Community Advisory Board
Current Member Roster
| Azi Carter (East County) is a resident of Pittsburg and currently studies at UC Berkley. Through education, she gained an understanding of the war on drugs and the negative impacts mass incarceration has had on society. Education has given Azi a voice she never had, and she intends to use it to represent communities of color and elevate important issues impacting the lives of young people and senior citizens. Serving on the CAB will allow Azi to participate in local decision-making processes that affect the reentry population. Azi would join the CAB as a well-organized, punctual, and self-motivated influencer within the various communities she is a part of with a commitment to represent the needs and interests of her fellow community members. | |
| Chala Bonner (West County; Committee Secretary) is a formerly incarcerated community member residing in Richmond. Chala has been through the process of returning home with a criminal record, and has participated in the program offered by Rubicon programs. Through this experience she has gained an interest in continuing to improve the County’s realignment and reentry processes. She is an organizer of the Safe Return Project and a strong believer in change. CAB believes Ms. Bonner’s experience as someone who has a lived experience of reentry and reintegration, and participating in county-funded services, each provide a valuable and needed perspective to the work of the CAB. | |
| Crawford Carpenter (Central County) is a retired businessman who lives in Danville. As a concerned citizen Crawford is looking to stay involved in important efforts that allow him to give back to his community. He would like to be a part of CAB to assist with people impacted by the criminal justice system by help to support a system that helps guide returning residents into productive lives rather than exposing him/her to a more hardened and harmful criminal justice system. In the past, Crawford has provided election services as a Clerk & Inspector, served on a City Planning Committee, an Ohio State Commission and completed Danville’s Citizen Police Academy. While on CAB he would like to see divergent views brought together that results in more resolution and less gridlock. | |
| Dale J. Harrington (Central County; Alternate) is a resident of Contra Costa County and is currently living in Rossmoor in Walnut Creek. Dale is retired from three occupations: Probation Administrator; Executive Director and Board Member for corporations providing low-cost housing to elderly and disabled persons; University instructor focusing on Management, Critical Thinking, and Sociology. He serves on several committees and the Golden Rain Foundation Board of Directors at Rossmoor. His working careers as well as in retirement he has focused on people. He wrote an article entitled PROFESSOR AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES – HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT? which was published in the University of Kiev in the Ukraine. Dale’s experience in working in the probation departments in two counties in California provided him with the understanding of the court system, both criminal and civil, and the value of an offender being able to live in the community with needed support programs. He believes that holding a person responsible for their inappropriate behavior does not mean they are beyond redemption. He witnessed many people convicted of a crime developing positive relationships and functioning well in society. | |
| DeVonn Powers (Central County) is a resident of Concord and works in Concord. DeVonn is a survivor of domestic violence. As a family member of incarcerated individuals, she understands the various points of view and importance of each person’s voice while providing resources and support as the individual and family works through their circumstances. DeVonn understands the difficulties one can face when re-entering the community after incarceration, along with the struggles of being a victim of violence. DeVonn is the President and the CEO of Humanity Way, a nonprofit providing for people’s basic needs. DeVonn has served on or engaged with several support groups including the Alameda Workforce Investment Board member, Community Advisory Board member, and the West County Reentry Success Steering Committee member. | |
Jon'Ta Davenport (East County; Committee Vice Chair) is a resident of Pittsburg and has a work address of Pittsburg as well. He works closely with Contra Costa County agencies to decrease recidivism, homelessness, and substance use. He possesses a bachelor's degree in Human Development, and a master's degree in social work. In his various professional roles, Jon’Ta has served the reentry population, those at-risk of justice involvement and other disadvantaged populations. He was a Substance Abuse Counselor for seven years, and most recently worked for Contra Costa County as an AOD Division Counselor at Discovery House. He has a great passion for the mission of helping others, has strong organizational and leadership skills and takes pride in making positive contributions to his community. | |
| Lila Blanchard (West County) is a resident of Berkeley with a work location in Richmond. Throughout her life, she has visited folks who have been incarcerated, starting in High School. Just after college, she was part of a Spanish speaking volunteer community visiting individuals at San Francisco’s Juvenile Hall for two years. While living in Venezuela for three years, she lived in a neighborhood that was plagued with violence where police protection felt far away. After returning to the United States, she began working with Rubicon Programs, Inc. At Rubicon, she has had over 10 years of experience working with formerly incarcerated individuals around economic empowerment and community development. She has extended family members and friends who have been incarcerated and involved with the justice system. She would like to be part of CAB’s work because she is deeply invested in ensuring there are opportunities and second chances for everyone. | |
| Mark Thomas (East County; Alternate) is a resident of Oakley. Early in life, he began seeking answers to the momentous problems of humanity by dedicating himself to education, transpersonal social science, and restorative practices. However, after his conscious dedication to service, his life soon took a very challenging route through the criminal justice system and 13 years of incarceration in federal prison for bank robbery. However, his time in the belly of the beast allowed him to engage his whole self into gaining an understanding of the deep-seated problems facing humanity. He learned about problems of reentry and restoration personally, and he successfully applied them to himself by using interpersonal and intrapersonal restorative practices. Now he works to pass his practical knowledge and skills on to others. | |
| Michael Pitts (East County; Committee Chair) is a resident of Antioch. Michael has 21 years with the Contra Costa County Probation Department. During this time, Michael served at the Probation Department Boy’s Ranch as a Probation Manager and later became the Director of the facility. As Director, he assisted with the department’s implementation of evidence based practices including risk/needs assessments, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavior. Michael is now a Field Operations Coordinator with the Reentry Network at HealthRight360. In this role, he assists those residents returning from incarceration to connect with resources in the community. From his past and present work experience, Michael is keenly aware of the post incarceration needs of men and women. Michael looks forward to serving on the CAB, giving an opportunity to make an impact with realignment at the county level through his input to the CAB on realignment policy. | |
| Dr. Michelle Hernandez (Central County) is a Contra Costa County resident and currently works and resides in Concord. As a child she grew up visiting her sibling in San Quentin State Prison which led to her interest in the criminal justice system. She earned her PhD in 2011, applying her education and skills to working with foster children in the juvenile justice system. She is passionate about serving the community and has led psycho-educational groups as a Latinx clinical psychologist who specializes in the psychology of disability and has worked with various people of color to overcome barriers and struggles within the criminal justice system. | |
| Nakenya Allen (Central County) is a Contra Costa County resident currently residing and working in Martinez. Nakenya is passionate about the re-entry population and desires to make a difference in her community. She is currently an activist in her community focusing on the disparities of minorities. She was incarcerated at eighteen years old and understands the processes of the criminal justice system and the efforts needed to rebuild one’s life once released from incarceration. She has experience working with individuals with mental health needs and those who are unhoused. | |
| Nicole Green (East County) has been a Contra Costa County resident for ten years and is currently residing in Pittsburg which has allowed her to see the growing community concerns around incarceration and barriers of individuals who have been released. She has been employed with non-profits who focus specifically on the reentry population and has worked to help identify strategies that remove barriers. Over the past three years Nicole has assisted with employment, housing, mental health, and specifically with the AB 109 populations when she was employed with Shelter, Inc. and Goodwill Industries. In addition, she has collaborated with various non-profits and with Contra Costa County Department of Health, Housing and Homelessness strategizing and establishing processes to assist these individuals. | |
| Dr. Terrence M. Cole (Central County) is a resident of Contra Costa County and is currently living in Walnut Creek. He is passionate about working for the reentry population. He has fifteen years of work experience in the education and legal system. His focus is on effectively impacting the lives of individuals of all ages who are involved in the criminal justice system. He is excited about new opportunities that positively impact the criminal justice, education and public policy systems. |