Q: How did you first get involved with TLF?
A: In May of 2020, Carson contacted me about a man she met at the DA’s office who was starting a nonprofit to help others like himself who were wrongfully convicted. I immediately agreed and I have been a part of the team ever since.
Q: Why did you originally want to join TLF?
A: I was interested because joining an organization that was created by someone who was directly impacted by the system in a negative way was a special thing to be a part of. I remember talking with a few team members about what I would be working on and I remember being very excited about the hands-on aspect of our work. Everything was very organized which I believe largely contributed to our success very early on. After meeting Terrance and the rest of the team, I knew that I was a part of a very passionate group that was determined to actively help people.
Q: How has your position within TLF evolved over time?
A: When I first started I was a part of Research & Advocacy helping certain cases by researching case law, collecting data on compensation bills across the United States, and reaching out to certain people to support our compensation bill. Now I am a case manager which covers a range of things like organizing files and writing summaries and occasionally I will write short segments for our newsletter about anything in the media related to criminal justice.
Q: Why did you decide to continue working with TLF after graduating?
A: Having a strong team where everyone has the same level of drive and grit was something that I did not want to give up. In addition, the people that are a part of TLF are amazing and the work is rewarding so it was an easy decision to contribute more time to our objective. Overall, I am grateful to have a job that I thoroughly enjoy while also positively impacting the lives of the people we work for.
Q: How easy was it to balance your school life with your TLF work in terms of time commitment?
A: It was not difficult to balance my school life with work. It was my senior year when I was able to get work study for TLF and I only had three classes. However, I had a lot more free time compared to previous years especially with Covid, but I think for someone that does not have as much free time there are still many ways to be involved. The hours are very flexible and even if working three times a week is too much, volunteer work like signing up to be a penpal is just as rewarding.
Q: What is your most meaningful TLF memory?
A: My most meaningful memory thus far was all of us being present at the courthouse for Jehmar Gladden’s release. It was a huge accomplishment after only being established for a little over a year. I had the opportunity to work on case law research for his case and to see our hard work manifest itself into an innocent person being released was incredible. For me, it solidified my desire to do this type of work after law school. I have no doubt that after finishing school I would continue my work with TLF in any way I can.