Troy Dunmore is a dedicated Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselor based in San Francisco, working in the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) field with a focus on serving men and women living in the Tenderloin community. His professional journey is deeply informed by his personal lived experience transitioning from incarceration back into society. Having navigated the challenges of reentry firsthand after returning from prison, he possesses a profound sense of empathy for those returning to society.

In his current role, he works closely with individuals navigating reentry, substance use, recovery, and community reintegration, providing practical, solution-oriented insights. He strives to meet clients where they are while encouraging long-term recovery, personal agency, and community connection.

He serves on the Reentry Advisory Council to address the structural gaps individuals face upon release, such as limited treatment access, housing instability, employment barriers, and fragmented support systems. He is committed to advancing trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches grounded in dignity and accountability.

Aminah Elster is the Executive Director of Unapologetically HERS, a research and advocacy organization led by formerly incarcerated women. Her professional work centers on participatory action research and leadership development for women and gender-expansive people of color within the justice system.

Aminah's commitment to re-entry is deeply personal, rooted in her own lived experience, and she firmly believes that those closest to the problem are closest to the solutions. On this Advisory Council, she hopes to contribute her expertise in centering racial and gender equity to ensure that re-entry strategies are truly transformative and led by those most impacted. She is looking forward to collaborating with this group to drive meaningful systems change across the board.

Outside of her advocacy work, Aminah is an avid reader and a dedicated member of the Inner Circle Book Club and mastermind group, where she enjoys peer-led personal development and literature.

Dena Hernandez is a compassionate and dedicated individual who is deeply passionate about giving back to her community. As a formerly incarcerated person who was given a second chance through the vital support of For The People, she strongly believes in the power of rehabilitation, support, and opportunity. Her lived experience has motivated her to help others navigate the challenges of reentry and build successful, stable lives.

She currently works for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) as a Case Manager, supporting parolees as they transition back into society. In this role, she assists individuals with learning technology skills, writing resumes, applying for jobs, saving money, and obtaining driver's licenses.

Dena strives to be a positive voice and advocate for her community by showing up consistently and fighting for the rights of those impacted by incarceration. One of the most rewarding parts of her work is picking people up upon release and seeing the hope on their faces.

Daniela Medina, MSW, is a dedicated public servant with the City of Oakland, where she works in violence prevention and public safety. Her work focuses on reducing harm and strengthening local communities by addressing the root causes of violence through coordinated, community-informed strategies.

Daniela's profound connection to re-entry work is both personal and professional. As someone directly impacted by incarceration, she brings critical lived experience and a deep understanding of the challenges people face when returning home. As a member of the Reentry Advisory Council, Daniela is committed to advancing equitable solutions that center dignity, accountability, and real opportunity. She is especially focused on ensuring that lived experience is not just included, but valued as essential to shaping effective policies and programs.

Outside of her demanding professional responsibilities, Daniela is an individual who finds true joy in traveling, taking long nature walks, and spending quality time with her family.

Tyson Nguyen earned back his freedom on January 6, 2023, after serving 11½ years and being released early through recent sentencing reform. Upon release, he carried the heavy weight that so many returning citizens know all too well: the shame, guilt, and quiet struggle to find a place in a world that often feels like it has moved on without you. Rather than letting those feelings define him, Tyson chose to let them drive him forward.

After working odd jobs in landscaping and construction, he earned an internship through the California Justice Leader Program with AmeriCorps at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) in Downtown Sacramento. The team quickly recognized his strong work ethic and the genuine compassion he brought to every interaction.

He was hired full-time as a Credible Messenger, grew into a General Life Coach, and now serves as the Program Manager of ARC's Long-Term Offender Reentry (LTORR) Housing Program, a CDCR-contracted initiative supporting people returning home after serving long and life sentences.

Deshawn Smith is a Certified Braille Transcriber for the Riverside County Office of Education, where he supports visually impaired K-12 students. In addition to his own personal experience with reentry, he has worked closely with individuals returning home from jail or prison as a Peer Support Specialist at TDD Supportive Living in Los Angeles.

His deep passion for helping others stems directly from his own lived experience and from not having a strong advocate or positive voice when he needed one most. On the Council, Deshawn plans to contribute his first-hand knowledge regarding the psychological effects of long-term incarceration on individuals who are still inside or re-entering society. He firmly believes there is no greater understanding than hard-learned lessons, and today he dedicates his life to using those lessons to help others navigating the exact positions he has been in.

For Deshawn, this vital work has truly become his mission and his joy. Outside of his professional advocacy, he is a competitive, professional chess player who regularly participates in various tournaments around the state.

Thanh Tran is an Amerasian Vietnamese and Black filmmaker, music artist, and community organizer based in Sacramento, California. He co-founded Uncuffed, an award-winning podcast amplifying incarcerated voices, alongside ForwardThis Productions, one of the country's first film collectives led entirely by incarcerated individuals.

Currently, he serves as the Co-founder and CEO of New Krma Media, a social enterprise supporting system-impacted artists through film, music, and cultural strategy. Its flagship initiative, the Returning Filmmaker Fellowship, provides formerly incarcerated filmmakers with training, resources, and paid opportunities to build sustainable careers and complete original films.

Thanh is also a Film Independent Amplifier Fellow and the director of Finding Má, a feature-length documentary following his family's search for their unhoused mother after decades of separation by foster care and incarceration. Beyond these projects, he serves on the Advisory Council of the New Breath Foundation and the Board of the Andrus Family Foundation.

In his personal time, he enjoys playing basketball, discovering new restaurants, and cherishing time with his family.

Phillip Villanueva is a skilled forklift operator with a strong passion for building lowrider bikes and working with his hands. As a formerly incarcerated individual with firsthand experience, he is deeply committed to mentoring at-risk youth and giving back to his community.

Phillip values human connection and actively serves as a greeter at his church every Sunday, where he genuinely enjoys welcoming attendees and building relationships with congregation members. He also loves spending quality time with his family and values those close relationships deeply.

Phillip hopes to leverage his unique life experiences and personal story to meaningfully contribute to the Council's ongoing efforts to assist others navigating reentry. His approach is simple but powerful: he believes in being fully open, honest, and transparent because someone out there needs to see that a fresh start is possible. As a Council member, Phillip is dedicated to connecting people with the resources they need and leading by example, one day at a time.

Lisa Wood serves as a Clinical Supervisor at Westside Community Services, where she leads vital behavioral health initiatives. Since 2011, she has supervised the NoVA Project through the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, working closely with individuals involved in the justice system to provide intensive case management, housing assistance, and peer support.

Lisa also serves as the Liaison for the Behavioral Health Court in San Francisco, collaborating with the courts, district attorney's office, and public defender's office to connect clients with critical mental health services. Additionally, she is the Director for the Westside Methadone Clinic, assisting patients with Medically Assisted Treatment.

Lisa's deep commitment to her work stems from her own intimate involvement in the justice system and over 20 years of personal recovery. This background makes her a powerful advocate, teaching others that they can live free. She is also an active member of Positive Directions Equals Change.