Meet the 2026 Dream Justice Cohort
Dream.Org is proud to introduce the 2026 Dream Justice Cohort.
This year marks the 5th anniversary of the cohort dedicated to empowering formerly incarcerated and/or system-impacted local leaders to take a seat at the table where criminal justice solutions are made. These new graduates will join the 112 alumni across America who have gone on to create national change and we are honored to have these incredible changemakers as representatives of such a momentous milestone for the Dream Justice Cohort.
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Alexander Brown is a leading advocate for Clean Slate in Illinois, landmark legislation that automates the sealing and expungement of eligible criminal records. He currently serves as a facilitator with Live Free Illinois and as a facilitator with the Civic Actor Studio at the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement, where he helps strengthen the storytelling and performative dimensions of civic leadership. Alexander also serves on the board of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network (FICGN) and is currently training to co-facilitate the CRSS Success Program at Northern Illinois University. While incarcerated, he earned his paralegal certificate, which led to an opportunity to work with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. Through his advocacy, education, and lived experience, Alexander remains committed to expanding opportunities for returning citizens, advancing criminal justice reform, and promoting pathways to successful reentry.
Alison Chaffin is a survivor, educator, and justice reform advocate who bridges lived experience with strategic policy work. Through her advocacy with Survivors for Justice Reform’s global coalition and Virginia chapter, she has organized directly impacted families and community members to challenge state-sanctioned abuse and advance humane, trauma-informed approaches to safety, work that is deeply personal, as her partner is currently held in long-term solitary confinement in Virginia. With a background in education, training, and compliance, she brings the heart of a teacher and the precision of a systems thinker to the General Assembly and beyond, using storytelling, data, and policy analysis to make complex issues more accessible and actionable. At her core, Alison believes true public safety cannot be built through isolation or punishment, but through community accountability, healing, and a commitment to the full humanity of people on all sides of harm.
April Edwards is a recovery advocate and co-founder and CEO of Peacefully Whole Recovery, a nonprofit expanding access to holistic, trauma-informed care across Kentucky. Her work is rooted in lived experience shaped by a journey through trauma, recovery from substance use disorder, and the direct impact of the criminal justice and family court systems. This experience informs her vision for whole-person wellness that goes beyond survival. Peacefully Whole Recovery partners with treatment centers, sober living homes, and community organizations to provide integrative services including yoga, massage therapy, acupuncture, meditation, and breathwork. April is certified as a trauma-informed yoga instructor through the Prison Yoga Project and is currently continuing her education in Public Health at the University of Kentucky.
Brian Meegan is a playwright, author, and founding board member of Abolition Inc, where they oversee development and outreach. They served as operations coordinator at the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network, leading the production of the #dropthelabels campaign, and were part of the Write It Out! 2024 cohort, presenting an original short play in New York City. Brian now brings a recovery program into Rikers Island and has published essays, poetry and comics with A.B.O. Comix and other outlets. They also co-created and presented the Actionable Anchoring workshop at the Clean Slate Initiative convening.
Bruce Bryan is a human justice advocate, organizer, inventor, and transformational speaker whose work is rooted in lived experience. Wrongfully convicted at 23 and sentenced to life in a New York State maximum-security prison, he spent 29 years incarcerated before receiving executive clemency from Governor Kathy Hochul,being released in 2023. During that time, he earned degrees in liberal arts and behavioral science, completed reentry and business training through Columbia Business School and The New School, co-founded initiatives focused on civic engagement and violence prevention, and delivered a TEDx Talk at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Since his release, Bruce has been at the forefront of advocacy against prison abuse, wrongful convictions, and mass incarceration, working to advance access to higher education and meaningful rehabilitation through organizing, public speaking, and coalition building.
Danell Puglisi-Knutson is a Washington State-based advocate, mother, grandmother, and person directly impacted by the criminal justice system. Holding a Political Science degree from the University of Washington, she has been active with multiple advocacy organizations since 2021, working on criminal legal reform and the constitutional civil rights of people on the registry. In 2022, she founded SHINE-VOICES, a support and advocacy group for women forced to register, and has leveraged her real estate and property management background to provide housing for unhoused and justice-impacted individuals. She has presented at advocacy and academic conferences nationwide, planned a conference in Washington, D.C., and demonstrated on the steps of the Supreme Court three times.
Darlisa Ware is a community advocate, educator, and nonprofit leader committed to advancing restorative justice, disability justice, and equitable opportunities for youth and families. After her unarmed son survived being shot in the head by a law enforcement officer, an incident that left him permanently blind and living with a traumatic brain injury, she transformed that life-changing experience into a mission of advocacy, education, and systems change. Drawing on her background in psychology, education, public health, and community leadership, Darlisa develops programs that empower communities, support survivors, and expand access to resources. She is passionate about creating pathways for healing, accountability, and second chances while working to strengthen trust between communities and the institutions that serve them.
Deandrea Hardman is a peer support specialist at the EXPO SAFE House, where she works daily with women recently released from incarceration, helping them navigate the barriers of reentry. She draws directly from her own lived experience — released in November 2024 to the EXPO SAFE House herself — bringing authenticity and deep empathy to her every interaction. Her work reflects a firsthand understanding of what it takes to rebuild, and she is committed to ensuring the women she supports have the guidance and community they need to succeed.
Duane Williams grew up in Detroit and experienced the criminal justice system from a young age, cycling through foster care, juvenile detention, jail, and prison. In 2012, he was wrongfully convicted of double homicide and served 12 years before being exonerated. Since his release 18 months ago, he has channeled his experience into active advocacy, driven by the belief that meaningful change requires direct engagement with the systems that have caused so much harm.
Erik Beller is an advocate, paralegal, and educator with a Master's degree in Education and a paralegal credential, both of which he uses to support justice-focused work and community advocacy. Having overcome homelessness and addiction — he is now nearly five years clean — Erik brings a perspective shaped by resilience and personal transformation to his work. He is a devoted husband, a proud uncle, and a committed family man, and his advocacy is informed by his experience as the spouse of an incarcerated person and by injuries he sustained while jailed in an incident that resulted in criminal charges against corrections officers. Erik remains deeply committed to recovery, family, and reform.
JenAnn "Jazzy" Bauer is a justice and housing advocate, entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for people impacted by the criminal justice system. Drawing on her lived experience, she amplifies initiatives that provide stable housing, steady employment, and supportive services for formerly incarcerated individuals. As owner-operator of CutThroat Cakes, she builds community while working toward her long-term vision: DreamWeaverz, a sustainable farm that will offer housing, employment, and wraparound support for women returning from incarceration. A vocal advocate for systemic change, JenAnn has influenced policy, provided testimony on harmful legislation, and elevated the voices of those most affected by inequities.
Kendra Van de Water is an executive leader driving systemic change at the intersection of community, policy, and public safety, with work spanning conditions of confinement, law enforcement oversight, violence reduction, and homicide response. As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH) in Philadelphia, she leads a high-impact organization that reimagines how systems engage young people affected by violence, integrating direct services, policy advocacy, and research. By centering youth action and investing in mediation, conflict resolution, civic engagement, and economic opportunity, Kendra is building a scalable model that both reduces violence and drives structural change.
Khallid Barber is an entrepreneur, mentor, and advocate dedicated to creating second chances through technology and education. As founder of Bark Tech and Second Chances NYC, he connects underserved youth and justice-impacted individuals with digital literacy, workforce training, and career opportunities — work informed by his own lived experience with incarceration. He teaches workshops on AI literacy, app development, decision-making, and entrepreneurship, and is committed to bridging the gap between overlooked talent and meaningful opportunity. His mission is to help people turn second chances into lasting success.
Khanika Harper is a Missouri-based justice reform advocate, community leader, and founder of Justice For All, an advocacy organization dedicated to addressing wrongful convictions, excessive sentencing, emerging-adult justice reform, and meaningful second chances. Her work centers on amplifying the voices of incarcerated people and their families while advancing policies that recognize growth, rehabilitation, and human dignity.
She serves as Vice Chairwoman of the St. Louis City Detention Facilities Oversight Board, advocating for transparency, accountability, and humane conditions within city detention facilities. She also leads JFA Ceremony Services, helping incarcerated individuals and their partners preserve family connections through prison-based wedding services.
Beyond justice reform, Khanika mentors youth in entrepreneurship and leadership and collaborates with families, formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, community organizations, faith leaders, and policymakers across Missouri and the country. Her mission is to restore hope, strengthen families, amplify unheard voices, and build lasting reform rooted in fairness, dignity, accountability, and the belief that people have the capacity to grow and change.
Makanya Smith is a community leader, educator, and Lead Case Manager with Step By Step Family Services, in Cleveland, Ohio. She holds a Master's degree from the University of Phoenix and brings professional expertise in business systems analysis to her extensive nonprofit leadership, serving as Executive Director of Taking Back Our Youth and Board President of Family Keepers with Extended Care. Her contributions have been recognized with the Helping Hands award from the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County, the Teen Mental Health award from NAMI of Greater Cleveland, and the John Cox Community Leadership Award, among others. She recently completed the Nourishing Power Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University and is currently enrolled in its Intensive MSW program, with an expected graduation of Spring 2028.
Matthew Pettit is a New Mexico-based advocate, comedian, and creative working at the intersection of lived experience, policy, and community change. He balances two full-time roles while pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work degree, and draws on his experience with addiction, mental health, and the criminal justice system to challenge punitive narratives and advance treatment-first, community-centered solutions. An active performer, Matthew also uses comedy, music, and storytelling as tools for connection and social reflection. He is deeply committed to reintegration, parole advocacy, and amplifying the voices of justice-impacted individuals.
Ophelia Burnett is a leader and advocate for healing, justice, and transformation, serving as a Healing Justice Program Associate with the American Friends Service Committee. Her journey from singer and model to community leader reflects a deep commitment to redefining restoration, and she works at the intersection of law, advocacy, and healing to challenge systemic inequities and cultivate empowerment for women and marginalized communities. As founder of O So Beautiful Reentry: The Women's Initiative, she has created a supportive space where women returning home can rebuild their lives, reclaim their power, and reimagine their futures.
Queva Hubbard is a dedicated advocate, certified Peer Support Specialist, and community leader whose lived experience fuels her commitment to supporting individuals and families impacted by incarceration, addiction, and family separation. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she brings more than a decade of experience as a Peer Mentor, Case Manager, and Director of Client Services, centering trauma-informed care and community connection in all her work. A graduate of the Sankofa Institute for African American leaders in child welfare and a formerVice Chair of the Board for Crossroads for Women, Queva is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work degree at New Mexico Highlands University.
Robert Barton grew up in southeast DC and was incarcerated at 16, sentenced to 30 years to life. He used that time to read voraciously, earn an associate degree in business administration, mentor youth through the Young Men Emerging initiative, and participate in the Georgetown Prison Scholars program. Released in February 2025, Robert now directs More Than Our Crimes full time, works as a Safe Passage Ambassador for DC, and sits on the board of Open City Advocates.
Rory Andes is a United States Army veteran who served two combat tours in Iraq and, upon returning home, faced addiction and personal instability that ultimately resulted in a 12-year prison sentence. Inside, he confronted the lasting impact of trauma and the connection between untreated wounds and harmful choices, and began rebuilding from the inside out. Today, Rory works through reentry support, mentorship, and advocacy to help others find stability and purpose — living proof that accountability and healing can lead to meaningful change for individuals and communities alike.
Tanaine Jenkins is an award-winning recidivism strategist, TEDx speaker, and systems reform advocate who spent a decade navigating the criminal justice system before transforming that experience into a platform for change. She specializes in eliminating the "second sentence" — the lifelong barriers that follow incarceration — and her leadership has earned her recognition including the 2024 Florida Justice Center Advocate of the Year and the 2026 Law and Justice Champion Award from the National Returning Citizens Conference. She serves as Florida State Organizer for REFORM Alliance and Director of the Florida Safety Coalition, working with policymakers, educators, and community leaders to align policy, education, and workforce systems with real pathways to opportunity.
Tiffani Shaw is a justice-impacted advocate and community builder based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who uses her voice to guide others toward restoration and hope. Through her work with JusticeLink, she focuses on advancing equity in employment and housing, ending fines and fees, and supporting individuals impacted by the justice system. Known for her creativity and vibrant personality, she is intentional about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued — whether in legislative settings, healing circles, or community events. At her core, Tiffani is committed to bridging divides and building a future rooted in empathy, opportunity, and the common good.
Venus Star Woods is a community advocate, recovery leader, and nonprofit director with over a decade of experience in criminal justice reform, HIV services and prevention, and reentry services. As Senior Director of Programs and Operations at the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association, she oversees statewide HIV services and prevention, staff management, and grant compliance, leading with trauma-informed, gender-responsive, and harm-reduction approaches. Her career has also included serving as a Senior Technical Assistance Coach for the U.S. Department of Labor's First Step Act Grant Initiative and leadership roles at the Alaska Native Justice Center and Cook Inlet Tribal Council. Grounded in her own lived experience with incarceration and recovery, Venus leverages her personal journey to reduce stigma and champion policies that prioritize rehabilitation, equity, and healing.
William C. Campbell III is a nonprofit leader, youth advocate, and restorative practitioner dedicated to advancing equitable outcomes for justice-involved youth and families. As Program Director for Youth Advocate Programs in Dallas County and founder of Campbell Consulting Firm LLC, he leads initiatives that strengthen community-based alternatives to juvenile justice involvement through restorative practices, leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration.
William's work focuses on connecting education, behavioral health, workforce development, family engagement, and community resources to address the underlying factors that contribute to system involvement. He is passionate about building the capacity of communities and organizations to create environments where young people can heal, thrive, and lead. Through both direct service and systems-level partnerships, he champions people-centered solutions that promote opportunity, accountability, and lasting community impact.
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If you’d like to learn more about the work of the Dream Justice Cohort and its alumni, you can visit our webpage and if you’re interested in donating to help fund this important program, you can do so: here.
