Team
NATIONAL TEAM
Andrew Glazier
President & CEO
Experience: Defy National Chief Program Officer for the national organization, Executive Director of Defy Southern California Chapter, Senior Managing Director at City Year Los Angeles, Pomona College (Bachelor’s in International Relations), UCLA Anderson School of Management (MBA).
Expertise: Program excellence, organizational management, scaling.
Believes: That everyone deserves a fair chance.
John Garofolo
Chief Financial Officer
Experience: Bucknell University (Bachelor’s in Business Administration), Kellogg Graduate School of Management (MBA), Ernst & Young, IBM, & Shepherd Partners, CPA since 1992 (inactive).
Expertise: Financial transformation, turnaround/restructuring advisory, capital sourcing, and M&A advisory services.
Believes: Economic independence has a positive effect for generations.
Gilian Villatoro
Senior Manager, Data and Systems
Experience: Program Associate of Defy Ventures SoCal, Program Clerk/Coordinator State of California, Research at California State University Los Angeles School of Natural and Social Science.
Expertise: Program implementation and management, data analysis, and relationship management.
Believes: The recipe for true success is a combination of hope, purpose, and opportunity.
Julie Jackson-Forsberg
Vice President, Learning
Experience: School founder and educator since 1996. Hamilton College (Bachelor’s in Creative Writing and Chemistry), Northeastern University (graduate work in Composition Studies), and RIT Saunders College of Business (EMBA).
Expertise: Curriculum development, writing, strategy, and program development.
Believes: That is my mission as an educator to help maximize each individual’s potential.
Christine Castillo
Vice President, National Programs
Experience: Director of Learning and Development at Equitas Academy Charter Schools & City Year Los Angeles; Program delivery and management at City Year Los Angeles; Organizational leadership development consultant, Certified in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for HR (School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University); University of California, Santa Cruz (B.A. Psychology, Minor Education)
Expertise: Program development and management; Strategic leadership development; Sustainable system building; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategic planning; Group facilitation
Believes: From a distance we can’t hear the nuances or perspectives of people who we want to collaborate with and advocate for. There is power in proximity.
Stephanie Struck
Director, Development
Experience: Non-Profit Fundraising Consultant, Grants Manager at Homeboy Industries, Director of Strategic Partnerships at World Relief. Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies, International Development and Urban Studies and Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry from Fuller Seminary, Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies.
Expertise: Grant writing and fundraising, event management, community engagement, social justice and community development.
Believes: Everyone has a role to play in building a more just and beautiful world for all.
Kalena Schoen
Manager, Graphic Design
Experience: Graphic Designer at Uncommon Goods, Junior Graphic Designer at Penguin Random House's Crown Publishing Group, Print Assistant Intern at SVA's Visual Arts Press, School of Visual Arts (Bachelor's of Fine Arts).
Expertise: Printing, packaging, graphic design, branding, video editing, creative direction.
Believes: "In the particular lies the universal."—Victore
Mariah Dickinson
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Experience: Consulting at Booz Allen Hamilton, program delivery and management at The Future Project, teaching at Teach for America. American University (Bachelor’s in International Relations).
Expertise: Communications, project management, systems creation and implementation.
Believes: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."—MLK
Yehudah Pryce
Sr. Program Director, National Mental Health Programs
Experience: Clinical Social Worker at the Orange County Young Adult Court; psychotherapist at Beit T’Shuvah residential addiction treatment center; Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) Program Manager at Turning Point; Chair of Unchained Scholars at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work; Adams State University (B.A. Sociology, emphasis in Social Welfare); University of Southern California (MSW); Simmons University (DSW-C); 16 years lived experience of incarceration
Expertise: Case Conceptualization and Assessments, Personal Development, Community Engagement, Smart Decarceration
Believes: Community members with an incarceration experience deserve a dignified pathway that empowers them towards self-actualization.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TEAM
Sabrina Reid
Manager, Career & Reentry Programs
Experience: Case Manager, No Violence Alliance program with San Francisco Sheriff's Department/ Community Works West; employment specialist, San Francisco Probation Department/America Works. Founding Member of the Bay Area Chapter of the Anti Recidivism Coalition, Advisory Board Member of Formally Incarcerated Individuals with San Francisco District Attorney's office; Teaching assistant for ASU Art and Justice program
Expertise: Workforce development, community engagement, personal development, mentorship, social art practice, restorative justice.
Believes: Everything can be healed with human kindness.
Scott Taylor
Manager, Prison Programs
Experience: Northwestern University (BS in Radio-Television-Film), Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management (MBA), Fuller Theological Seminary (MA in Theology), Episcopal Deacon, Board-certified Clinical Chaplain (CPSP), twenty years’ experience in brand management and consulting.
Expertise: Strategic business consulting, creative marketing solutions, chaplaincy.
Believes: The arc of the moral universe is long and bends toward justice, but only if we bend it.
Southern California Team
Quan Huynh
Executive Director
Experience: Senior Program Manager, Entrepreneurship Programs, Program Manager of Defy SoCal, CEO and Founder of Jade Janitors.
Expertise: Community engagement, team building, business development and relations, hustling.
Believes: Every human being is worth salvaging.
Sofia Teodoro
Sr. Manager, Prison Programs
Experience: Program manager for social justice-centered organizations (YouthBuild, Proyecto Pastoral, Asian Youth Center, Catholic Charities, Echo, and ARC). Co-founder of LA CAUSA, Inc and Immigrant Defenders Law Center. Board Member for Hip Hop Warrior Movement. Certifications in violence prevention, financial coaching, facilitation, and healing modalities.
Expertise: Program development & management, multicultural facilitation/popular education, indigenuity, transformative justice, leadership development & coaching, community organizing, community-centered responses to violence.
Believes: "In order to build the movements capable of transforming our world, we have to do our best to live with one foot in the world we have not yet created."—Aurora Levins Morales
Cosme Sandoval
Manager, Career Readiness Programs
Experience: Job Developer, Administrative Coordinator, Job Coach, Intake Specialist, Curriculum/Program Developer & Facilitator, Project Manager and Director of Operations.
Expertise: Skilled and experienced leader committed to service. Experienced in workforce development, program development and facilitation, collaborating to effect positive change, and managing projects and staff to attain common goals.
Believes: "Luck is when opportunity and readiness meet!"—Norma S.
Bree Viscaina
Manager, Volunteer Programs
Experience: Youth Advocate at the Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade; Youth Bizcamp Intern at the Los Angeles Urban League; Team Leader & Student Success Coach at City Year LA; Youth Development Practitioner & Development Team Ambassador at City Year LA; UC, Santa Barbara (Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Secondary Education)
Expertise: Service, people development, mentorship, communication, empathy
Believes: Even when there’s nothing else to do, there’s still something you can do.
Alex Toutant
Manager, Entrepreneurship Programs
Experience: Cooperative Business Development Consultant, Program Specialist at School On Wheels, High School Pathway Coordinator at A Place Called Home, Education Advocate at Northwest Education Access, USC Marshall School of Business (Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship), Oberlin College (Bachelor’s in Politics and Comparative American Studies).
Expertise: Business development, facilitation, human-centered design, volunteer management, and transformational leadership.
Believes: “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” —Fannie Lou Hamer
Illinois Team
Melissa O’Dell
Executive Director
Experience: Defy Director of Prison Engagement and Admissions, Director of CEO YNL, California, Program Director, Community Assessment and Services Center, Franklin & Marshall College (Bachelor’s in Government and Women’s Studies).
Expertise: Social service program delivery, evidence informed practice, criminal and juvenile justice reform
Believes: Hope, empathy, community and compassion can thrive in the most unlikeliest of places.
Christopher Harrison
Manager, Entrepreneurship Programs
Experience: Founder and Co-CEO of BlueSky Financials LLC, Senior Life Coach at I Am Able Center For Family Development. Career & Retention Coach at READI Chicago, Certified Financial Coach (Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago) Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (Crisis Prevention Institute).
Expertise: Community engagement, facilitation, motivational speaking, cognitive behavioral interventions/therapy, connecting service providers, case management
Believes: “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”—Disraeli
Kira Kyle
Manager, Prison Programs
Experience: Prison Program Facilitator for Defy Ventures Illinois at Kewanee Re-Entry Center and Logan Correctional Center, Lead Digital Architect and Radio Show Host at WCIC, Owner/Photographer at Kira Kwon Photojournalism, Freelance Web Designer
Expertise: Empathy, relationship building, planning and communication, teacher-facilitating, digital design, entrepreneurship, fundraising, public speaking, leadership
Believes: Empathy is the cornerstone of restoration. No one has to be perfect, and none of us are.
Tri-State Team
Jeanette Pineiro
Executive Director
Experience: Senior Program Manager of Defy Post Release Program, Operations Manager at The Navarra Group, Cornell University (Bachelor’s of Science in Sociology & Communications)
Expertise: Logistics & organization, communication, project management.
Believes: Your failures don’t define who
you are.
Jessica Reh
Manager, Prison Programs
Experience: Community Supervision Officer, Parker County, Texas CSCD; Probation and Parole Officer – Pre-Sentence Investigations, Virginia Department of Corrections; Community Corrections Officer – Drug Court, Washington Department of Corrections; Jail and Volunteer Programs Coordinator, OAR Nova; Reentry and Family Services Case Manager, OAR Nova; James Madison University (Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies).
Expertise: Reentry, evidence-based practices, community corrections, family reunification, restorative justice
Believes: It only takes one person to unconditionally believe in you to start believing it yourself.
Kyle O'Connor
Manager, Entrepreneurship Programs
Experience: Account Coordinator, Convene; Group Sales Associate, Legends at One World Observatory; Syracuse University (Bachelor's in Sport Management with a Minor in Political Science)
Expertise: Sales, marketing, communication, and team-building.
Believes: If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. (Booker T. Washington)
Washington Team
David M. Shirley
Manager, Career & Reentry Programs
Experience: Workforce Development Clerk; Lead Curator, TedX, at Monroe Correctional Complex “Turning Keys"; Volunteer at Interaction Transition; Associate of Arts (Seattle Central College).
Expertise: Career Navigator, Case Management, Facilitator, Organizer, and Reentry.
Believes: Second chances benefit all—community, family, and economy. Networking is the key to success!
GOVERNING Board members
Brian Korb
Chairman
John Dvor
Marcus Glover
Michael Huggins
Sonia Kahlon
April Tam Smith
Ariel Jaduszliwer
Secretary
Nicole Miller
Coss Marte
Jonathan T.D. Neil
Kerry Bennett
Cole Richman
David Sprott
