About the Center

Vangela M. Wade – President and CEO

vwade@mscenterforjustice.org

Attorney Vangela M. Wade has a long-standing connection to Mississippi Center for Justice, having joined the Board of Directors in 2016 and served as Secretary/Treasurer, Chair of the Audit Committee, and Chair of the Board of Directors. She currently serves as MCJ’s president and CEO. Vangela began The Wade Law Firm, PLLC, after building a diverse and distinguished résumé as a lawyer. Her background also includes working as a law clerk with the Mississippi Court of Appeals, a special prosecutor with the Madison/Rankin County District Attorney’s Office, and as a corporate defense attorney with local and national employment law firms. She has also served as an adjunct law professor at the University of Mississippi School of Law. In addition to her legal experience, she advised public and private employers and organizations as a consultant in matters involving diversity and fair employment practices. Vangela currently serves on the board of Mississippi Today. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum – Mississippi Forum and of the Land Title Association of Mississippi. Previously, she served on the board of trustees of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School for eight years. She earned her BA from Mississippi State University and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law. With over 23 years of experience in Mississippi Law, Vangela is dedicated to the fight against Mississippi’s culture of injustice by seeking systemic solutions to ensure equity in the lives of all Mississippians.

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 Adams – Director of  Finance and Accounting

tadams@mscenterforjustice.org

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.

John Jopling – Director of Housing Law / Biloxi Managing Attorney

jjopling@mscenterforjustice.org

John serves as the managing attorney for the Mississippi Center for Justice office in Biloxi, MS and also serves as housing law director. He is a founding staff member of the Center’s Katrina Recovery Office, which opened its doors in October 2005 to provide legal advocacy to tens of thousands of residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In 2006, he received the President’s Award from the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division for his legal work on behalf of renters in the immediate aftermath of Katrina. John’s pre-Katrina solo practice in Ocean Springs focused on consumer housing, employment discrimination, and personal injury law. He previously served on the pro bono panel of the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project and was project manager of the Fair Housing Education Outreach Project funded by HUD at South Mississippi Legal Services. During his 10 years with Southeast Mississippi Legal Services in Hattiesburg, he was a housing and consumer law specialist and served as litigation director. From 1994-95, John was a clinical professor in the University of Mississippi School of Law Housing Law Clinic. A graduate of Louisiana State University and the University of Mississippi School of Law, he began his legal career as a law clerk to Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Lenore Prather. He is the author of “Two Years After The Storm: The State Of Katrina Housing Recovery On The Mississippi Gulf Coast,” 77 Miss. L. J. 873 (2008).

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 Impact Litigation project of the Mississippi Center for Justice.  He was one of the founders of MCJ in 2003 and served on its board for many years.  He joined the staff in 2017 to lead the newly formed George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative.

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 including cases involving voting rights, employment discrimination, free speech, police misconduct, and reproductive rights.  He has defended clients in a number of important criminal cases, and helped secure 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.  Rob has received a number of awards including the Pro Bono Service Award of the International Human Rights Law Group of Washington, D.C.; the William Robert Ming Advocacy Award of the national NAACP; and the Frederick Douglass Award of the Southern Center for Human Rights.

A native of Hattiesburg, Rob is a graduate of Millsaps College and Harvard Law School.

Linda Dixon – Director of Health Law

ldixon@mscenterforjustice.org

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.

Max Meyers – Director of Economic Justice

mmeyers@mscenterforjustice.org

Max leads the Economic Justice work here at MCJ, overseeing our work in predatory lending, foreclosure prevention, expungements, and justice court access. Max moved to Mississippi in 2010 and lived in the Delta for five years where he taught fourth and fifth grade in Sunflower County Public Schools and trained new teachers across several Delta counties. Max began at MCJ as a legal fellow after graduating from the UC Davis School of Law. He joined MCJ staff in 2019, first serving as an attorney on the immigration team.

Andrea’ Barnes – Director of the 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.

Paloma Wu – Deputy Director of the George Riley Impact Litigation

pwu@mscenterforjustice.org

Paloma Wu is the Deputy Director of Impact Litigation 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 LGBTQ equality, free speech, and the right to vote. She represents protesters and children in adult criminal proceedings, and she runs a statewide protester legal support network. 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 international securities and antitrust matters. Before becoming a lawyer, she was an investigator for death-sentenced people at a capital habeas unit and was on a legal team representing all people with mental illness in California prisons.

Charity Bruce – Deputy Director of Economic Justice

cbruce@mscenterforjustice.org

Charity Bruce serves as the Deputy Director for MCJ’s Economic Justice campaign, overseeing the Center’s 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.

Alecia Reed-Owens – Deputy Director of Health Law

aowens@mscenterforjustice.org

Alecia Reed-Owens serves as an attorney in the health law and public benefits campaign, overseeing the Center’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.

Ashley Richardson-  Fair Housing Attorney

arichardson@mscenterforjustice.org

Ashley 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.

Katya Matlock-  Fair Housing Attorney

kmatlock@mscenterforjustice.org

Katya Matlock serves as an attorney for the Housing Law Campaign of MCJ in the Biloxi office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science from University of South Alabama and a Juris Doctor from Loyola University, New Orleans College of Law. Her work focuses on eviction defense and fair housing.  Katya is a member of the Mississippi Bar and the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar. As a native of Biloxi, she is delighted to be back in her hometown and serving her community and making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Kim Wiley- Education Policy Analyst and Project Coordinator

kwiley@mscenterforjustice.org

Kim L. Wiley serves as the Education Policy Analyst 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.

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 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 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.

Stephanie Davidson- Project Associate Health Law Division

sdavidson@mscenterforjustice.org

Stephanie 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.

Blake Feldman- Impact Policy Counsel and Project Coordinator

bfeldman@mscenterforjustice.org

Blake Feldman is the Impact Policy Counsel and Project Coordinator  for the George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative. Prior to joining MCJ, Blake served as Advocacy Fellow for the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Mississippi office and Advocacy Coordinator for Criminal Justice Reform at the ACLU of Mississippi. Blake is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Georgia School of Law.

Shakyra Graves – Executive Assistant / HR Coordinator

sgraves@mscenterforjustice.org

Shakyra serves as the HR Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the President and CEO.  Prior to joining MCJ, Shakyra served as a deputy city clerk for the City of Yazoo City. She holds an associate of arts degree in pre-radiologic sciences from Holmes Community College and a bachelor of science degree in healthcare administration from Jackson State University. Shakyra resides in Clinton, MS.

Ian Gustafson – Equal Justice Works Fellow- Biloxi

igustafson@mscenterforjustice.org

Ian Gustafson serves as an Equal Justice Works fellow in MCJ’s Biloxi office. His project is sponsored by Walmart and the law firm Akin Gump. Ian’s work is focused on expungements and other legal services for formerly incarcerated Mississippians. He grew up in Illinois and is a graduate of 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.

Mandesha-DeSha’ Thornton – Communications & Public Relations Specialist

mthornton@mscenterforjustice.org

Mandesha-DeSha’ Thornton serves as the Communications and Public Relations Specialist here at MCJ. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and minor in Political Science. Following graduation, she worked as a Television News Producer and Digital Anchor in Louisiana and Mississippi, before joining the Hinds County Human Resource Agency as a Communications Specialist. In her capacity at the Center, Mandesha works to provide necessary media and communications support to the advocacy campaigns, managing media placement, website updates, and social media accounts.

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 – Office Manager/ Program Manager for Special Projects

yjones@mscenterforjustice.org

Yumekia serves as the Office Manager / Program Manager for Special Projects in the Center’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

Evelyn Mixon- Intake Associate, Heirs’ Property 

emixon@mscenterforjustice.org

Evelyn 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.

Francis Vaughn – Heirs’ Property Paralegal

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.

Clarence Williams – Fair Housing Test Coordinator

cwilliams@mscenterforjustice.org

Clarence serves as the Fair Housing Test Coordinator for the Mississippi Center for Justice. In this capacity, he recruits, trains, and assigns Fair Housing testers. Clarence has a B.A. from Dillard University in New Orleans. Prior to joining MCJ, Clarence was the Community Development Manager for the City of Hattiesburg. In that capacity he administered all HUD grants, including CDBG and HOME Program grants. Clarence has served in similar capacities for cities in California and Alabama. He also served four years as the Director of Human Capital Development for the Hinds County Board of Supervisors. He has extensive experience in Fair Housing advocacy and involvement. He served eight years as a board member with the Long Beach Fair Housing Foundation in Long Beach, California. From 2004-07, he was the Fair Housing Test Coordinator for the Mississippi Legal Services.