Alabama
Dena Dickerson is a justice reform advocate and community leader based in Alabama. As Chief Operating Officer of the Offender Alumni Association and founder of initiatives like “Heroes in the Hood,” she develops programs that support community rebuilding and empower individuals impacted by systemic inequities.

Massachusetts
Emmanuel “Noble” Williams is a restorative justice leader, educator, father, and activist with over a decade of experience advancing healing-centered practices. Through his work with the Transformational Prison Project and academic institutions, Noble fosters authenticity, vulnerability, and community-driven approaches to justice reform.

California
John Medina Jr. is a program manager and criminal justice reform advocate who transformed his life through education after a childhood shaped by adversity, bullying, and incarceration. Now holding a Master’s Degree in Social Work, he supports formerly homeless adults navigating complex behavioral health challenges, including co-occurring disorders, through systems navigation, practical, community-based support, and person-centered approaches that empower individuals to take action, build belief in their ability to transform, and move forward with purpose. His work is grounded in a vision of communities where people live with dignity and autonomy, have access to the resources they need, and are not defined by systems, diagnoses, or past experiences.

Illinois
Nelson Morris, a Project Associate at Restore Justice, dedicates his efforts to community outreach and fundraising while mentoring youth and teaching advocacy courses, all after spending 29 years in prison for a crime committed at 17, from which he was granted a new sentence following the Supreme Court’s Miller decision.

Washington D.C.
Eddie B. Ellis Jr., a reentry advocate and consultant, founded One by 1, Inc. and leverages his experience as a formerly incarcerated person to build safer communities through training, mentorship, and support for reintegration, while also serving as the Co-Director of Outreach & Member Services at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.