Rochelle Garza is an attorney from the Rio Grande Valley currently serving as President of the Texas Civil Rights Project, one of the most influential legal organizations dedicated to empowering Texas communities and creating policy changes in the state. Rochelle has the honor to be appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights by President Biden where she will serve as commissioner until 2028. The USCCR is the oldest independent and bipartisan commission in the U.S. created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957. In 2022, Rochelle Garza became the democratic nominee for Texas Attorney General on a platform focused on voting rights, reproductive rights and government accountability. She was the first Latina to be nominated in Texas history to run for Attorney General by any major party. Rochelle is the daughter of two public school teachers. At a young age, Rochelle learned firsthand how broken our healthcare system is. Her oldest brother, Robby, suffered a brain injury during childbirth and grew up with disabilities. Rochelle watched her parents work tirelessly to ensure Robby had the care he needed. Like so many families, Rochelle knows what it’s like to make sacrifices for the health of her family. So she became a lawyer for the people –– fighting for the civil rights of children, immigrants and families and has expertise in immigration, family, criminal and constitutional law. Her work has had broad impacts on civil rights, including the “Garza Notice,” a federal requirement that ensures teens in immigration detention control their reproductive health care choices, which is still in effect till this day. Rochelle graduated from the University of Houston Law Center and from Brown University with honors. She lives with her husband, Adam, their toddler, and their dog, Ramses, in Brownsville, Texas.

Kirby Chandler is a a lifelong Texan and a proud Houstonian who brings nearly a decade of experience in electoral campaigns, strategic leadership, and management to the Texas Civil Rights Project. She’s spent the majority of her career fighting for a more equitable Texas, including spending the last four years spearheading work to elect better representation for working families in the Rio Grande Valley. Kirby is passionate about progressive policy and working to give power back to Texas’ most vulnerable communities. Before joining the Texas Civil Rights Project, Kirby worked on some of the most competitive campaigns in the country, including managing congressional races high profile mayoral and statewide campaigns. Kirby earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from Miami University.

Dustin directs TCRP’s legal work and legislative advocacy and serves as in-house counsel. Dustin is a Texas native who has worked in public interest civil rights with an intersectional focus on the criminal legal system, disability, education, race, and LGBTQIA identity for over twenty years. Throughout his career, Dustin is most proud of his work mentoring new public interest attorneys and incubating innovative work to grow and strengthen the movement for social justice. In his own advocacy, Dustin uncovered and eliminated the illegal cap on special education enrollment in Texas that denied services to over 300,000 students. After first interning at TCRP in the summer of 2004, Dustin returned to TCRP full time as Director of the Criminal Injustice Program in 2022 and was promoted to Legal Director January 1, 2024. Dustin launched and leads cross programmatic collaborations for TCRP in the areas of Reproductive Justice and Disability Justice. Dustin is a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum Houston (Class XVIII). Dustin received a Bachelor of Arts from Pepperdine University, cum laude (2001), a M.P.Aff. from the L.B.J. School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas (2003), and a J.D. from The University of Houston Law Center (2006). Dustin and his husband, Mike, live in Houston with their son and enjoy theater and travel.

Zachary (Zach) Dolling is TCRP's Litigation Director and has previously worked in the Voting Rights, Criminal Legal, and Beyond Borders Programs. Before joining TCRP, he was a project attorney at Justice for our Neighbors Austin and a law clerk to United States District Judge Robert Pitman of the Western District of Texas.

Chanel is a Texas native who has worked in finance for over 20 years. As the Director of Finance and Accounting for TCRP, she is most excited about being able to support the organization by creating and maintaining excellent financial controls, policies, and procedures to ensure they are fiscally sound. Chanel understands the importance of civic responsibility to uphold democratic values, including justice, freedom, equity, diversity, and human rights. So, when she joined the TCRP family, she took the baton and sprinted. Chanel looks forward to continuing to be a part of THE CHANGE!

Miranda joins the Texas Civil Rights Project as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Development. Miranda is a powerful force in advancing democratic values. She has nearly 15 years of experience in government, electoral, and advocacy spaces. Miranda develops fundraising strategies and communications that move missions forward. She brings impressive experience surpassing multi-million-dollar revenue goals and cultivating meaningful partnerships with community members whose contributions are transformational. Miranda holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from The American University in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor’s degree in Government from The University of Texas at Austin. She lives in San Antonio with her husband and son, who are her motivation in her work.

Jackie is the Director of Communications at the Texas Civil Rights Project. She has worked to create narrative change, mobilize voters, and encourage advocacy within diverse communities in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin for nearly a decade. Her passion is to apply strategic and engaging messaging to increase owned, earned, and paid media presence in order to increase public awareness and engagement. Jackie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Central Michigan University and her Master of Professional Studies degree in Political Management from The George Washington University.

Doretha Polite is a seasoned Human Resources Professional with over 25 years of leadership experience, including 12 years dedicated to Human Resources. With a solid foundation built over 22 years at a leading insurance company, she honed her skills in Operations for a decade before transitioning into various prominent director roles within Human Resources. Recognized for her strategic vision and people-centric approach, Doretha embarked on a new journey by establishing her Human Resources and Leadership Consulting Firm. Here, she offers executive coaching tailored to the needs of small to medium-sized businesses, specializing in HR strategies and leadership development. Recently, Doretha has extended her expertise to civil rights by joining the Texas Civil Rights Project, where she is eager to contribute her wealth of Human Resources and leadership knowledge. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Brett, and her English Bulldog, Sparty. She is also an enthusiast for journaling and loves writing and creating content related to journaling.

Rolando joined TCRP in 2015, and he currently serves as associate director of operations. Rolando is from Corpus Christi, TX, and he has lived in Austin since 1991. Outside the office, Rolando enjoys being with family & friends, traveling, playing music, bike-riding, and disc golf; and, in the community, Rolando volunteers in service to people who are homeless and food-insecure. Rolando holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication, and a master’s degree in social science & social justice, both from St. Edward’s University.

Alycia Castillo is Associate Director of Policy at the Texas Civil Rights Project. Prior to joining TCRP, Alycia was Director of Policy and Advocacy at Texas Center for Justice and Equity. Before her career in public policy, Alycia worked as a teacher, specializing in positive-based learning interventions for students with learning disabilities. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at Texas State University, and brings a trauma-informed, antiracist lens to her analyses and advocacy. Alycia also serves on the Board of Equity Action, Second Look Texas, and is Co-Founder of the Finish the 5 Campaign. She lives in Austin, Texas with her partner, their three children, and their 3-legged rescue dog, Jeff.

Chris Harris is a native Texan, proud son, partner and parent, and a passionate advocate working to upend our unjust status quo by dismantling systems of surveillance, punishment and exclusion and building systems of support, accountability and restoration. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Advocacy for the Texas Civil Rights Project and volunteers for numerous organizations and causes in Austin. Chris has contributed to winning campaigns aimed at limiting: racial disparities in the criminal legal system, police violence, criminalization of poverty, ICE detentions, pre-trial incarceration, subpar indigent defense and investment in police and prisons. Chris was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas and raised in the Metroplex. He’s an alumnus of Austin College where he studied political science and international relations. He enjoys consuming news and tacos in unhealthy quantities, and dropping dimes and feathery jump hooks on the basketball court.

Christopher Rivera is the Outreach Coordinator for the Criminal Legal Program at TCRP. He received a dual degree at California State University Long Beach where he studied Political Science and Chicano Studies. Christopher has been with TCRP since 2016 where he began his career as a paralegal. Since 2021, he has been working as the outreach coordinator pushing for policy change and advocating for those who are often underserved and over-policed.

Denisse Molina is the Humanitarian Outreach Coordinator at the Texas Civil Rights Project. In her role, Denisse represents TCRP in state-wide and national collations, leads advocacy campaigns, and organizes communities in the Texas Borderlands to fight for human rights and to fight against inhumane immigration policies. As a long-term resident of the Borderlands, Denisse also shares her expertise of the federal, state, and local systems and their connection to the Borderlands and her local community. Before this, Denisse worked as a paralegal at ProBAR, a non-profit providing direct services to immigrants detained in adult detention centers. In addition to her role in direct services, Denisse also played an integral role in providing research, advocacy strategies, and humanitarian services through the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Policy ( aka family separation), Migrant Protection Protocols Policy ( aka Return to Mexico), Title 42, and many other immigration policies. In 2023, Denisse worked alongside the Beyond Borders Policy team to bring her expertise to the Texas Legislature. Moreover, Denisse also organized border communities to fight racist immigration policies and bring awareness to the issues more pressing to the Borderlands, she did this through her work with various grassroots organizations. Lastly, Denisse is also an immigrant herself and through her own lived experiences shares a lot in common with the communities she serves. She holds a BA in Government from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She is based in the Rio Grande Valley area.

Georgina Guzman is the Supervising Paralegal and the Paralegal for the Beyond Borders Program at Texas Civil Rights Project. Georgina was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and moved to Brownsville, Texas with her family when she was eight years old. Her native language is Spanish and is bilingual in both Spanish and English. She began working in the legal field in October of 1994, and earned her Associates Degree in Applied Science – Legal Secretary in December of 1995 from Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, Texas. She has over 25 years of legal experience, of which 15 of those years are in civil litigation. In November of 2017, Texas Civil Rights Project gave her the opportunity to work at its South Texas office located in Alamo, Texas, transitioning from the private sector to the non-profit sector. Georgina is currently attending UTRGV and finishing her Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies, which consists of three minors (Legal Studies, Political Science, and Mexican American Studies). She also volunteers her time with a non-profit motorcycle organization that empowers abused children, loves spending time with her family, close friends, and two dogs.

Kassi is a Staff Attorney with the Beyond Borders team, where she works on impact litigation and broader advocacy efforts to protect the human rights of immigrants. In her role, Kassi has filed various administrative complaints and been a part of federal litigation teams to hold CBP accountable for violations of civil rights, especially in torts and disability rights. Kassi has also participated in broader advocacy efforts to end programs like Operation Lone Star. She continues to work on behalf of TCRP clients to ensure that they have equal access to justice. Prior to joining TCRP, Kassi was an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Texas Legal Services Center’s Medical-Legal Partnerships. During her EJW fellowship, Kassi worked to advocate for the immigrant community in a federally qualified health care center. She provided direct legal services to about 300 clients and engaged in health policy, especially in light of the pandemic. Kassi received her BA in Humanities with high honors and Liberal Arts Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law. During law school, Kassi participated in Texas Law’s Mental Health and Supreme Court clinics. She also spent summers clerking for non-profits, including Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid.

LaToya is an experienced litigation paralegal with over 10 years experience ranging from, criminal, civil, and family law. LaToya is a graduate of Dallas College where she earned an Associate of Applied Science with a focus in Paralegal Studies. LaToya is married to Ken with 5 children, ranging in age from 13 -24. LaToya has attended several legal training seminars to increase her expertise. Latoya enjoys working with clients to help them through their cases. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, reading non fiction books, watching crime TV, and spending time with friends and family.

Molly joined TCRP in 2022 as a Yale Law Journal Fellow, and is now a staff attorney in the Criminal Legal Program. She works on a variety of issues impacting people at all stages of the criminal legal process, with a focus on combatting the inhumane conditions in Texas prisons and jails. Molly received her B.A. in history from Swarthmore College and her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she worked on civil rights issues affecting veterans and people in prison. Before attending law school, Molly was a litigation assistant at the Prison Law Office in California and worked for the Honorable David S. Tatel of the D.C. Circuit. Molly served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert L. Pitman of the Western District of Texas.

Since joining TCRP in 2021 as a Skadden Fellow, Sarah led the successful trial team challenging Galveston County's 2021 redistricting, supported local redistricting efforts across the state, and participated in our lawsuit challenging the SB 1 voter suppression bill. Sarah received her BA in public and international affairs from Princeton University and a law degree from the UC Berkeley, School of Law. She clerked for the Hon. Dolly M. Gee of the Central District of California and the Hon. Jane B. Stranch of the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Sixth Circuit. In the 2016 general election, she helped run one of the largest regional election protection programs for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, and previously worked for a community nonprofit in San Antonio. She also serves as a founding board member of Asian Texans for Justice.

Travis joined TCRP in September of 2021 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow. Travis works on eradicating the school-to-prison pipeline in Texas through litigation and community-based advocacy. Prior to joining TCRP, Travis graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. In law school, Travis worked for a host of different legal nonprofits including Lawyers for Civil Rights, New York Legal Assistance Group, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, and the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee. He won Best Oralist and was a member of the winning team of the Ames Moot Court Competition. Before law school, Travis taught high school and middle school debate in Los Angeles. He attended UCLA where he graduated summa cum laude. Travis grew up in the Fort Worth area and is excited to return to Texas!

Veronikah is the Voting Rights Policy Attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project. Before joining TCRP as a staff attorney, Veronikah was the Manne Family Foundation legal fellow for the Voting Rights program and heavily contributed to its Election Protection program campaign and the organization’s policy strategy during the 88th Legislative Session. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 2022 and received her Bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Syracuse University.

Megan Dion joined Texas Civil Rights Project in February 2024 as Senior Philanthropy Officer, bringing more than five years of nonprofit development experience. She is a dedicated advocate for social justice with a proven track record in nonprofit capacity building, event planning, fundraising, and marketing. Megan is passionate about community-centric fundraising, enjoying building strong relationships with community members to share the positive change Texas Civil Rights Project staff and volunteers fight for every day. Prior to her work in nonprofits, Megan served with AmeriCorps, taught high school science in the DFW area, and taught 3rd grade in Honduras. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology from the University of California Berkeley and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Kirsten joined TCRP as a legal fellow in the Criminal Legal Program in 2023. She enthusiastically works on issues that directly impact those who have been affected by systems of incarceration and policing. She received her B.A. in Political Science from Prairie View A&M University and her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law. While in law school, she participated in the Parole Project, Civil Rights Clinic, Capital Punishment Clinic, and Juvenile Justice Clinic.

Daniel Hatoum is a human rights lawyer based in San Antonio, Texas. Through the Beyond Borders team, Daniel fights to ensure the U.S. has humane migration practices and for the rights of his fellow Texans who live along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Daniel is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. Daniel started his career path as a clerk for a federal judge before eventually making his way from Fried Frank-MALDEF Fellowship to RAICES and, most recently, becoming a supervisor with the Beyond Borders team.

Randy is a staff attorney with the Criminal Legal Program, where he focuses on protecting people from abusive policing, unjust prison conditions, and criminalization. Prior to joining TCRP, Randy worked on civil rights cases involving border communities at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. He clerked for the Hon. Jerome T. Kearney of the Eastern District of Arkansas and the Hon. James E. Graves Jr. of the Fifth Circuit. He received a B.A. and B.S. from Point Loma Nazarene University and a J.D. and M.T.S. from Vanderbilt University.

Roberto Alejandro Lopez is a Senior Advocacy Manager in the Beyond Borders program at the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP). He lives in Austin, TX, and is proudly from the Rio Grande Valley, where he was born and raised and taught high school math for two years before joining the TCRP team in 2018. Roberto is a leader in the Beyond Border program’s advocacy work against the growing militarization of the Texas border. He fights for a day where all who live in or pass through the borderlands are treated with dignity, welcome, and belonging. Roberto graduated with his engineering degree at Cornell University.

Marina Ortiz is the Bookkeeper at Texas Civil Rights Project. She has been working in the accounting field since 2015. Marina grew up in Reynosa, Mexico and she now resides in the Rio Grande Valley. Prior to joining TCRP, Marina worked with local organizations advocating for LGBTQ+, climate change and border community issues. She also assisted in registering High School seniors to vote all over the valley. Marina loves her community and she understands the important work TCRP does so she could not be happier to be working alongside liked-minded people.

Danny Woodward is a Julius Glickman Legal Fellow with the Beyond Borders Program, where he works on impact litigation supporting the rights of immigrants and border communities. Danny received his undergraduate degree from The University of Vermont, earned a Master’s Degree in Arabic Studies from the American University in Cairo, and graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law. While in law school, Danny participated in the Immigration Clinic, the Supreme Court Clinic, and was a Human Rights Scholar with the Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice. He also devoted his time to pro bono projects, serving as a Pro Bono Scholar with the Mithoff Pro Bono Program, where he supported the parole packet representation and immigration projects. Before law school, Danny worked as Manager of Immigrant Services at a nonprofit in Massachusetts.

Charlotte joins the Texas Civil Rights Project as the Development Database Manager. With a decade of experience, she specializes in donor relations and development operations. Charlotte has a talent for blending strategic use of technology with a personal touch, and she is passionate about finding new ways to expand capacity for greater impact. She is dedicated to making a difference in Texas. A lifelong Dallasite, Charlotte graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in psychology. She lives in East Dallas with her husband and dog.

Virginia Mudge joined TCRP in May 2024 as the Senior Grants and Foundations Manager, bringing 17 years of experience supporting and leading development efforts through grant programs and individual giving in the arts, environment, and social services. In her most recent role, Virginia was introduced to political advocacy and public policy work at the state level, which fostered a powerful shift in her human purpose and professional direction. She is proud to support the work of TCRP and its partners, and grateful for this opportunity to help build momentum against systemic discrimination and structural violence in Texas. Virginia moved from Dallas to San Antonio in January 2022 to be closer to her family and is delighted to share space with her rambunctious orange tabby, Clementine Beauregard. She also plays the piano and is scary good at foosball.

Sergio Treviño is joining TCRP as the Digital Communications Manager. Growing up as a third-generation farm worker, Sergio traveled to Washington state and Wisconsin for seasonal work and was raised in the Rio Grande Valley. He began his career in community organizing and communications at La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), where he became deeply involved in local organizing campaigns, advocating for language justice and improved living conditions for communities throughout the RGV. Sergio is committed to continuing the legacy of those who have fought for rights, ensuring that future generations benefit from collective efforts. Additionally, Sergio helps host skateboarding outreach events to create community and share the physical and mental benefits of skateboarding.

Vanessa joined the Texas Civil Rights Project in June 2024 as the Annual Giving Manager. She oversees the annual giving program and manages mid-level funder relations. With over a decade of experience in project management and relationship building, Vanessa has a strong background in nonprofit fundraising across higher education, performing arts, public media, and social justice causes. She is dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote equal opportunities and ensuring every voice is heard and valued. Vanessa's efforts help fund essential programs that fight for basic human rights, aiming to foster equality, justice, and advocate for policy changes that promote justice. Vanessa earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration with a minor in Organizational Communications from the University of the Incarnate Word. She actively participates on the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Texas Coastal Bend Chapter Board, where she co-chairs the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access committee. She enjoys building her vinyl record collection, spending time with her husband, their three dogs, and their family, and loves sunny beach days.

Inaya Sheikh graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Communications and Leadership and a minor in Social Work. Her interests led her to intern at the Department of Family and Protective’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Division and the Office of the Attorney General’s Transnational Organized Crime Division. She previously worked in the Texas Legislature and is passionate about combating human trafficking and supporting youth in the foster care system. Inaya has a history of working in Public Relations and advocacy. In her free time, Inaya enjoys reading, hiking, volunteering, and fencing.

Kate is an attorney with the Beyond Borders team, where she works on federal litigation such as habeas corpus actions, FTCA cases, and impact litigation challenging anti-immigrant policies. Kate also works with communities and advocates across Texas to provide know-your-rights education and resources. She also works to provide resources and legal services to immigrant workers who have experienced labor violations such as wage theft. Before joining TCRP, Kate was a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio. Kate received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law. During law school, Kate represented clients in the Immigration Clinic and was a Teaching Quizmaster. Kate also served as a Pro Bono Scholar and provided legal services to students with disabilities and their families, advocating for educational accommodations in the classroom. Before law school, Kate taught kindergarten in a Texas public school. In her free time, Kate enjoys baking, creative writing, and spending time with family and friends, including her two cats.

Tania Monsivais is TCRP’s Prospect Research Associate. Born and raised in the border city of Laredo, Texas, she attended Texas A&M International University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After graduating, they joined Jessica Cisneros for Congress’s Finance Team in 2020 and 2022. In addition to fundraising, Tania has done organizing, translating, and voter protection work for nonprofits and campaigns.

La'Dereka joined TCRP as the Voting Rights Outreach Coordinator in 2024. She received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Houston and her B.S. in Finance from Louisiana Tech University with a minor in Human Development and Family Science. Her involvement during her time in undergrad taught her the importance of advocacy within marginalized communities. As a licensed political social worker in the state of Texas, she has the unique perspective of seeing the policy alongside its direct impact on communities. While in her masters program, she interned at the 88th Legislative Session with the Legislative Study Group where she analyzed policies for the Elections, Human Services, and Licensing & Administrative Procedures committees. La'Dereka brings a community-centered, DEI, anti-racist lens to her policy and advocacy work. She loves cooking, painting, and being an aunt to her 4 nephews. La'Dereka is excited to continue to fight for the well-being and livelihood of Texans through her role!

Originally from El Paso, Texas, and having grown up in San Antonio, Christina Marie Martinez joins the Texas Civil Rights Project with six years of experience working alongside families in a holistic capacity. From case management to overseeing a place-based initiative in San Antonio, she has dedicated her career to advocating for equitable communities and systems across Texas. Christina Marie is passionate about advancing social justice and fostering positive change for all. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys exploring museums, engaging in community organizing, and spending quality time with her "pack"—Ozzy, Floyd, and Buddy.

Michael is the Operations Coordinator at Texas Civil Rights Project. Originally from Houston, TX, Michael has been working for Austin area non-profits since 2019. He supports the staff through completing various tasks that optimize productivity and ensure that everything is running smoothly.

Kayla is a native Texan, excited to join the Texas Civil Rights Project as Executive Assistant to the President. Throughout her career, Kayla has worked extensively in fundraising, event planning, and operations. Her expertise will be key in her new role, supporting TCRP’s President. Kayla is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in Government and minored in Spanish. She is passionate about advocating for policies that support working-class families across her home state of Texas and is excited to join a passionate team of advocates!

Karla is a Staff Attorney in the Voting Rights Program. She litigates on behalf of Texans to protect their right to vote. Karla received her BA in the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health from Yale University and her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley. She clerked for the Honorable David Briones of the Western District of Texas. She's a Houstonian, and enjoys visiting the city's great public libraries and picnicking in its parks with her daughter and husband. She also loves curling up on the couch with her two cats.

Nina Lea Oishi is a staff attorney in the Voting Rights Program. Before joining TCRP, she was an assistant county attorney in the Affirmative & Special Litigation Division at the Harris County Attorney's Office, where she advised on election issues and led a 2025 lawsuit challenging the unlawful federal termination of refugee resettlement programs. Before moving to Texas, she was a Yale Law Journal Public Interest Fellow and served as law clerk to the Honorable Robert E. Bacharach on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. She received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2022.

Toni Cato joined TCRP in 2025 as the Human Resources Manager after a rewarding 21 years of service at a top-tier insurance company. Toni's vast experience includes Employee Relations, Benefits & Leave Management, Payroll, Talent Acquisition, Leadership & Development, Associate Engagement & Culture, Onboarding, Compliance, and Performance Management. Toni's approach to Human Resources combines strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and a genuine care and concern for people. Toni is a proud graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University where she earned her degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Toni enjoys spending as much time with her husband, Jamaal, son, Joshua, and fur baby, Dakota, the Doodle. She is also an avid reader who loves to travel and watch scary movies.

Stephanie Drenka joins TCRP as the Earned Media Manager. Based in Dallas, she specializes in storytelling, narrative change, and amplifying voices from underrepresented communities. Before joining TCRP, Stephanie was a facilitator and coach with The OpEd Project and Communications Director for Dallas Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. She co-founded the Dallas Asian American Historical Society and is the editor-in-chief of VISIBLE Magazine. Stephanie’s photography and writing have been featured in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Newsweek, Chicago Tribune, and more. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from DePaul University, with minors in Asian American Studies and Women’s Studies.

DéShawn is the Editorial Fellow at the Texas Civil Rights Project. DéShawn was born in Georgia and reared in Texas between Houston and Austin. DéShawn is passionate about storytelling that is honest, open, and unveils facts otherwise concealed. DéShawn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Rutgers University – Newark. DéShawn is at work on an experimental novel.

Johanna is a paralegal at the Texas Civil Rights Project. Born and raised on the U.S.–Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley, she is a first-generation immigrant passionate about immigrant justice and community advocacy. Johanna supports TCRP’s legal teams with case management. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Outside of work, Johanna enjoys reading romance novels, and volunteers as a child advocate at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.

Alana Park is a Manne Family Fellow working on the Beyond Borders team to challenge dangerous and inhumane conditions and medical neglect in immigration detention facilities. She is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. While in law school, Alana was a Pro Bono Scholar for the Mithoff Pro Bono Program, participated in the Civil Rights and Juvenile Justice Clinics, and completed internships with several civil rights and immigration non-profit organizations. Before law school, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Communications from UT Austin.

Charlotte is a Staff Attorney for the Beyond Borders program where she works on impact litigation to promote and protect immigrants' rights in Texas. Prior to joining TCRP, Charlotte clerked at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Charlotte is a graduate of Wellesley College and Northeastern University School of Law. During law school, she interned with the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project and the U.S. District Courts of Massachusetts and the Eastern District of New York. Before law school, Charlotte was a legal advocate for detained unaccompanied migrant children at the American Bar Association-South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project ("ABA ProBAR") in the Rio Grande Valley. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, singing, baking Challah, and spending time with family.

Michael Sanchez is a communication specialist with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from UTRGV (Go Vaqueros!), where he focused on Public Relations. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Relations at USC. Michael is passionate about creating a positive impact through communications and the power of storytelling, and strives to lead meaningful change wherever he goes.

Miranda joins TCRP's Voting Rights Program as a NYU Public Interest Law Center Legal Fellow. During law school, Miranda worked to gain a broad understanding of community-driven voting rights litigation and policy advocacy through internships and clinical work with the New York City Campaign Finance Board, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and the Brennan Center. Prior to beginning her legal career, Miranda worked in political communications in New Mexico and Nevada. In her free time, Miranda can be found hiking with her dog, attempting to learn how to embroider, or reading science fiction.

Denni Arnold is an attorney based in the border city of Laredo, Texas. As a Legal Fellow with TCRP’s Beyond Borders team and in partnership with the communities they serve, Denni advocates for the rights of immigrants along the Rio Grande and throughout Texas. Denni’s legal advocacy began in 2019, when they joined the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona as a Legal Assistant. Through this role, Denni helped detained adults in removal proceedings understand the labyrinthine immigration system and fight against the odds to access humanitarian immigration relief. This experience led them to Stanford Law School, where they graduated in 2024 with Highest Pro Bono Distinction. Denni interned at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid’s Laredo office during law school and came back to Laredo after graduation to clerk for United States District Judge Diana Saldaña. At TCRP, Denni is committed to working in solidarity and community with their Laredoan neighbors and other border Texans.

Gwynn Marotta is a Manne Fellow focusing on reproductive justice issues at the intersection of TCRP's program areas and fighting for a future where reproductive freedom is a reality for every Texan. She is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law where she was a Sissy Farenthold Scholar for Reproductive Justice and participated in the Criminal Defense, Housing Policy, and Actual Innocence clinic. While in law school she interned with the ACLU Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative and the ACLU of New Jersey. Prior to law school, she worked in political advertising and graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers University.

Alirma Davis is a Peer Policy Fellow for the Criminal Legal Program. Alirma has a deep passion for dismantling mass incarceration and the criminalization of poverty due to her own experiences with the criminal legal system. She experienced the system as the child of a formerly incarcerated parent who is on lifetime parole, and as the sister of siblings who spent their formative years in Texas Youth Commission (TYC) facilities (now Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD)). Alirma recently earned her Master's of Social Work with a concentration in Political Social Work from the University of Houston in May 2025. She brings a wealth of experience in advocating for marginalized populations from her past roles, including Harris County Precinct One, the Texas Legislative Study Group, and TIRR Memorial Hermann. She firmly believes in uplifting the voices and experiences of those who have been historically overlooked and divested. She is excited to begin her new role as the Hogg Foundation Peer Policy Fellow with the Texas Civil Rights Project and continue learning and making a positive impact.

Sarah is the Senior Supervising Attorney of the Criminal Legal Program. Sarah's professional journey has centered around promoting equity and justice for all Texans, especially youth. Prior to joining TCRP, Sarah served as the Supervising Attorney for a unique and highly successful legal services program that worked to ensure juvenile system-impacted youth received the services they need and are legally entitled to at school to reduce recidivism. Sarah is best known for pursuing and achieving systemic reforms including filing legal complaints that resulted in state-wide policy reform, the passage of legislation at the Texas capitol, and serving as the lead for a coalition of community members and organizations that achieved large-scale improvements to school district exclusionary discipline and re-entry practices. In December 2024, Sarah was appointed to the Harris County Racial and Ethnic Equity Committee by the Harris County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council which is focused on improving transparency, developing interventions to reduce disparities, and advancing best practices. Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. from Tulane University in 2003; a Masters in Social Work from Tulane University in 2004; and a J.D. from William and Mary School of Law in 2009. Sarah resides in Houston with her husband, three children, and rescue dog.