The Mississippi Center for Justice opened its doors in 2003 with a simple mission: dismantling the policies that keep Mississippi at the bottom of nearly every indicator of human well-being and deny African-American and lower-income Mississippians the opportunity to advance themselves.
Today, progress is being made. As a home-grown public interest law firm, MCJ advances racial, economic, and social justice by combining legal services with policy advocacy, community education, and media outreach. The Center partners with national, regional and community organizations to develop and implement campaigns designed to create better futures for low-income Mississippians and communities of color in the areas of educational opportunity, financial security, healthcare, affordable housing and other vital issues.
Our Staff
Kimberly Jones Merchant – President and CEO
kmerchant@mscenterforjustice.org
Kimberly Jones Merchant is a legal strategist, nonprofit leader, and justice advocate with nearly three decades of impactful work advancing racial and economic justice nationally and across the state of Mississippi. She now serves as MCJ’s President and CEO, leading a group of attorneys and professionals who represent and advocate on behalf of Mississippians. Prior to this role, Kimberly led the private firm of Kimberly Jones Merchant P.A. as principal, where she served as City Attorney for Indianola and Greenville, Mississippi, as well as Board Counsel for the Hollandale School District. Through her consulting practice, KEA Collaborative, Merchant offered specialized training and consulting services to legal aid and public interest organizations, with a strong focus on race equity in both internal operations and external advocacy.
Merchant has been a featured speaker on race equity and justice at numerous national conferences and events, and she provides consulting and training services to legal aid and public interest organizations across the country.
She is the former Senior Director of Advocate Resources and Training and first-ever Director of the Racial Justice Institute (RJI) and Network at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, where she provided strategic oversight for the growth and expansion of the annual Racial Justice Institute and its alumni advocacy network. Prior to joining the Shriver Center, Kimberly led the Educational Opportunities Campaign and served as Managing Attorney for the Delta Office of the Mississippi Center for Justice.
With over two decades of legal experience, Merchant is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi (B.S. in English) and the University of Mississippi School of Law (J.D.). She is a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Fellow and holds a number of leadership roles in her local community, the state of Mississippi, and nationally, serving on the boards of the ACLU of Mississippi, and the Mississippi Center for Justice, a member of the Equity Advisory Council for Justice in Aging, and a member of the Leadership Council for Frontline Justice, a national movement to cultivate justice workers to fill the gap in access to help people resolve their civil legal needs. In addition to her professional roles, Merchant co-hosts a quarterly Pro Se Clinic in partnership with the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Washington County Chancery Court, providing crucial legal assistance to her local community.
Stacey Moore Buchanan– Director of Operations/ General Counsel
sbuchanan@mscenterforjustice.org
Attorney Stacey Moore Buchanan serves as the Director of Operations and General Counsel for the Mississippi Center for Justice. Originally hailing from the Nation’s Capital, Stacey is now a committed Mississippian. After law school, Stacey clerked for the Honorable Henry T. Wingate of the U.S. District Court for the S.D. of Mississippi. Following her clerkship, Stacey practiced at an international firm in New York. Most immediately, Stacey was an attorney at a regional law firm, where her work focused on commercial litigation and bankruptcy. She is admitted to practice in both Mississippi and New York.
A recipient of the 2020 “Top 50 Under 40” Award by the Mississippi Business Journal, Stacey has always remained civic-minded. Her efforts in the legal arena are not limited to the confines of her office—she has been appointed to several committees and is active with several bar associations. The chance to do the work of MCJ and help positively affect the lives of fellow Mississippians is not one Stacey takes lightly. To now get to do such work in her dad’s hometown brings Stacey full circle. Stacey earned her Bachelor of Arts cum laude from the University of Maryland and her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. She and her husband are the proud parents of three boys who keep them busy.
Harya Tarekegn – Director of Advocacy and Policy
htarekegn@mscenterforjustice.org
Harya Tarekegn is the Director of Advocacy and Policy. Harya brings with her a very diverse slate of experiences and perspectives shaped by representing indigent defendants in New York City, conducting bail reform in Nairobi, Kenya, and supporting incarcerated teens in Santa Clara Juvenile Hall. Harya joins us directly from her position as the former Senior Counsel to the Executive Director and Director of Policy and Advocacy for the nation’s largest independent police oversight agency, the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). In her role, she was responsible for managing special projects for the Agency with the goal of improving the civilian oversight of the nation’s largest police force, while building an oversight model to be replicated across the nation. Harya specialized in strategic advocacy to find innovative ways to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. Harya also focused on connecting with community advocates and elected officials to increase police accountability and advance the Agency’s legislative agenda.
Prior to joining the CCRB, Harya worked as the Executive Director and Partner of Moreno Ocampo, LLC, a global consulting firm where she managed a team of global attorneys and communications experts focused on developing tailored strategies to manage complex conflicts including addressing the human rights violations perpetrated against Yazidi women and girls in Iraq. Harya’s commitment to public service is also evidenced by her work as a Founder and Strategy Director for Rising Leaders, Inc. a non-profit providing low-income or underserved students with high-quality mentorship and leadership development training.
Harya holds a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Stanford University.
Tonya F. Adams – Director of Finance and Accounting
Tonya F. Adams is the Director of Finance and Accounting at the Mississippi Center for Justice. Tonya received her Bachelor of Arts from Mississippi State University, where she was a member of the Women’s Basketball Team, and her Master of Business Administration from Mississippi College. Tonya is also a certified Nonprofit Accountant Professional. An excellent leader in the financial space, Tonya has served in several key positions including Associate Director of Administration and Finance at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Director of Finance for the United Way of the Capital Area, and the Chief Financial Officer at My Brother’s Keeper, Inc. Tonya is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Delta Omega Chapter.
A native of Jackson, Tonya is a graduate of Murrah High School. In her spare time, Tonya loves to travel with her family, and is an advocate sports fan. She and her husband are proud parents to one son.
Andrea’ Barnes – Director of Heirs’ Property
abarnes@mscenterforjustice.org
Andrea’ Barnes is director of Heirs’ Property, which provides legal assistance to families to clear title to their land in heirship situations, establishes current ownership to property, and educates communities around the state explaining what heirs’ property is and what one can do to protect it. Prior to joining the Center, Andrea’ practiced family law, estate and probate administration, and personal injury litigation. Andrea’s background also includes working as a law clerk with the Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, a prosecutor with the Hinds County Attorney’s Office, and as an attorney with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Andrea’ has also served as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College. Previously, she served on the Spencer Perkins Center Board of Directors. Andrea’ earned a Bachelor of Arts from Tougaloo College, a Master of Business Administration from Jackson State University, and received her doctorate of jurisprudence from Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
Charity Bruce – Director of Economic Justice
Charity Bruce serves as the Director for MCJ’s Economic Justice campaign, overseeing the MCJ expungement matters. She also oversees the Hinds County Justice Court Navigator Program, helping individuals involved in civil cases understand and navigate the Justice Court system. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Tougaloo College and her Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas. Upon graduation, she immediately returned to Mississippi and served as a law clerk for the Honorable Denise S. Owens of the Hinds County Chancery Court. Charity is a member of the Magnolia Bar Association, the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Society, and the Thurgood Marshall Mentorship program.
Linda Dixon – Director of Health Law
Linda Dixon serves as the health law director at the Mississippi Center for Justice, a position she has held since November 2008. Prior to joining the Center, she was the assistant secretary of state for elections for the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office, where she previously held the position of senior attorney and director of elections training and education. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Southern University at New Orleans and her law degree from Mississippi College School of Law. Linda’s work focuses on access to health care and HIV discrimination and stigma. Linda is a member of the Mississippi Bar and the Magnolia Bar Associations. Linda currently serves on the Southern Black HIV/AIDS Advisory Council, Mississippi HIV Planning Council, and the Access Care & Engagement TA Center Advisory Council. She serves on the Mississippi College School of Law Alumni Association Board. Linda previously served on the Southern AIDS Coalition Board of Directors, the Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation, and the steering committee of the Southern HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative.
Robert B. McDuff – Director of the George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative
rmcduff@mscenterforjustice.org
Rob McDuff is a civil rights and criminal defense lawyer who directs the George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative of the Mississippi Center for Justice. He was one of MCJ’s founders in 2003 and served on its board for many years.
Rob joined the MCJ staff in 2017 to lead the newly formed George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative. Under his leadership, Impact Litigation has undertaken a variety of matters, including cases involving voting rights, free speech, reproductive rights, and a seminal criminal justice case securing the freedom of Curtis Flowers, who endured 23 years in prison in Mississippi despite significant evidence of innocence in a case marked by extreme prosecutorial misconduct.
Before joining the MCJ staff, Rob built a private practice in Jackson, which began in 1992, focusing on criminal defense and civil litigation, primarily civil rights, in Mississippi and elsewhere. Even after joining MCJ, he continues his private practice part-time, representing clients outside of MCJ’s portfolio in criminal cases and some civil cases.
Rob has argued four cases in the U.S. Supreme Court involving civil and constitutional rights and has represented clients in a variety of matters over the years. He has received many awards, including the William Robert Ming Advocacy Award of the national NAACP; the Frederick Douglass Award of the Southern Center for Human Rights; and the Pro Bono Service Award of the International Human Rights Law Group.
A native of Hattiesburg, Rob is a graduate of Millsaps College and Harvard Law School.
Ashley Richardson- Director of Housing Law
arichardson@mscenterforjustice.org
Ashley Richardson serves as the Director of MCJ’s Housing Law Campaign which focuses on providing legal assistance, advocating for fair housing policies, and combating housing discrimination to create a more equitable and just housing landscape for all individuals and communities. The campaign also provides education and outreach to Mississippians about their housing rights. Richardson received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rust College. She then attended the University of Mississippi where she received her Master of Criminal Justice and served as a graduate assistant for the Department of Legal Studies. Upon graduation, Ashley moved to Nashville, TN where she worked for the State of Tennessee and Monroe Harding, a non-profit organization. Ashley returned to Mississippi and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law. During law school, Ashley served as President and Treasurer for the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF), Social Action Director for the Southern Region of the Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA), and Undergraduate Relations Committee Chair for BLSA. She interned with the Southern Center for Human Rights, Nashville Public Defenders, Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, The Washington Law Firm, PLLC, and served as a student attorney for the MacArthur Justice Clinic. Upon graduation, Ashley served as a judicial law clerk for the Fourth Circuit Court District of Mississippi for Judge Carol White-Richard. Ashley is a member of the Mississippi Bar, Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar, Magnolia Bar Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and she also serves as a TN Achieves Mentor.
Tosha Taylor – Director of Philanthropy
ttaylor@mscenterforjustice.org
Tosha Taylor serves as the Director of Philanthropy at the Mississippi Center for Justice. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Tougaloo College, and earned her Master’s of Leadership degree from Belhaven University.
Taylor began her career in non-profit management in 2004, as Director of Cultural Health Initiatives with the American Heart Association. She spearheaded the implementation of Search Your Heart, a program aimed at educating African Americans in church communities about the risk factors and prevention of stroke and heart disease. Tosha has also served as Vice President of Resource Development and Marketing for United Way of the Capital Area, led in renowned organizations such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Smoke-free Mississippi, and American Red Cross.
Tosha is a proud and active member of Junior League of Jackson, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Tara Y. Wren – Director of Communications
Tara Y. Wren serves as Director of Communications at the Mississippi Center for Justice. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Jackson State University, along with a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Relations from the University of Southern Mississippi. Tara has over 25 years of comprehensive experience spanning marketing, management, communications, fundraising, and strategic planning. She has spearheaded transformative initiatives at Mississippi Public Broadcasting, serving in various leadership capacities, including Director of Communications, Director of Underwriting Sales, and Director of Education.
Additionally, Tara has held positions such as Marketing Director at Jackson State University and Executive Director of an arts and cultural non-profit in her hometown of Port Gibson, MS. Outside of her professional pursuits, Tara finds joy in spending quality time with her family and adorable granddaughter.
Sierre Raphael Anton – Staff Attorney, Economic Justice
Sierre Raphael Anton serves as a Staff Attorney with the Economic Justice Campaign, primarily handling expungements and foreclosure matters. Sierre was born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Mississippi, where he graduated with a Bachelors part of the first class of 3+3 students from the School of Applied Sciences. Sierre then received his JD from the University of Mississippi School of Law. During law school, Sierre worked with the Public Interest Law Foundation, where he organized expungement clinics and fundraising events to provide stipends to law students seeking to serve underrepresented areas in the South. Prior to joining MCJ, Sierre clerked with Judge Deborah McDonald of the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Sierre lives in Jackson with his wife.
Catouche J. L. Body – Senior Staff Attorney, Heirs’ Property
Catouche J. L. Body serves as Senior Staff Attorney for MCJ’s Heirs’ Property Campaign. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics/Pre-Engineering from Tougaloo College in 1996 and a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law in 1999. While in law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Fred L. Banks. Catouche was admitted to The Mississippi Bar in 1999 and has more than twenty-five years of experience focusing on major criminal and civil litigation. He began his legal career with the law firm of Daniel Coker Horton and Bell, PLLC, before transitioning to sole practice in 2002. In October 2024, Catouche joined MCJ to support the mission of the Heirs’ Property Campaign by helping historically underserved farmers and landowners protect their land for future generations. A Canton, Mississippi native, Catouche is married with four children and two grandchildren.
Mary Barnard Church – Staff Attorney, Heirs’ Property
mchurch@mscenterforjustice.org
Mary Barnard Church serves as Heirs’ Property Campaign staff attorney at the MS Center for Justice. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Mississippi College and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois Chicago Law School. During her time in law school, Mary was actively involved in the Restorative Justice Clinic, where she played a crucial role in assisting children in inner-city Chicago schools. Her work focused on improving students’ behavior, attendance, and academic performance, demonstrating a profound dedication to community service and restorative justice. After graduating, Mary returned home to Mississippi to build a career in civil law. In her free time, Mary enjoys spending time with her wife, reading, traveling, and doing DIY projects.
Ian Gustafson – Staff Attorney, Housing Law
igustafson@mscenterforjustice.org
Ian Gustafson serves as Housing Attorney in MCJ’s Biloxi office. Ian interned for the MCJ Housing Team in 2020 and helped conduct intake and provide services near the inception of MCJ’s eviction hotline at the height of the pandemic. Upon graduating from law school, Ian began a two-year fellowship for MCJ, hosting many expungement clinics throughout the state and filing many expungement petitions for Mississippians to have their record cleared. Walmart and the law firm Akin Gump sponsored this project. Ian’s fellowship ended in August 2024. He grew up in Illinois and graduated from Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University Law Center. Ian first came to Mississippi in 2017 as a middle school teacher and basketball coach in Greenville and quickly became enamored with the state.
Lily Moens-Equal Justice Works Fellow, Education
Lily Moens serves as an Equal Justice Works Fellow for MCJ’s Education Campaign Project. She grew up in Virginia and is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Harvard Law School. Prior to attending law school, Lily taught high school math in Byhalia, Mississippi. Her work at MCJ focuses on special education advocacy for students in the Mississippi Delta
Alecia Reed-Owens – Deputy Director of Health Law
Alecia Reed-Owens serves as an attorney in the health law and public benefits campaign, overseeing MCJ’s medical-legal partnership. She attended Jackson State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law. After graduation, Alecia returned to her hometown of Greenwood, Mississippi and served as a law clerk for the Fourth Circuit Court. She later served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the city. Alecia has previously served as prosecutor for the City of Tchula, Mississippi, and staff attorney for the Legal Assistance Clinic at Catholic Charities. She is married to Mark Owens and they have five children.
Paloma Wu – Deputy Director of the George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative
Paloma Wu serves as Deputy Director of the George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative at the Mississippi Center for Justice. She has litigated cases challenging racial bias in policing and police hiring, discrimination against persons with disabilities, youth jail and prison conditions, and laws targeting free speech and the right to vote. Wu runs a statewide protester legal support network and represents protesters in civil and criminal proceedings. Paloma was previously Acting Senior Supervising Attorney for Criminal Justice Reform at the Southern Poverty Law Center; Legal Director of the ACLU of Mississippi; and an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where she litigated securities matters. Before becoming a lawyer, Wu was an investigator for death-sentenced people in a capital habeas unit, and she served on a legal team representing all people with mental illness in California prisons.
Samira Abunemeh – Research Analyst
snabunemeh@mscenterforjustice.org
Samira Abunemeh serves as the Research Analyst for MCJ’s campaigns. She has a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from the University of Mississippi and a Master of International Affairs from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Prior to joining MCJ, she did research on a variety of international political topics with a primary focus on the Middle East. She is from Philadelphia, Mississippi.
Denise Antoine – Office Manager / Project Manager/ Student Coordinator
dantoine@mscenterforjustice.org
Denise Antoine serves as a legal assistant with the Mississippi Center for Justice, a position she has held since August 2006. In her capacity with the Center, Denise provides critical organizational support for clinic outreach, client in-take and processing, and general case management. Denise has a long history of providing support to non-profit organizations, including experience with Back Bay Mission, South Mississippi Legal Services Corp., the South Mississippi AIDS Task Force, and Moore Community House in Biloxi, MS. Prior to joining the Center, Denise also gained valuable legal experience working with Gillespie & Blessey Law Firm on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Denise is also an active volunteer with numerous organizations that promote healthy choices for teens and youths.
Marnesha Atkins- Paralegal, Economic Justice
matkins@mscenterforjustice.org
Marnesha Atkins serves as the paralegal for the Economic Justice division at MCJ. She is from the Mississippi Delta and volunteered at the MCJ Indianola office while in high school. After graduation, she went to Millsaps College, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in Secondary Education in which she is also licensed to teach. She is currently pursuing an M.S. in forensic psychology and is a member of the honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Psi Chi. Marnesha is excited to be a part of the consumer protection team where she will primarily focus on foreclosure prevention work, community engagement, and financial knowledge dissemination.
Tabitha Brown – Law Clerk, George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative
Tabitha Brown serves as the Law Clerk for the George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative at MCJ. Most recently, she worked as a Master Data Analyst at Royal Cup Coffee in Birmingham, Alabama. Tabith specialized in data processing and used SAP software to inform decision-making and support clients. Previously, as a freelance specialist, she generated online traffic through optimization for advertisers to shape campaigns. Tabitha holds an Associate of Science degree in biology from Lawson State Community College, where she served in the Ambassador program. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), she studied biology and Spanish. While studying at UAB, Tabitha served as President of the American Red Cross Club and volunteered with Cahaba Medical Care (providing healthcare to underserved Spanish-speaking communities); A Promise to HELP (providing free medical exams to the underserved Black Belt region of AL); and Habitat for Humanity. Tabitha is passionate about racial and social justice in the South. She enjoys traveling, playing piano, skating, and playing basketball in her spare time.
Stephanie Davidson- Project Associate, Health Law
sdavidson@mscenterforjustice.org
Stephanie Davidson serves as a Project Associate for the Health Law Division. She is a graduate of the University of West Alabama with a degree in History and completed graduate studies at Mississippi State University with a Masters of Public Policy and Administration. Stephanie has worked in the areas of health, education, and nonprofits serving as Community Impact Director for United Way of East MS and adjunct instructor in American Government at East MS Community College. She was director of Wesley House Free Clinic and has served on various nonprofit boards. She taught World History and Advanced Geography in the Kemper County and Canton School Districts. Stephanie is a native of Meridian, MS.
Felicia Davis – Health Outreach and Story Collection Coordinator, Health Law
Felicia Davis serves as a Project Associate for Health Law. She graduated from Jackson State University with a degree in Criminal Justice and completed her graduate studies at Mercer University in Atlanta, GA, with a Master’s Degree in Education. She spent 20 years in public education in Metro Atlanta as a language arts and social studies teacher at Dekalb County School District and Rockdale County Public School District. She has also worked as a facilitator and Associate Director of Education in the nonprofit sector. Felicia loves helping others, spending time with her family, and traveling.
Patrick Ervin- Project Manager, Civic Engagement and Government Accountability Project
plervin@mscenterforjustice.org
Patrick Ervin serves as the Mississippi Center for Justice’s Civic Engagement and Government Project Manager. Patrick is a native of Greenville, Mississippi, and holds two degrees from Delta State University- a bachelor’s in journalism and a Master of Science in Community Development. Patrick has worked for a number of organizations over the past couple of decades, including the Delta Democrat Times, Delta Health Alliance, and ATH Solutions. In June 2014, he started Ervin Consulting, a sole proprietorship dedicated to helping local organizations improve their government contracting aspirations, organizing efforts, grant writing, and marketing capacities. Patrick, an Air Force veteran, is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Erinn Funches – Community Organizer, Health Law
efunches@mscenterforjustice.org
Erinn Funches serves as a Community Organizer for the Health Law Campaign. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Mississippi State University and a Post-Baccalaureate in Population Health Sciences from the University of Mississippi, where she studied Epidemiology, Research, and Health Disparities. Erinn is passionate about public health and policy and how they impact underserved communities. She is an active volunteer for Stewpot of Jackson, assisting with various programs. Erinn enjoys outdoor adventures, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.
Shaneice Gordon – Paralegal, Heirs’ Property Campaign
sgordon@mscenterforjustice.org
Shaneice Gordon serves as a paralegal for MCJ’s Heirs’ Property Campaign. Prior to joining MCJ, she worked as a clerk. Shaneice earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Tougaloo College and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Mississippi College. She also earned a Juris Doctorate and Certificates in Pro Bono Service and Civil Litigation from Mississippi College School of Law. During law school, she was actively involved in several organizations including the Public Interest Law Group where she served as President. She was sworn in to limited practice while in law school which allowed her to serve as a guardian ad litem attorney and assist clients with guardianship and divorce cases. Shaneice will support the mission of the Heirs’ Property Campaign by helping historically underserved farmers and landowners protect their land for generations to come.
Marilyn James – Paralegal, Economic Justice
Marilyn Denice James serves as a paralegal with the Economic Justice Campaign’s Justice Court Pilot Project. Prior to joining MCJ, she worked as an elementary school educator for five years. She earned her bachelor’s in education from Delta State University and has served on multiple committees that advocate for children and families for over twenty years.
Veronica Jenkins– Operations Clerk
vjenkins@mscenterforjustice.org
Veronica Jenkins serves as the Operations Clerk here at MCJ. She is a Jackson, MS native who loves fashion and serving others. She has obtained a B.S.B.A. in Business Administration (Entrepreneurship). B.S.B.A. in Merchandising, and a Communication Studies minor from The University of Southern Mississippi. Veronica’s goal is to help at least one person every day. She enjoys being a light for MCJ.
Yumekia Jones – Senior Program / Office Manager and Community Outreach Coordinator
Yumekia Jones serves as the Senior Program and Office Manager and Community Outreach Coordinator in the MCJ’s Indianola office. Before joining MCJ, she worked as an employment interviewer and Program Manager with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security at the Indianola WIN Job Center. In this role, she negotiated contracts with businesses to place unemployed persons back in the workforce. Jones also worked as the fiscal officer for the Delta Housing Development Corporation, an organization dedicated to providing safe and affordable housing to low-income families. Jones gained experience in office management through years of implementing administrative operations for various organizations. Jones has a Bachelor of Arts in General Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Delta State University. Jones spends her spare time with her family and volunteers for several Delta area organizations whose aim is to foster healthier communities.
Elijah Karriem – Communications and Graphic Design Specialist
ekarriem@mscenterforjustice.org
Elijah Karriem is the Communications and Graphic Design Specialist at the Mississippi Center for Justice. He earned his degree in Journalism and Media Studies, focusing on Integrated Marketing Communications, from Jackson State University. During his time at Jackson State, he volunteered with MCJ’s Impact Litigation, served as the President of the NAACP Youth and College chapter, and completed an internship with the ACLU of Mississippi in their Advocacy and Communications department.
D’Arcy LeFlore – Financial Accounting Clerk
dleflore@mscenterforjustice.org
D’Arcy LeFlore serves as the Financial Accounting Clerk here at Mississippi Center for Justice. She is a proud native of Jackson, MS and graduate of Provine High School. In 2012, she obtained her BBA in Accounting from Jackson State University. Prior to joining MCJ, she worked for Horne LLP accounting firm in Government Services as an AR Payment Analyst. She is an experienced Accounting Team Lead with 7+ years of experience in managing and leading accounting teams.
Equiller Mahone- Program Associate, Health Law
emahone@mscenterforjustice.org
Equiller Mahone serves as Program Associate Health Law Campaign, focusing primarily on MCJ’s HIV initiatives. Equiller obtained two degrees from the University of Alabama-a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies and a Master of Science in the same area of study. Equiller has over a decade of experience working in the non-profit sector, with five of those years spent in non-profit management. She primarily provided services to women, men, and children who experienced abuse. In addition to her non-profit experience, Equiller has also served as an adjunct instructor in the Human Development and Family Studies Department at the University of Alabama. She also taught courses in the Department of Human Sciences at Alcorn State University. Equiller is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Evelyn Mixon- Intake Associate, Heirs’ Property
Evelyn Mixon serves as Intake Associate for the Heirs’ Property Campaign. Prior to joining MCJ, she worked for over 16 years with the Madison County Tax Assessor’s Office as the Real Property Valuation Clerk. Her background also includes working as a Public Safety Dispatcher with the Jackson Police Department, Public Works Dispatcher with the City of Jackson Traffic Engineering Division and as a Legal Assistant with Lowery & Castilla Law Firm. Evelyn earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Jackson State University and is a native of Camden, Mississippi.
Dixie Shaw – Program Manager, Housing Law
Dixie Shaw serves as the Program Manager in MCJ’s Biloxi Office with a primary focus on acting as the Fair Housing Testing Coordinator and conducting intake through MCJ’s housing stability hotline. Dixie is from the State of Washington where she spent over 15 years working for government civil rights enforcement agencies such as the Seattle Office of Civil Rights, King County Office of Civil Rights and Compliance, the Washington State Human Rights Commission, and the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries as the HR Liability Prevention Manager/Ethics Advisor. While at the Fair Housing Center of South Puget Sound, Dixie served as the Program Manager serving over the Fair Housing Testing Program.
Francis Vaughn – Senior Paralegal/Outreach Coordinator, Heirs’ Property
fvaughn@mscenterforjustice.org
Francis Vaughn serves in the Jackson office as the Housing Campaign’s heirs’ property initiative. Prior to joining MCJ, Francis served as office manager and paralegal for The Wade Law Firm. Francis was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta and holds an associate of arts degree in pre-med from Coahoma Community College and a bachelor of arts degree in biology/pre-med from the University of Mississippi. Francis has a history of serving the community through nonprofit organizations, having done so in Indiana and North Carolina before returning to her home state of Mississippi. Francis is married and the mother of four children.
Kim Wiley- Education Policy Analyst & Project Coordinator
Kim L. Wiley serves as the Education Policy Analyst & Project Coordinator for MCJ. She is a former Educator who served for ten years in secondary and higher education. She later transitioned from education to research development across various fields. Kim served for four years as a Medical Writer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in the Department of Geriatrics as part of the NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study. She later served as a Program Evaluator with Professional Associates, Inc. evaluating state agencies and local programs across Mississippi who were part of the Mississippi Justice and Assistance Grant for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Before joining MCJ, Kim served as a Proposal Writer for YoungWilliams developing expansive bid proposals for privatized child support services for multiple government contracts across the U.S. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Belhaven College, a Master of Education from Mississippi College, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from Mississippi State University.
Board of Directors
Walter H. Boone
ChairJackson, MS – Balch & Bingham
Gordon D. Greenwood
Vice ChairOakland, CA – Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood
Matthew P. Bergman
Seattle, WA – Social Media Victims Law Center
Martha Bergmark
FounderWashington, DC – Voices for Civil Justice
Judith L. Lichtman
Washington, DC – National Partnership for Women & Families
David M. Lipman
Miami, FL – The Lipman Law Firm
Ivy Parker-Snider
Board Secretary/ TreasurerEdmond, OK – The Southwestern Companies
Chevis C. Swetman
Biloxi, MS - The Peoples Bank
Donald B. Verrilli, Jr.
Washington, DC – Munger, Tolles & Olson
David Baria
Bay St. Louis , MS - Cosmich Simmons & Brown PLLC