domestic and international health care, bioscience, communications, trade associations, energy, water and infrastructure organizations, non-profits, and non-governmental organizations. In 1993, Mr. Howard served as an in-country representative for the International Republican Institute in Cambodia working with the Khmer political parties preparing them for the United Nations sponsored elections. He also worked for numerous national, state and local political campaigns and operations. Howard also worked for numerous political operations including Pete Wilson’s senate and gubernatorial campaigns, Re-elect Governor George Dukemejian ‘86, Victory ’92 Ohio, Victory ’88 California, Ehrlich for Governor ’02, RNC Marshall Program-Ohio ’04, and the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush ’00 & ‘04, Jack Kemp ’88 and Ronald Reagan ‘80 & ‘84. Prior to professional endeavors in public affairs and politics, Mr. Howard worked as an options and stock trader/strategist. He holds a Masters’ Degree from the University of San Francisco, a Bachelors’ Degree from St. Mary’s College of California and several certificates in investment strategies and public relations. Mr. Howard often lectures on public affairs advocacy, health care communications, political campaigning, communications, both domestically and internationally. He is very active in politics, health advocacy and rugby union football. |
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Beverly McLeod IseghohiBeverly McLeod Iseghohi, JD, is principal of BMI & Associates, an Atlanta-based government affairs consulting firm. Ms. Iseghohi is an experienced legislative and public policy strategist with expertise in criminal justice issues. She combines over 20 years of experience working with majority and minority caucuses at the Georgia State Capitol with leadership roles in the private sector. As executive director of the Civil Pro Bono Family Law Project, Ms. Iseghohi led a prison program giving incarcerated mothers access to civil legal information and family law attorneys.
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Ms. Iseghohi uses her experience and knowledge to design and to implement programs for populations with multiple barriers to employment. Consistent with Ms. Iseghohi’s focus on building equitable and sustainable communities, her program designs include the John Marshall Law School Reinventing Reentry in Georgia, the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials Leadership Training Series, New Beginnings Reentry Forums (organized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Community Voices, Morehouse Medical School) and the Greater Atlanta Urban League. Her book titled “Your Entryway into the Entertainment Industry: A career planning guide for anyone willing to work for it – yes, You!” is especially helpful for skilled and talented people with challenging backgrounds that may have limited their job options in other industries. Ms. Iseghohi’s articles and essays have appeared in national publications including: Bar Leader; Cornerstone; Huffington Post and, Women, Girls & Criminal Justice. Her educational credentials include a Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. |
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Wintley Augustus PhippsWINTLEY AUGUSTUS PHIPPS was born in Trinidad, West Indies and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He attended Kingsway College, a Christian Academy; Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology; and earned a Masters of Divinity Degree from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Mr. Phipps holds an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Waynesburg University and MidAmerica Nazarene University; an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Oakwood University; and an honorary degree of Doctor of Education from Wheelock College. Mr. Phipps is married to the lovely Linda Diane Galloway Phipps (an RN) and they have been blessed with three fine sons: Wintley Augustus, II, Winston Adriel, and Wade Alexander.
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Wintley Phipps is a world-renowned vocal artist, pastor, motivational speaker, and education activist. He is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Dream Academy, Inc., a non-profit, national after-school program that provides mentoring and tutoring around the country to children of incarcerated parents and children falling behind in school. www.usdreamacademy.org Founded in 1998, this organization has grown from one center in Washington, DC to eleven locations in seven cities across this nation. The Dream Academy program offers skill-building, character-building and dream-building activities in a safe after-school environment utilizing both one-to-one mentoring as well as state of the art technology to deliver on-line academic enrichment. For his work at the U.S. Dream Academy Mr. Phipps has received numerous service awards, among them: The Excellence in Mentoring for Program Leadership Award from MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership; the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network Use Your Life Award; the Philanthropist of the Year Award from The National Center for Black Philanthropy, Inc.; and the Distinguished Service Award from Loma Linda University. In recognition of his positive global impact through speaking, The National Speakers Association awarded Wintley the prestigious Master of Influence Award. Mr. Phipps has been the featured speaker and performer for many notable occasions around the world. In January 2009 and 2013, Mr. Phipps was privileged to serve as the guest soloist for the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service of President Barack Obama at the Washington National Cathedral. By special request of Ms. Oprah Winfrey, Mr. Phipps delivered an inspirational address and prayer for the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Hosted by Congress, Wintley has sung for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush at the annual National Presidential Prayer Breakfast events and other distinguished celebrations. Wintley was selected by Oprah Winfrey to offer musical interpretations for her week-long coverage of the “9/11” tragedy and was asked to pen a special prayer for her to deliver in tribute to the lives lost. He met President Nelson Mandela of South Africa; performed for the 2005 inaugural swearing-in ceremony of President George W. Bush; the 1984 and 1988 National Democratic Conventions; the Boston Pops; USA Funds California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Annual Conference; the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremonies in the White House for Mother Teresa of Calcutta and The Little Rock Nine; the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., TV special; 13th and 14th annual European Prayer Breakfast in Brussels hosted by the European Parliament; the Salvation Army; the Billy Graham Crusades; the Urban League; the Vatican where he met Pope John Paul II; the Rosa Parks Birthday Celebration; and Loma Linda University Centennial Celebration. He has also conducted lectures in Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and North and South America. Mr. Phipps has performed on Saturday Night Live and been the special guest on the Emmy award-winning series Super Soul Sunday on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Mr. Phipps was nominated for Grammy Awards in 1988 and 1989. He is the author of The Power of A Dream (1996) and Your Best Destiny (2015). Phipps has attracted an entire new generation of fans as his performance of Amazing Grace has received over sixteen million viewers on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMF_24cQqT0. |
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Ben Starling IIIA native of Immokalee, Fla., Ben is a noted philanthropic advisor to leading nonprofits, as well as America’s wealthiest families. Ben’s career has been spent raising charitable dollars to enable worthy causes to fulfill their missions. His career path started in Palm Beach, Fla., working at the right hand of a distinguished public relations executive, Frank Wright. From there, Ben had the honor of working with Northwood University co-founder, Dr. Arthur E. Turner, and subsequently internationally known fundraising guru, Jerold Panas.
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At the direction of longtime friend and mentor, Rich DeVos, Ben launched a fundraising consultancy specializing in major gift support. Since that time he has been blessed to work with both national and international charities spanning the globe. Some of Ben’s career highlights include working with Museum of the Bible, The Scripps Research Institute, Food for the Hungry, Susan Davis International, and Bethune-Cookman University. Ben’s philosophy, “Fundraising is a calling, not a job. It is the art of matching philanthropic opportunity with generous hearts.” |
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Craig WatsonCraig Watson served as the Director of the California Arts Council from August 2011 through March 2017. Under his leadership, the budget of the California Arts Council increased from $5 million to nearly $25 million and the Council took on many new initiatives. These included new grant programs to serve veterans, at-risk youth, public media stations, after-school arts, arts research and creative placemaking. In addition, the Arts-in-Corrections (A-I-C)program was re-established and rose to $8 million during Craig's tenure. The program continues to bring teaching artists into all 35 California prisons and is the largest such program in the U.S. A-I-C has proven to be an effective way to reduce recidivism in the state. Also while at the CAC, landmark legislation was passed, including the creation of a state-wide Cultural Districts program. Through this program, the Arts Council recognized the first co-hort of rural, suburban and urban communities where the arts serve as a community catalyst for economic, cultural and social vibrancy.
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In 2015, Craig was named one of the 40 most influential U.S. arts leaders by Barry's Blog of the Western States Arts Federation. Previous to the CAC, Craig was the executive director of the Arts Council for Long Beach, where he oversaw a significant expansion of the agency into the community, including creation of the largest local celebration of Arts and Humanities Month in the nation. Watson started his career in the arts field at local arts agencies and arts-services organizations, and later built a career in the telecommunications industry before returning to the arts as Executive Director of the Arts Council for Long Beach. He held senior executive positions in the telecommunications field in Rhode Island, New York and California with oversight of thousands of employees and the early launches of Voice Over Internet Protocol telephone services in highly competitive markets. After leaving the CAC in 2017, Craig helped to re-position and expand a family business in Southern California. Then in 2018, he and his wife relocated to the central coast of Maine to help their daughter, son-in-law and their first grandchild establish a new farmstore and cafe as they pursue their dreams around the "farm to table" economy and food security. Upon landing in Maine, they have quickly built connections with both the arts and social justice communities. |
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Oliver J. BellOliver Bell leads a diverse labor relations consulting practice that values direct management-employee relationships, recognizes the dynamics of organizational change, trains leadership skills, and helps clients align stakeholder goals. He is the managing director of Bell, Pasalagua, Raggette, LP and the CEO of Oliver Bell, Inc – which leads the strategic labor relations consulting for the partnership. The two firms focus on consensus building and timely issue resolution to sustain productive work environments via positive employee relations. Bell regularly speaks on leadership, labor & employment, and inclusion & diversity issues for clients and professional conferences. He has worked with union and union-free companies operating in North, Central & South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. He has been involved in over 1,000 client scenarios including over 250 RC/RD elections, 600 mitigation campaigns, 900 situation assessments and audits, and too many leader and employee training sessions to count!
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Mr. Bell provides the firm's strategic direction, coordinates business development, and interfaces with client counsel as needed. He advises senior leaders, directs strategic communications, and identifies proactive solutions to workplace issues. His clients come from a number of industries including agriculture, aviation, automotive, construction, customer service, education, elder care energy, finance, food service, government, healthcare, hospitality, law enforcement, logistics, manufacturing, mining & minerals, retail, oil & gas, technology, telecommunications, transportation, and utilities. In addition to his business activities, the Governor of Texas appointed Mr. Bell to serve on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC). TPWC is a national leader in natural resources conservation and outdoor recreational programs. Acting as a board of directors, the Commission oversees the management and conservation of the natural and cultural resources of Texas and provides hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of all citizens. As additional duties, Commissioner Bell currently advises the internal audit team, serves on the board of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and coordinates the commission’s efforts for greater inclusion and diversity outreach to increase state park and monument visits and citizen participation in hunting, fishing, and conservation efforts. Mr. Bell’s earlier public sector board service includes serving as Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. Chairman Bell was responsible for the oversight of the $3.3 Billion, 40,000-employee Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Bell also served as Chairman of the Windham School District (WSD) Board of Trustees. WSD is the largest geographic school district in the state of Texas. In honor of his service to the board, department, and district – TDCJ renamed a correctional facility – The Oliver J. Bell Correctional Unit - in his honor in March of 2020. Mr. Bell also served on the Board of Regents at Texas Southern University overseeing a student body of more than 10,000 scholars and a staff and faculty of 1400 employees. Regent Bell chaired the Finance Committee and the Presidential Search Committee. Mr. Bell is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point. He is airborne ranger qualified and commanded a border mission Cavalry Troop with the 11th Armored Cavalry on the East-West German Inter-Zonal Border. He served as the Officer-In-Charge and co-developer of the US Army Scout Platoon Leader’s Course and later commanded a unit in the 10th Cavalry – “The Buffalo Soldiers.” Bell was selected to return to West Point to teach international relations but declined to pursue a civilian career. After leaving active military service, Mr. Bell joined Mobil Oil’s Human Resources Group. He left Mobil to pursue a career in labor relations consulting. Mr. Bell rose to Vice President of a large consulting firm before leaving to form his own firm. Mr. Bell is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors where is certified as a “Board Governance Fellow.” He is also a member of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Association, the Association of the United States Army, and has sat on several nonprofit boards. Mr. Bell is also an “Honorary Kentucky Colonel” appointed by the Governor of Kentucky. Mr. Bell lives in Cleveland, Texas with his wife. He has two daughters – one presently attending West Point and the other a West Point graduate currently serving as an Army intelligence officer. |
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Jordan SchottJordan Schott is a co-founder and the Director of Legislative Strategy for Oregonians Against Slavery and Involuntary Servitude (OASIS), a grassroots organization fighting to end modern-day slavery in Oregon. OASIS is committed to changing the language of the Oregon Constitution to formally ban slavery and involuntary servitude of incarcerated persons. Through non-partisan coalition building and the centering of incarcerated voices, OASIS believes in creating a future that is more just for all Oregonians.
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Within OASIS, Schott is primarily responsible for communications with Legislators and conducting Legislative research, though she also helps coordinate the outreach to our coalition partners. Schott first got involved in Constitutional change when she interned at the Oregon State Capitol and stumbled upon the slavery exception clause in the Oregon State Constitution. Over the next year, Schott advocated for a bill which would remove the language of slavery from the Constitution. Despite the uncooperative Legislative process, Schott's pursuit for Constitutional change was reinvigorated after taking a class which brought undergraduate students into Oregon State Penitentiary to learn about Restorative Justice alongside incarcerated men. Now, she works with these very men to ensure that they can never be classified as slaves again. Jordan is a recent alum of Willamette University (Salem, Oregon). She holds a Dual BA in English and Politics, Policy, Law, and Ethics. |
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Jonathan ChurchJonathan Church has been active in the field of law enforcement for nearly 35 years. He is currently a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney and the chief of the General Crimes Unit for the Howard County, Maryland, State’s Attorneys Office. Jonathon was also a Deputy State’s Attorney for the Anne Arundel County, Maryland, State’s Attorneys Office and Deputy State’s Attorney and Chief of the Homicide Unit for the Prince George’s County, Maryland, State’s Attorneys Office.
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During his career as an Assistant and Deputy State’s Attorney Jonathon has been fortunate enough to prosecute hundreds of homicides, sex offenses, child abuses, armed robberies, carjacking, and other violent crimes cases. Prior to obtaining his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law, Jonathon was a police officer and commander with the Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Police Department before he retired in 2006. Jonathon is also a recent recipient of the ADL’s S HIELD Award for significant contributions towards protecting the American people from hate crimes, extremism, and domestic and international terrorism. |
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Niki KatesNiki Kates is a co-founder and the Director of Internal Affairs for Oregonians Against Slavery and Involuntary Servitude (OASIS),
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a grassroots organization fighting to end prison slavery in Oregon. She believes in using the principles of restorative and transformative justice to build community resilience and end mass incarceration. Niki is also a member of the UC Berkeley Law School class of 2024. |
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Pat NolanPat Nolan is the Director of the American Conservative Union Foundation’s Center for Criminal Justice Reform. The Center informs and mobilizes public support for criminal justice reforms based on conservative principles. It also works with government officials to implement those reforms effectively.
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Nolan is a leading voice on criminal justice reform, highlighting the skyrocketing costs of prison, fiscal responsibility in the criminal justice system and reforms for non-violent offenders. He is a strong advocate for treating each prisoner with dignity and respect, and offering them hope and practical assistance after they are released from prison. He worked with Chuck Colson for 15 years as President of Justice Fellowship. Together they built support for reforms among Christians and conservatives. Previously, he served 8 terms in the California State Assembly, two of them as the Assembly Republican Leader. He was a leader on crime issues, particularly on behalf of victims' rights, was one of the original sponsors of the Victims' Bill of Rights (Proposition 15), and was awarded the "Victims Advocate Award" by Parents of Murdered Children. Nolan was targeted for prosecution for a campaign contribution he accepted which turned out to be part of an FBI sting. He pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and served 29 months in federal custody. Before entering prison a friend his told him that “for centuries Christians have left their day-to-day world, humbled themselves, done menial labor, prayed and studied their faith. We call that a monastery. View this time as your monastic experience.” Pat credits this friend with helping him enter prison in a frame of mind which allowed him to put the time to good use. Pat says he drew great comfort from the story of Joseph in Genesis. “Man intended it for evil, but God intended it for good.” Nolan is the author of When Prisoners Return, which describes the important role of the Church in helping prisoners get back on their feet after they are released. He is a frequent expert witness at Congressional hearings on important issues such as prison work programs, juvenile justice, prison safety, offender reintegration and religious freedom. He was a leader in the successful efforts to pass the Prison Rape Elimination Act, the Second Chance Act, the Fair Sentencing Act, and the recently enacted Firsts Step Act. He is probably the only convicted felon to have participated in four signing ceremonies at the White House. Nolan has lectured at many judicial conferences and legal conventions. He has coauthored articles for the Notre Dame Law School Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy and the Regent Law School Law Review. He was member of the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, which developed standards to hold prison officials accountable for preventing sexual assaults. He also served on the National Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons. Nolan was honored by the Freda Utley Foundation for his “pioneering work for criminal justice reform. Nolan was the first American to receive this prestigious international honor. He received the Vera Institute of Justice Award for his leadership to reform the criminal justice system, and also received the Justice Roundtable's Advocate Award for his "tireless work championing criminal justice reform." Pat was also given the “Architect of Justice” Award from the Center for Policing Equity. His opinion pieces have appeared in numerous periodicals including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the National Law Journal, National Review Online, and the Weekly Standard. He is a frequent guest on television and radio shows, including Fox News, Lou Dobbs, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, the PBS News Hour, Sean Hannity, and Montel Williams. He has been featured in profiles in the New Yorker, the LA Times, and the Washington Monthly. Pat earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and his Juris Doctorate at the University of Southern California. Pat and his wife Gail have three adult children. The Nolans live in Prescott, Arizona and are members of the Sacred Heart Parish. And a fun trivia fact: Pat rode as USC’s mascot, Tommy Trojan, in the 1974 Rose Parade. |
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Larry BrewsterDr. Larry Brewster is Professor Emeritus of public and nonprofit administration and a former dean at the University of San Francisco. He is best known for his work evaluating California prison fine arts programs, beginning with his 1983 cost-benefit analysis of Arts-in-Corrections, often referred to as "The Brewster Report." Over the past decade, Larry interviewed formerly incarcerated men and women who participated in Arts-in-Corrections during their time in prison to learn of their experience in the program, how it affected them while inside, and how it has impacted their lives as free men and women.
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Larry also conducts quantitative evaluations using pre-and-post survey instruments. He has worked in support of demonstration projects in prisons that were facilitated by California Lawyers for the Arts with the William James Association, Jail Guitar Doors, The Actors’ Gang, Marin Shakespeare in California and the Woodstock School of Art in New York. Before joining USF, Professor Brewster was academic dean at Menlo College, and prior to that, dean of the School of Liberal Studies and Public Affairs at Golden Gate University and professor and associate dean at San Jose State University. He has taught courses in public administration, program evaluation, leadership ethics, and organizational development. He is the author of numerous journal articles and books, including The Public Agenda: Issues in American Politics, 5thedition, Wadsworth & Company, 2004; A Primer of California Politics, 2nd edition, Wadsworth & Company, 2004; and Paths of Discovery: Art Practice and Its Impact in California Prisons, 2ndedition, 2015. which documented the voices of prison artists through their letters, poetry, and testimony. |
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George PendletonGeorge Pendleton is the founder of The Pendleton Group, a Washington D.C.-based firm providing strategy management and advisory services to public officials, civic leaders, business enterprises and public policy research organizations. Mr. Pendleton also serves as a senior consultant to Alcalde & Fay, a Government Relations and Marketing firm based in Washington, D.C.
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Mr. Pendleton has an extensive background in public affairs, providing a broad understanding of the political process and how to make things work in political settings. He has also worked closely with leaders and organizations involved in anticipating and implementing political, economic, and institutional change – including innovations and initiatives to make sure the benefits of new economy growth and opportunity include the African American community. A Washington D.C. native, Mr. Pendleton has twenty years’ experience observing and working with Congress, federal agencies, state and local governments and the private sector where his clients have included Will Interactive, Archura Inc., Intellectual Development Systems (IDS), Strategic Public Affairs, U.S. West Communications, SuccesSSource, Putting Children First, C.M.E. Insurance, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. From September 2004 to present, Mr. Pendleton has served as a senior consultant to the Government Relations firm of Alcalde & Fay. The firm represents numerous clients with an emphasis on counties, cities and universities. Experience: * September 2003 – June 2004 * Counselor to the President, National Academy of Public Administration. Mr. Pendleton served as a senior advisor to Dr. Phil Burgress, President of The National Academy of Public Administration in Washington, D.C., the pre-eminent organization chartered by Congress to improve the performance of government at the federal, state and local levels. In his role as Counselor to the President, he is responsible for developing and implementing external political and fundraising strategies to advance the goals of the organization. * January 2001 – September 2003 Senior Advisor to the President, The Annapolis Institute. Prior to joining the National Academy of Public Administration, Mr. Pendleton served as Senior Advisor to the President of The Annapolis Institute, a private, nonpartisan think-tank in Annapolis, MD, that helps leadership atall levels to anticipate the forces shaping the lives of people, communities, and institutions in the 21st century; and to advance principled leadership in the management of business enterprises, government agencies and non-profit organizations. His effective external public affairs role strategically positioned the Institute to advance its market-driven solutions to public policy problems. * May 1999 – November 2000, Senior Consultant, Public Affairs, U.S. West Communications – Mr. Pendleton designed and conducted an effective grass-roots community and political outreach initiative to support and advance the business interests of U.S. West, the Western Baby Bell, and its Chairman & CEO, Sol Trujillo. In this role, specific objectives included developing and implementing a public relations strategy in support of broadband legislation in Congress; and assisting small business owners with strategies to get access to high-speed, broadband connections. * January 1991-1999 Mr. Pendleton worked in a variety of Capitol Hill staff positions, including: – National Republican Congressional Committee, African American Voter Development – Mr. Pendleton was responsible for generating increased African American voter support for targeted Republican candidates. – Senate Republican Policy Committee – Mr. Pendleton managed the committee’s internship progam and Speaker’s Bureau. – Special Assistant, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – Mr. Pendleton served in the Bush Administrations Media Relations Office under Chairman Clarence Thomas. – Congressional Staff Service – in the 1980s, Mr. Pendleton served in the Bush Administration’s Media Relations Office under Chairman Clarence Thomas. – Congressional Staff Service – in the 1980s, Mr. Pendleton worked in the Congressional offices of Senator Pete Wilsin (R-Ca), Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and the staff of the Senate Republican Policy Committee chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-TX). Education Mr. Pendleton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the University of Maryland in 1983. He also studied Government and Communications at Howard University. |