Elizabeth A. Henneke is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer. She serves on the Juvenile Council for the State Bar of Texas, the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, OJJDP Subcommittee on LGBTQ Issues, the Collaborative Council for the Judicial Commission on Mental Health, as an advisor to the Texas Judicial Council Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice, and the Board of Directors for the Campaign for Youth Justice. In addition to being named a finalist in 2019, Elizabeth joined the Board of Directors for Philanthropitch in 2020 furthering the mission of LSJA to support other nonprofits and shift resources from prisons to the community.

​Elizabeth graduated from Yale University and the University of Texas School of Law. She then served as a law clerk for the South Africa Constitutional Court and for Judge Edward C. Prado on the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, before joining Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C.. Elizabeth has been a clinical instructor for the University of Texas' National Security & Human Rights Clinic, and was the inaugural Audrey Irmas Clinical Teaching Fellow at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Since founding LSJA, Elizabeth has received the Travis County Women Lawyers' Association Attorney Award, been recognized as the Austin Under 40 winner in the legal category, and was named a finalist in the DivInc. Champions for Change Rising Star Award.

Yulise Reaves Waters, Esq. is the Chief Innovations Officer of Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA). Previously, Waters was an Assistant City Attorney and Lead Community Courts Prosecutor for the City of Dallas where she co-founded the Second Chance Community Improvement Program (SCCIP) in 2014 which became the first-ever felony community court in Dallas County and the first-ever young adult specialty court in the State of Texas. Under her leadership, SCCIP was awarded the 2018 National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ Equity and Inclusion Award for “excellence and leadership in demonstrating and promoting cultural proficiency in treatment court services.”

Yulise holds B.A. degrees in English, Spanish, and a B.B.A. in Organizational Behavior and Business Policy (each magna cum laude), and a Juris Doctorate, all from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Yulise is a graduate of the 2019-2020 inaugural Dallas Truth, Racial Healing, & Transformation Racial Equity Now Cohort. Nationally, her commentaries on race and justice have been featured on syndicated radio and in major U.S. city newspapers. She holds memberships in the Juvenile Law, Criminal Justice, and Collaborative Law Sections of the State Bar of Texas and is a graduate of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2020. She serves on the The Dallas County Sheriff’s Community Partnership Board, the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) Racial Equity Workgroup, was an appointee to the 2020-2021 Dallas ISD Racial Equity Office Trustee Appointed Advisory Council, and chair of the 2021 Dallas ISD District of Innovation Committee. She is also a member of the Inaugural Emerging Leader Board at the Dedman School of Law, which recognizes graduates over the last twenty years who have “a strong record of leadership in the legal profession and a proven commitment to public service.”

Yulise is the recipient of numerous honors including Who’s Who in Black Dallas, the City of Dallas’ Wall of Honor for meritorious service to the citizens of Dallas, Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation Peace Champion Award, DFW Millennial-to-Watch, Texas State Fair Juanita J. Craft Catalyst Award Honorable Mention and D Magazine’s 78 Women Changing the Face of Dallas. She is the 2020 recipient of the SMU Dedman School of Law Emerging Leader Distinguished Alumni Award, a recipient of the Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” honor, and the SMU Black Alumni’s History Maker Award, their highest honor.

Rachel Hampton, LMSW, LSS Greenbelt, is the Chief Mission Officer of Lone Star Justice Alliance. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Southwestern University and a Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. Rachel holds a professional licensure in social work and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Rachel joins LSJA with more than 12 years of experience in developing, leading, and executing award winning workforce programming for young adults (aged 16-24) as well as adults returning to the community after significant periods of incarceration. Rachel's commitment to racial equity and serving justice-involved young adults is deeply rooted in the experiences recounted to her by clients she served directly and in the programs she has overseen. She believes that to truly make systemic change it is critical that the voices of those directly impacted are centered in the operations of LSJA's community based programs and in advocating for policy changes at the state-level.

Nydia D. Thomas, J.D. is the Director of Training. She has an extensive background in juvenile justice system law, innovation, and reform. She has served as Deputy General Counsel and Special Counsel for Legal Education and Technical Assistance at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) and its predecessor agency. She joined the Lone Star Justice Alliance team in September 2019. Nydia is recognized for her work as a principal facilitator and subject-matter resource for legislative practitioner workgroups as well as a liaison for interagency and stakeholder engagement. She has also served as a recurring professional development trainer and faculty member for the Correctional Management Institute of Texas, the Juvenile Law Section of the State Bar of Texas as well as child-serving and criminal justice system partners. She was the contributing author and managing editor of the legal treatise Texas Juvenile Law, 5th – 9th editions and has written numerous professional articles.

Nydia is a graduate of Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC and gained valuable experience on Capitol Hill while working for a Member of Congress and a congressional research foundation. Nydia was also in private practice in suburban Houston, a college instructor, and coordinator for a statewide delinquency prevention program. Nydia is a former council member and Mayor-Pro Tem of Cleveland, Texas and has received both gubernatorial and attorney general appointments. She is a Past Chair of the Juvenile Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. She has served on the Texas Violent Gang Task Force Advisory Board, the Interstate Compact for Juveniles State Council, the Juvenile Records Advisory Committee and the Statewide Disproportionality Task Force. In 2018, she was the recipient of the Robert O. Dawson Visionary Leadership in Juvenile Justice Award from the Juvenile Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. In her spare time, Nydia enjoys genealogy research, creative writing, and travel.

Myrick Clark serves as the Workforce Coordinator for the Lone Star Justice Alliance. Myrick earned her Master of Social Work degree at Texas State University and her Bachelor of Social Work degree at North Carolina State University. While attending North Carolina State University, she developed a passion for reducing recidivism among African American men and working with at-risk youth. Myrick has 6 years of social services experience and has worked to improve the lives of at-risk youth, emerging adults, and justice-involved individuals through case management, performance management, and program management.

In her previous role as Workforce Coordinator, Myrick partnered with the Texas Department of Transportation’s Civil Rights Division to develop the ConnectU2Jobs program in partnership with the Dallas College, and Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas. As Director of Workforce Programs, Myrick has helped to develop LSJA’s Transformative Justice Workforce Program, JustCareers. Myrick enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and Sudoku.

Stephanie Trevino graduated from Pepperdine University (cum laude) with a B.A. in Intercultural Communication and a Minor in Sociology.  Awarded a scholarship through Pepperdine to spend the year abroad in Florence, Italy, Stephanie began a fascination with cultures. With a heart for helping underserved groups and a sensitivity to injustice, Stephanie immediately began working toward her J.D. at Texas Wesleyan School of Law (now known as Texas A&M School of Law) and volunteering for the Texas Innocence Project.  With Southwestern University School of Law, Stephanie traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina to attend classes toward her JD and experience another culture. Her experience includes working as a guardian ad litem in the Texas probate system advocating for the incapacitated, representing people navigating the Title IV-D courts, and defending the accused in the Tarrant County Juvenile Courts.  Stephanie had her own family law practice in Tarrant County and is a trained mediator with a passion to help parties stay out of the court system. She is married and has 3 children.

With over a decade of litigation experience, Aisha brings great care, diligence, and tenacity to her cases.  She has served as an assistant federal public defender, a staff attorney for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and a senior associate at a top-tier boutique litigation firm.  In those roles, she has led hundreds of criminal cases, provided nationwide litigation assistance in criminal matters, and litigated civil cases involving criminal-adjacent matters.  

Aisha started her legal career in her hometown of Columbia, South Carolina as a law clerk to the Honorable J. Michelle Childs of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.  She then went on to clerk for the Honorable James E. Graves, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 

Aisha obtained her law degree from New York University School of Law and received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University.  Prior to attending law school, she taught high school economics and U.S. history in Atlanta, Georgia with Teach for America.  When not in the office, you will likely find her on the tennis courts, jogging, practicing yoga, or enjoying live music. 

Will graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 2023. He has worked at LSJA since 2021.

At LSJA, Will's work has focused on the JustSentencing Project area. He drafts briefs and other legal documents for our clients' Habeas Corpus petitions.

When not writing briefs, he likes to spend time with his girlfriend and cats, drawing, and improving his grappling.

My name is Kevin Lopez and I am the transition coach for Lone Star Justice Alliance. I am a graduate of Southern University at New Orleans where I obtained my Bachelors of Social Work as well as a Masters in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Juvenile Delinquency. During my time at Southern, I developed a intense gratification for helping and advocating for those individuals who could not or society deemed unfit for. I have published two best selling books specifically entailing the preparation attending an HBCU had on my professional career as well as a story of perserveierence and the effects that the criminal justice system personally had on my life. I have been in the field for roughly 7 years and looking forward to what the rest of my Social Work journey entails. In my down time I enjoy spending time with my family and my dog.

Carly started her career with Lone Star Justice Alliance as a Juvenile Sentencing Project Intern in the Summer of 2021. She currently manages several programs throughout the Just Sentencing Project and is looking forward to continuing to serve justice-involved youth in her career. Her hobbies include video gaming, reading both fiction and non-fiction, and traveling to the beach or the river as often as life allows.

Stacy joined Lone Star Justice Alliance in January of 2021, working within their specialized access to clemency program, The Survivors’ Project. Survivors’ Project fights to end the incarceration of children in Texas who are survivors of human trafficking and interpersonal violence, and to obtain clemency for those who have already been convicted of crimes tied to their own victimization.

Before joining LSJA, Stacy worked for Dallas County Juvenile Department at the Letot Residential Treatment Center. The Center is a specialized, post-adjudication facility that offers long-term therapeutically intensive treatment for at-risk, neglected and exploited adolescent girls.  

Prior to working for Dallas County, Stacy was a volunteer caseworker at Dallas Police Department Headquarters in downtown Dallas. She was active within DPD for ten years and served as a victim advocate in the Crimes Against Persons Unit, and as support to the Cold Case Victims Squad. She was honored to receive the annual Service Award from the Crime Victims Council of Dallas.

She has served on the North Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking, the High Risk Victims Task Force and was member of the Dallas Chapter of Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), a pilot program of Demand Abolition that focuses on demand suppression tactics. 

Stacy currently serves as the Board Chair for Poetic. Poetic is a local non-profit that supports exploited adolescent girls transition from the Juvenile Justice System to supported re-entry with an intensive aftercare program.

Stacy found her passion for justice system reform through her experiences working as a Civilian Deputy Sheriff in the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s office in New Orleans, LA.  

As the Mitigation Investigator, Sadie works directly with all of LSJA's JustSentencing clients. Her work is driven by her belief that system change can only be achieved through the empowerment of our most vulnerable populations. Her favorite part of her job is speaking to clients face-to-face when she visits them around Texas.

Sadie is a recent graduate of Cornell University, where she studied international development, criminal justice, and inequalities. When she's not working, she loves cooking, hanging out with her dogs, and being bad at tennis.

Lillian Garvens is a Policy Associate with Lone Star Justice Alliance. Lillian recently obtained her Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs. Lillian joins LSJA with experience as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Texas House of Representatives where she managed legislation on juvenile and criminal justice. Lillian is passionate about developing policy that understands the connection between the Social Determinants of Health and the obstacles individuals face today so that everyone, regardless of the circumstances in which they are born, has an equitable opportunity to thrive. Before graduate school, Lillian worked as the Community Development Manager for Family Service Association of San Antonio, advancing the organization's mission through fundraising, events, and volunteerism. As a Field Organizer for NextGen America, she empowered young voters and fostered community connection during the 2020 general election cycle. Lillian earned her BS in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Oregon while competing on their Acrobatics and Tumbling team.

Joe Swanson is a proud Texan who is devoted to confronting the history of systemic injustice in his home state. He joined the staff of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas as their first community organizer after graduating from Wake Forest University with a B.A. in History and Minors in Music and Spanish. With the ACLU of Texas, he helped lead successful policy campaigns across a breadth of Texas’ most devastating arenas of human rights violations and social injustices including those related to immigration, policing, mass incarceration, and our state’s school-to-prison pipeline. Believing faith communities like his own to be uniquely positioned to usher in redeeming and imaginative change, Joe then joined Faith in Texas where he trained clergy and lay leaders to put their sacred texts and spiritual practices into action towards racial, economic, and social justice.

He now serves as a Policy Associate with the Lone Star Justice Alliance where he works to expose and confront the drivers of injustice suffered by our kids in Texas’ juvenile justice system. Joe is committed to the belief that the children we are locking up possess the most power and imagination to bring about transformational change to the very system that incarcerated them.

Outside of his work in social justice policy, Joe is an avid outdoorsman, below-average musician, loud sandlot baseball player (go Mudbugs!), and proud father and husband.

Brittany is a Peer Advisor at LSJA, where she is dedicated to mentoring and guiding young people toward positive pathways in life. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, she is deeply passionate about making a meaningful impact on the lives of youth. Outside of her work, Brittany enjoys spending quality time with her family and expressing her creativity through fashion design, including clothing and nail art.

Troy is a first-generation college graduate from Puerto Rico. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he gained a strong foundation in advocacy, community engagement, and support for justice-involved youth. Outside of work, Troy enjoys activities that keep him grounded and fulfilled. He loves watching sports, spending time with family, and cruising in his Suzuki Samurai. Troy is excited to make a difference through engaging initiatives and advocating for transformative justice practices.

Taylor, a Dallas native, is currently pursuing a degree in political science. Her passion for social justice was sparked by stories of influential figures like Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., and Trayvon Martin. Taylor is dedicated to developing essential skills in advocacy, community organizing, and creating intentional programs that can drive meaningful change. When she's not working or studying, you’ll likely find her enjoying the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, or traveling.

4o

My name is Haley Simental, and I am a Transition Coach at Lone Star Justice Alliance. I graduated from the University of Denver with a double major in communications and psychology, and I obtained my master's degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in education. During my time in college, I developed my passion for understanding others and helping them develop their potential and goals for life. I was a collegiate basketball player at the Division 1 and 2 levels and have been coaching youth basketball for almost 10 years. Sports have been a part of my life since I was born, and they taught me the character qualities I value most in life. I started working in the criminal justice field to follow in the footsteps of my father and have previous experience in probation and juvenile justice. I believe in coaching rather than refereeing those involved in the justice system to help curve the negative impacts justice involvement may have on people's lives. In my free time I enjoy exercising, basketball, reading, and podcasts.

Pamela Albarracin is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Government and pursuing a minor in Business, a Business Certificate in Spanish, and a Bridging Disciplines Certificate in Children & Society. She hopes to pursue a career in law and criminal justice. In her free time, she loves to read, find new music, and explore new coffee shops.

Patrick recently finished his first year at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. He is involved in the Muslim Legal Society, Legal Seagulls (men’s soccer team), TJOGEL (The Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law), and ACS (American Constitution Society). After graduation, Patrick wants to work in an area involving constitutional law. He is an avid reader, studies Abrahamic faiths, plays soccer, and goes for runs as often as possible.

Kate is entering her second year at The University of Texas School of Law. She received her undergraduate degree from Duke University where she majored in History and Psychology. Before law school she worked with the City of Denton in their childcare programs. In her free time she enjoys reading, knitting, and spending time outside.

Ayah Abdel Rahman is a rising second year law student at the SMU Dedman School of Law. She completed undergrad at UT Dallas, where she majored in International Political Economy and Global Business. She first became interested in criminal justice reform while taking classes during undergrad that focused on how different countries approach their prison systems, and the pros and cons of each strategy. During her free time, Ayah loves to travel and explore diverse cultures, discover new coffee shops, weight lift at the gym, and volunteer for advocacy causes in her community.

Layton Sussman is a third-year law student at The University of Texas School of Law, hoping to practice public interest litigation. Passionate about justice reform, Layton is committed to advocating for the rights of incarcerated youth and contributing to LSJA's mission to improve conditions of confinement and reduce juvenile incarceration rates.

Hi, my name is Gbemisola Akala, but everyone calls me Gbemi! I am a rising 2L at the University of Texas School of Law. I attended UT Austin for undergrad as well, so I am a double longhorn! My practice areas of interest are criminal and civil law. I want to use my law degree to help Black and Brown individuals who have been wronged by the criminal justice system. For fun, I love to read, hang out with family and friends, try new restaurants, and binge watch shows! I am so excited to spend the summer with the Lone Star Justice Alliance!

Kolin Brandeis is an undergraduate student at Haverford College where he is studying Political Science with a concentration in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights. While at Haverford, he took classes in criminal justice and began volunteering with the Petey Greene Program. In his free time, he loves to hike, find new music, and explore Philadelphia.

Zahra Chowdhury is a rising junior studying political science and economics at Southern Methodist University. At SMU, Zahra is a President’s Scholar and Tower Scholar and has worked at the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center. As a youth organizer from Memphis, Zahra is incredibly passionate about juvenile justice reform and dismantling the school to prison pipeline. She has mobilized community members through the ‘Counselors not Cops’ campaign, served on the Countywide Juvenile Justice Consortium and was a part of the inaugural Youth Justice Action Council. Zahra is excited to work at LSJA and make meaningful contributions via community engagement and policy formulation!

Kendall Smith is a Policy Intern at Lone Star Justice Alliance. She is pursuing a B.A in Human Dimensions of Organization, with minors in business and social work, at the University of Texas at Austin.
Having recently joined the LSJA team in September 2024, she is motivated to generate change in the juvenile justice system.
Previously, she worked for The Texas Center for Justice and Equity as a Youth Justice Advocate in 2021, where she aimed to challenge punitive school policies that exacerbated premature youth involvement with the justice system. She gained a valuable understanding of the external forces contributing to youth incarceration, and applied this knowledge to communicating with lawmakers, developing testimony, and fostering community engagement.
Following this, she was compelled to serve children and families tangentially impacted by mass incarceration. She has become involved with Project Avary, where she facilitates peer mentorship and leadership development groups for children of incarcerated parents. This role has taught her the importance of community in fostering developmental resilience and serving as a protective barrier against justice involvement.
She is excited to be joining the LSJA team, and aims to achieve equitable outcomes for youth.

Hi, my name is Jezmarie Allen, my friends call me Jez. I am a Dual Masters Student at University of Texas and Austin Presbyterian Theology Seminary, studying Social Work and Divinity. I got my Liberal Arts BA, at William Paterson University. I have been working with the youth from ages 0-24 for almost twenty years and have case managed for 12 of those years.  I have two young adult children that I love dearly and who inspire me every single day. I have a passion for helping the youth of today recognize their true potential and empowering them, while encouraging them to get all they deserve out of life. On my free time, I love to spend time with my family and two fur babies. I absolutely love junk journaling, and creative planning. I was a cheerleader all throughout high school and beginning half of my undergrad, I continue to be a cheerleader for those I care about. I am thrilled to join the LSJA Team, and to be a cheerleader for the incredible youth we work with, future community leaders!  

Jackson is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in government and sociology with minors in cultural anthropology and law, justice, and society. He is involved in UT’s Undergraduate Mock Trial Team and has worked as a legal assistant for The Law Office of Chaoching Chen. After graduation, Jackson hopes to pursue a career in law and criminal justice. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, reading, and performing on stage in front of live audiences!

Avery Turner is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a B.S. in Corporate Communications on the pre-law track, with a minor in International Business. Since joining the LSJA team in September 2024, she has been eager to drive change in the juvenile justice system, fueled by her passion for advocating for vulnerable youth and reforming systemic inequities. Last fall, she interned at the World Affairs Council, where she assisted with research on current global policy issues and engaged with members and the community through social media and communications. After completing her undergraduate degree, Avery plans to attend law school and pursue a career in corporate and international law. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family! 

Haley Jensen (Board Chair) is the President of Membership.com, a market leading sales agency connecting individuals to value added services. She has experience in varied industries including insurance and financial services, business process outsourcing and call centers, membership based and affinity organizations, healthcare services, and technology and telecommunications services. She serves on multiple boards of private companies and charitable foundations.

Haley was born and raised in Texas. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Economics from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

Caroline Kim is a proven strategist with over 10 years of experience translating insights into actionable business strategies and a trusted advisor for senior executive Fortune 50 clients. As a senior leader at Booz Allen Hamilton, she built a reputation as a creative leader with experience overseeing cross-functional teams that use data to solve complex business problems. Caroline brings a unique blend of strategy and organizational experience including: strategic planning, corporate social responsibility, public private partnerships, and change management. She has worked across all sectors including private corporations, nonprofit and government in over 10 countries across 4 continents. Caroline received her MPP at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy and her BA at Barnard College, Columbia University.

Ashley is a freelance writer, philanthropist, and passionate advocate for criminal justice reform.  She joined LSJA’s board while living in Houston from 2017-2020.  During that time, she served as a court-appointed advocate on the criminal side of the Harris County 315^th Juvenile court, working primarily with gang involved boys.  She also served as Chair of the Joint Committee for Juvenile Justice and Education for Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton’s Transition Team.

Now back in the Boston-area, she has been helping incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men tell their stories through her work with a number of nonprofits, including the Transformational Prison Project and the Massachusetts Parole Preparation Partnership.  She continues to look for ways to support innovative organizations across the country focused on ending mass incarceration and strengthening communities affected by poverty, violence, over policing, and underinvestment.

Prior to her work in criminal justice, she founded and directed the Global HearthWorks Foundation, a US-based 501c3, that invests in renewable energy enterprises and other climate solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.  She was a long-time features writer for Harvard Magazine and worked as a science writer for the Clean Air Task Force.  She earned a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from UC Berkeley and an AB in Social Studies from Harvard College.

She currently lives in Belmont, MA.

Courtney Barksdale Perez is a partner at Carter Arnett. Courtney has a vast array of civil litigation experience having tried cases to jury in state and federal court. She has represented plaintiffs and defendants in employment-related claims, civil disputes involving allegations of fraud, negligence, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of covenants not to compete, tortious interference with contracts, civil conspiracy, antitrust and in intellectual property disputes alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement, and patent infringement.

Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law, Courtney has specialized knowledge representing individuals, corporations, and government entities in all phases of commercial and employment-related litigation from the risk-management phase through trial and on appeal. Courtney regularly advises clients concerning compliance with employment-related statutes and has served as lead counsel in cases involving claims asserted under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Federal Labor Standards Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Texas Whistleblower Act, the Texas Payday Act, the Texas Labor Code and employment agreements. She also conducts internal investigations, reviews and prepares policies and procedures, and provides training for employers. Courtney also has experience advising government contractors concerning their obligations under federal contract compliance laws, developing compliance programs, drafting Affirmative Action plans and representing government contractors in administrative proceedings.
​
In addition, Courtney is a trained mediator and uses her dispute resolution training and experience to assist litigants in resolving employment, business, commercial, consumer, personal injury and civil rights disputes.
Prior to joining Carter Arnett, Courtney was an associate at an international law firm and served as Law Clerk to the Honorable James A. Beaty, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Doug Deason is a conservative activist and donor from Dallas, Texas . He has been the president of the Deason Foundation since 2009. The Deason Foundation works with charities and directly with politicians at the state and federal levels on initiatives to empower the poor to lift themselves from poverty through criminal justice reform, education reform and free enterprise programs.

Doug serves in board or leadership positions for the Dallas County Republican Party, the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), Lone Star Justice Alliance and Texans for Free Enterprise, he has demonstrated leadership in conservative politics, including the issue of criminal justice reform. Mr. Deason is a supporting member of the Texas Smart on Crime Coalition, the largest statewide effort working to make Texas' criminal justice system smarter, safer, and more cost effective. He is also a signatory to Right on Crime’s Statement of Principles on conservative criminal justice reform. Right on Crime is a project of TPPF in cooperation with Prison Fellowship and the American Conservative Union Foundation. Doug was an advisor to the White House on CJR issues from May of 2017 to January of 2021 and was recently appointed to the Florida Foundation of Correctional Excellence by Governor Ron DeSantis.

​Larry Robinson is a retired First Sergeant in the United States Army. Twenty-two years ago, his 16-year-old son, Jason Robinson, was convicted of being an accessory to the crime of killing a man and given a mandatory life sentence. Larry has become a passionate advocate for Jason and other children like him, testifying before the Texas Legislature and engaging in frequent media appearances. He is a member of Epicenter, a group of family members of juveniles sentenced in the Texas adult criminal justice system.

Maureen Milligan, is the Field Director - Central Team at National Development Council. Maureen formerly served as the Chief of the Community Prosecution and Community Courts Section at the City of Dallas and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Maureen received her law degree from American University, her master's degree in education from the University of Virginia and her undergraduate degree from Duke University. Maureen is a member of the North Texas Crime Commission, the Dallas Rotary Club and the Junior League of Dallas. She is a graduate of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Leadership Program, the T. Boone Pickens Leadership Institute and the Caruth Police Institute's Executive Leadership Series.

Phillip J. Yates is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. He is currently working at the Nelson M. Jones Law Firm where he focuses on criminal, commercial and civil litigation issues. Prior to attending law school at Texas Southern University – Thurgood Marshall School of Law, he received both his bachelor and master's degree in business administration from Stephen F. Austin State University. Phillip is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., PHA Masonic Lodge True Square #108, and a former NCAA Division-I basketball player. He's also an alum of Leadership Houston - Class XXXIII, volunteers with the Alief I.S.D. Leadership Advisory Council, mentors at Chinquapin Preparatory, and serves on the Stephen F. Austin State University General Business Advisory Board. In 2017, Phillip was named a Rising Star by the League of Women Voters in the Houston Area. Phillip is currently a consultant at the Houston Area Urban League, where he is credited with implementing the economic development and entrepreneurship program, Small Business Development University. Since 2011, this entrepreneurial program has helped over several thousand minority entrepreneurs start businesses, create jobs, grow and scale their businesses. Phillip has working experience that includes being a professional in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as an entrepreneur. In 2015, Phillip participated in Commissioner Ellis’s Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP) during the 84th Texas Legislature, where he served as a policy advisor for Speaker Joe Straus in the Texas House of Representatives. Phillip now has the pleasure of conducting policy advocacy work at the Houston Area Urban League, a local nonprofit organization in the Greater Houston Area. Phillip takes pride in his commitment to serve others and advocate for those without a voice in his community. As a Board of Director for the LoneStar Justice Alliance, Phillip looks forward to the opportunity to work with leadership and community stakeholders in tackling criminal justice issues and overhauling the legal justice system in the State of Texas.

Reed Macy, CFA has over 10 years of professional experience in finance, including deep experience in both private equity, investment banking and portfolio management. Previously, Reed ran the E&P practice as a Managing Director at Headwaters MB, a middle-market investment bank. Before joining Headwaters, he managed the deal review, analytics and structuring for SourceRock an energy consulting and advisory firm, where he was a Partner. Reed was a former Vice President for Parallel Resource Partners, an energy private equity firm that specialized in distressed equity and debt investments in the oil and gas sector. Prior to joining Parallel Resource Partners, Reed was a Vice President at Carlson Capital and worked with the firm’s private equity, directional credit and long/short equity portfolio management team. Prior to joining Carlson Capital, Reed worked as an associate for TPH Partners in 2009. TPH Partners is a Houston-based energy private equity group affiliated with Tudor Pickering & Holt, which is a leading oil and gas focused investment banking firm. At Tudor Pickering, Reed held a joint role of coordinating and co-managing the fund’s capital raising process, as well as running investment analytics for potential deals across the small cap E&P midstream and service sectors. From 2007 through 2008, Reed worked at Goldman Sachs E&P Capital, the principal energy investment group within the firm, where he sourced, performed due diligence, analyzed and later monitored numerous energy investments, including debt, equity and convertible structures. Reed began his career in mid-2004 in the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management division, where he managed and executed public security transactions and performed portfolio analytics for a team with over $2.5 billion in assets under management. Reed earned a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Rice University and is a CFA Charterholder. He is currently pursuing an MD at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Olivia spent the first 20 years of her professional career in the advertising and brand building business. In 2006, she co-founded the award-winning independent creative shop, GoDo Discovery Co. (formerly known as greenlight), and since then, has focused on identifying and interpreting insights that authentically connect brands to audiences through advertising, content and culture.

It was her personal passion for local philanthropy and brand experiences that cemented her desire to fully commit her work within the impact sector, leading both Olivia and her agency to Café Momentum, and in turn, Momentum Advisory Collective.

After several years establishing the pro bono and impact practice at GoDo, Olivia stepped away from her agency in late 2019 to pursue the opportunity of a lifetime with Momentum Advisory Collective as the organization’s founding Chief Marketing Officer where she led the creation and launch of the M.A.C brand; executive produced the Building Momentum documentary and spearheaded the formation of important advocacy initiatives that expand our programmatic support of justice-involved youth – Momentum Ambassadors and The Momentum Pledge.

Today, as CSO, Olivia advises and drives the creation and implementation of strategic initiatives that support the organization’s vision, as well as ensuring that planned initiatives are optimized to support Momentum’s growth and national conversation goals.

Olivia’s deeply committed to making real and equitable change for every young person in our country. Alongside her executive team, she is working to build brand partnerships and strategies that create national expansion opportunities for the Café Momentum model and position Momentum Advisory Collective as a key voice in national, state and local discussions on changing the system so that every young man and woman in this country has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Deb Gore has worked with incarcerated women and formerly incarcerated women for over a decade. She teaches financial literacy to women in Texas prisons who are about to be released. Her reentry curricula won the Governor's Criminal Justice Service Award in 2022. The four reentry programs have been taught in multiple prisons and transitional facilities in various states, and have been completed by thousands of women.  Additionally, Deb founded the Incarcerated Women's Project, an advocacy effort to improve the lives of justice involved women in Texas. She has been married to her husband Rex for over 40 years.

Holly serves as a Managing Director of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, a global venture philanthropy firm supporting early-stage, high-impact social enterprises. She plays a lead role in sourcing new investments and working with the leadership of those organizations as an operating partner and board member as they grow to build capacity and achieve their maximum impact. Holly currently serves on the board of DRK grantees Child Poverty Action Lab, Texas Water Trade, Vida Water, the Oakland REACH, and Lone Star Justice Alliance.

Holly has over 25 years of public policy and leadership experience, serving in senior positions in the government, non-profit, and private sectors. She previously served as the Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute, a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Holly led the team in developing and implementing major policy and programmatic initiatives on key issues of national and global importance.

She is a veteran of the White House, U.S. Department of Education, and Capitol Hill, where she developed her expertise in education policy. She served on the White House Domestic Policy Council staff and as Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education. Prior to that, she worked for two United States Senators on domestic policy issues. She has also consulted on education and workforce issues with major foundations, companies, non-profits, and policymakers.

External to DRK, she serves on the boards of the Gates Policy Initiative and the Dallas Assembly. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.