Board of Directors
Brandon Flood
Celeste Trusty
Celeste Trusty
Board Member
Brandon Flood is the former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, Brandon J. Flood spent nearly a decade working for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he served in a multitude of professional capacities, that of which include
Board Member
Brandon Flood is the former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, Brandon J. Flood spent nearly a decade working for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he served in a multitude of professional capacities, that of which include the positions of Legislative Assistant, Senior Research Analyst for the House Democratic Caucus' Legislative Policy & Research Office (LPRO) and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. In the aforementioned roles, Brandon's area of expertise included research and analysis, bill drafting, public relations and mass communications, organizational administration and legislative advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
In addition, from 2015 through February of 2019, Brandon served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania NAACP's Political Action Committee and in 2016 was appointed by the National NAACP to serve as its Civic Engagement Coordinator for Pennsylvania, where he played a contributory role in registering over 1 million new voters across the commonwealth.
Celeste Trusty
Celeste Trusty
Celeste Trusty
Board Member
Celeste Trusty is former secretary for the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons and currently serves as Pennsylvania State Policy Director for FAMM.
Troy Crichton
Celeste Trusty
Chester Hollman
Board Member
Troy Crichton is an accomplished trial lawyer. He has obtained full acquittals in criminal proceedings ranging from gun possession, aggravated assault, narcotic distribution, driving under the influence, sexual assault, theft, vehicular theft, and various fraud charges. In 2021, Troy served as Jehmar Gladden's attorney, succe
Board Member
Troy Crichton is an accomplished trial lawyer. He has obtained full acquittals in criminal proceedings ranging from gun possession, aggravated assault, narcotic distribution, driving under the influence, sexual assault, theft, vehicular theft, and various fraud charges. In 2021, Troy served as Jehmar Gladden's attorney, successfully securing his release and vacating his conviction. Mr. Gladden was freed in August 2021.
Troy is a proud graduate of Villanova University and Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.
Chester Hollman
Dr. Lauren Barrow
Chester Hollman
Chester Hollman is an activist and exoneree based in Philadelphia. To learn more about his story, check out Netflix's The Innocence Files.
Dr. Lauren Barrow
Dr. Lauren Barrow
Dr. Lauren Barrow
Lauren Barrow is currently Chair of the Center for Education, Advocacy & Social Justice, and an Associate Professor of criminal justice at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has been teaching for over 15 years and has taught undergraduate, graduate, and online students. As a generalist, Dr. Barrow teaches a wide ra
Lauren Barrow is currently Chair of the Center for Education, Advocacy & Social Justice, and an Associate Professor of criminal justice at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has been teaching for over 15 years and has taught undergraduate, graduate, and online students. As a generalist, Dr. Barrow teaches a wide range of criminal justice courses. She completed her graduate studies in criminal justice at CUNY Graduate Center, John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Her research interests lie in exploring the question of equal justice for vulnerable persons. She is published and has contributed to several justice related works. In 2013, she began teaching Inside Out classes in the Philadelphia region, and has been regionally recognized for her innovative course designs.
PROJECT HOPE Team
Joe Schwartz
Joe Schwartz
Joe Schwartz
After serving 15 years in federal prison, Joe has dedicated himself to supporting returning citizens. At TLF, Joe is a Facilitator for Project HOPE. As a graduate of the Prison Cells to Professionals Scholars Program, he is an advocate, mentoring justice impacted citizens in pursuit of college education. With Temple University's Inside-Ou
After serving 15 years in federal prison, Joe has dedicated himself to supporting returning citizens. At TLF, Joe is a Facilitator for Project HOPE. As a graduate of the Prison Cells to Professionals Scholars Program, he is an advocate, mentoring justice impacted citizens in pursuit of college education. With Temple University's Inside-Out Prison Exchange Training Institute, he coaches professors who facilitate classes that bring together campus students with incarcerated students in the prison setting. Joe is also a member of the Pennsylvania Reentry Council's ThinkTank.
Steven Brice
Joe Schwartz
Joe Schwartz
Steven is a Project HOPE Facilitator at The Liberation Foundation and began with the program's inaugural program. Outside of TLF, Steven is CEO of and Director of Yoga for Philly. Steven is a community organizer for the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, sits on his local Police Department Advisory Committee to oversee and evaluate police
Steven is a Project HOPE Facilitator at The Liberation Foundation and began with the program's inaugural program. Outside of TLF, Steven is CEO of and Director of Yoga for Philly. Steven is a community organizer for the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, sits on his local Police Department Advisory Committee to oversee and evaluate police conduct, and is CEO of Brice Enterprises, which offers consulting services and racial consulting services to churches. Originally from South Jamaica, Queens, Steven now lives in Philadelphia.
Jehmar Gladden
Jehmar Gladden
Jehmar Gladden
Jehmar Gladden is a Philadelphia-born activist. After serving 24 years in prison under a wrongful conviction, Jehmar returned home in August 2021 with the support of The Liberation Foundation and the advocacy of his childhood best friend, Terrance Lewis. At TLF, Jehmar is a Project HOPE Facilitator. Jehmar is committed to sharing his stor
Jehmar Gladden is a Philadelphia-born activist. After serving 24 years in prison under a wrongful conviction, Jehmar returned home in August 2021 with the support of The Liberation Foundation and the advocacy of his childhood best friend, Terrance Lewis. At TLF, Jehmar is a Project HOPE Facilitator. Jehmar is committed to sharing his story and promoting an end to injustice in Philadelphia and beyond.
Evan Wiles
Jehmar Gladden
Jehmar Gladden
Evan Wiles is a Philadelphia native activist who is currently incarcerated at SCI Coal Township. He co-developed Project HOPE with Terrance in 2018 and has been a driving force in executing the program ever since. He has served as an internal facilitator during the past two cohorts. His mentorship is invaluable, and his leadership has ear
Evan Wiles is a Philadelphia native activist who is currently incarcerated at SCI Coal Township. He co-developed Project HOPE with Terrance in 2018 and has been a driving force in executing the program ever since. He has served as an internal facilitator during the past two cohorts. His mentorship is invaluable, and his leadership has earned him a position on the Advisory Board of the Liberation Foundation upon his arrival.
Project RIC and the Student Justice initiative (SJI) Team
Sarah H. Lee, Esq.
Sarah H. Lee, Esq.
Sarah H. Lee, Esq.
Sarah is a zealous advocate who is deeply committed to liberating the innocent. She oversees TLF's Attorney Review Panel that examines cases of innocence and wrongful conviction submitted to TLF. She is a former prosecutor from the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and congressional staffer from Southern California, where she specia
Sarah is a zealous advocate who is deeply committed to liberating the innocent. She oversees TLF's Attorney Review Panel that examines cases of innocence and wrongful conviction submitted to TLF. She is a former prosecutor from the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and congressional staffer from Southern California, where she specialized in veterans affairs. While in law school, Sarah was an extern in the Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Community Defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Sarah is a proud alumni of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and University of California Irvine.
Eileen Prescott
Sarah H. Lee, Esq.
Sarah H. Lee, Esq.
Eileen is an attorney who runs Wake Forest University Law School's Accountable Prosecutor Project. In addition to directing research on prosecutors, she teaches Criminal Procedure: Adjudication and a seminar on Progressive Prosecution. Eileen has previously worked or interned in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office habeas section,
Eileen is an attorney who runs Wake Forest University Law School's Accountable Prosecutor Project. In addition to directing research on prosecutors, she teaches Criminal Procedure: Adjudication and a seminar on Progressive Prosecution. Eileen has previously worked or interned in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office habeas section, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office post-conviction unit, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. At Wake Forest, she is the faculty advisor for the Society for Criminal Justice Reform and the Prison Letters Project, which is a pro bono initiative through the law library supplying legal research materials to prisoners who send in requests. She is passionate about the Foundation's mission, especially in seeking relief for people with disproportionately long sentences.