Policy Fellow

Jeronimo Cuauhtemoc Aguilar

I am honored to have been selected to complete the 2021 Elder Freeman Policy Fellowship. As a Chicano growing up in the bay area and later the Sacramento valley, I experienced the weight of a system that criminalizes black, brown, and low-income communities. 

Losing many family members to the prison industrial complex, as well as my own experience with incarceration as a youth and young adult, I became radicalized and determined to make a difference for not only my people and community, but for humanity as a whole. 

Now as a man of faith and conviction I feel my calling is to continue to advocate for those incarcerated and impacted by a system that profits off of people’s suffering. I’m looking forward to learning and growing and maximizing this opportunity for the greater good.

Policy Fellow

Jesse Burleson

I am Black and Latino and have been in and out of confinement since age 8 for various activities. I was imprisoned for “life” at age 18 for homicide in 1987. In 2018, I was released through support from the children of the victim.  

During my confinement I became enlightened and joined circles of knowledge, studying history, religion, philosophy and law. I freelanced in litigation, took college courses, and advocated for social change amongst peers.  

I want to fight for those still on the inside and in 2021 joined LSPC because I believe LSPC is an organization committed to empowering formerly incarcerated people, by providing the education and experience needed to gain positions leading towards real power to change laws that directly impact the economically disadvantaged and people of color. “American slavery” exists inside the penal system and I will advocate for its abolishment along with all “extreme sentencing laws.”

Policy Fellow

John Cannon

John is an organizer and policy advocate working to change the injustices that he and his family have experienced in the criminal justice system. As a young person who was charged as an adult at the age of 16, John has experienced the brutality of the system first hand. After being incarcerated for nine years, he is now committed to working with other formerly incarcerated leaders and policymakers to ending mass incarceration and creating more support and resources for people coming home from prison.

In his role as a Policy Fellow at LSPC, John is responsible for tracking bills, drafting policy memorandums, working with statewide coalitions on legislative efforts, and developing impactful campaigns. He is also an organizer with All of Us or None where he recruits new members and engages them in the chapter’s local work. John was raised in and around the Bay Area and comes from a large and loving family of 7 sisters and 4 brothers who have all been impacted by incarceration.

Communications Fellow

William “Tariq” Palmer

Some may know me from my previous journey as In re William Palmer, a 17-year-old child convicted to natural life in prison as an adult to self-advocate freedom fighter at 48 years old. It was my honor to give teeth to SB260’s Youth Offender law, establishing the right to bring constitutional excessive punishment, as a life term prisoner, to the courts and creating parole without punitive conditions. 

I am Muslim first, Sudanese-American second, and my politics is Black Power! The “Black” that I use here is from the Arabic word, “Aswad” meaning “From the origins” as from the Black Matter in space, with the power symbolized by the robe of a judge (as opposed to the Greek word “necro” meaning “dead”). This Power is not reflective like White Power, but obsorbant and inclusive equally, giving All Power to All People. 

When Tariq shines as a proud 2021 “Elder” Freeman Communications Fellow, I am an Artivist that goes by the name of Soul Brotha #9. As the new host of One Community One Mic, I plan to bring conscious awareness of the policies of LSPC and AOUON to the Woken and the Shakened, leaving the Walking Dead to wander in peace. I will use the think tank of AOUON chapter reps to speak on issues facing our General Members and the community at large. Don’t know how long before I’m martyred, so tune in, turn up the volume, and be prepared to be transformed by activism and the power of artistry! Forgiveness, Unity, Love and Healing are the four steps to a powerful community. Are you ready to be Empowered? Ma’as-salaam.

2021 Elder Freeman Policy Fellow. UC Berkeley Underground Scholar

Alex Diaz

Alex Diaz is a student at The University of California, Berkeley studying business

administration. Alex chooses to pursue a degree in business with the intent to develop or create his own organization that would benefit underrepresented and underserved minorities. He is currently the assisting Executive Director of a non-profit, Positive Communication Practices, that teaches socioemotional intelligence, violence prevention, and behavior modification to Alameda County youth in the maximum-security units, in addition to The Division of Juvenile Justice (youth prison) throughout California. As someone who was incarcerated in Alameda County, Alex has made it his lifelong journey to giving back and uplift his community.

Alex applied to The Elder Freeman Fellowship with the intent to understand how legislative

policies can be shaped, molded, and tailored towards marginalized communities that have

historically been underserved and overpoliced. As someone who wants to go to Law School,

Alex thought Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC) would be the perfect

environment to gain experience, insight, and mentorship from other formerly incarcerated

individuals that have been monumental in recent progressive legislative bills/efforts. LSPC’s culture and environment are centered around equality and fair treatment of all people of color

and engaging communities that otherwise would be left out of the conversation.

2021 Elder Freeman Policy Fellow. UC Berkeley Underground Scholar

Keven McCarthy

Kevin’s first encounter with LSPC came while stranded in indefinite solitary confinement at Pelican Bay SHU. LSPC represented Kevin and others in a class-action lawsuit that ended indefinite solitary confinement for mere “gang association.” 

Kevin now returns to the same organization that helped him. Kevin approaches his senior year at UC Berkeley as a legal studies major, and his sight is set on law school. He is committed to fighting for mistreated groups of people and against governmental abuses of power. At LSPC, he has been involved with legislative advocacy for SB 416, AB 990, and ACA 3.

2021 Elder Freeman Policy Fellow, UC Berkeley Underground Scholar

Shani Shay

Shani Shay is an undergraduate at UC Berkeley studying African American Studies and education. Shani is a previously incarcerated mother whose commitment to her community can be seen in her everyday life. Shani is a Firebaugh’s Scholar whose work focuses on effective teaching methods for Incarcerated youth. 

Shani’s dedication to incarcerated youth is exemplified through the in-custody college outreach program, Incarceration to College. Shani has been able to establish the program in Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall and Alameda County Juvenile Hall and provide laptops and stipends to students once released. Shani is a statewide leader and the Advocacy Co-chair for the Berkeley Underground Scholars. Shani became an Elder Freeman policy fellow to use her voice and organizing skills in an effort to galvanize her community and end slavery in California.