The FRJA Board of Directors
Michael McBride
Board President
Board President
Michael McBride is a Senior Database Administrator with Montalbano and Associates, currently contracted with the Florida Department of Transportation in Tallahassee. In March of 2010, his life drastically changed when his 19 year old son, Conor, took the life of his fiancé, Ann Grosmaire. Abruptly immersed in the judicial system, Michael witnessed firsthand the benefits of Restorative Justice in his son’s case.
As the story of this tragedy gained exposure, Michael has provided a unique perspective as a parent of the offender. With his wife, Julie, and Ann’s parents, Kate and Andy, he participated on a Restorative Justice panel at Campbell Law School and regularly speaks to a Law and Society class at Florida State University. He has presented at Restorative Justice conferences and contributes his knowledge of Restorative Justice to the Leadership Tallahassee Justice Day programs. Michael takes every opportunity to provide his perspective in support of restorative practices.
As the story of this tragedy gained exposure, Michael has provided a unique perspective as a parent of the offender. With his wife, Julie, and Ann’s parents, Kate and Andy, he participated on a Restorative Justice panel at Campbell Law School and regularly speaks to a Law and Society class at Florida State University. He has presented at Restorative Justice conferences and contributes his knowledge of Restorative Justice to the Leadership Tallahassee Justice Day programs. Michael takes every opportunity to provide his perspective in support of restorative practices.
Wanda Easley Perkins
Board Vice President
Board Vice President
Wanda Easley Perkins is a native of Pensacola, Florida and is a retired educator of 35 years in Escambia and Orange Counties. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Education and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Wanda was employed as an art instructor for 17 years and as an Administrative Dean for 18 years. She served as the school coordinator for restorative practices and facilitated restorative circles with students, parents, and school staff. Wanda also served as the school coordinator for anti-bullying programs such as Challenge Day, Soul Shoppe, Holocaust, and Unity Day.
Wanda is a passionate advocate of restorative practices and has been a member of FRJA for four years.
Wanda was employed as an art instructor for 17 years and as an Administrative Dean for 18 years. She served as the school coordinator for restorative practices and facilitated restorative circles with students, parents, and school staff. Wanda also served as the school coordinator for anti-bullying programs such as Challenge Day, Soul Shoppe, Holocaust, and Unity Day.
Wanda is a passionate advocate of restorative practices and has been a member of FRJA for four years.
Edith Giorgi
Board Treasurer
Board Treasurer
Ms. Georgi served as an Assistant Public Defender for the Dade County Public Defender from 1981- 2016 where she founded the Capital Litigation Unit which she led until her retirement in 2016.
She has tried over seventy-five cases to jury, including 37 homicides of which 9 have been capital.
Throughout her Public Defender service she regularly trained lawyers both in the office as well as in the community. Currently Ms. Georgi is a Senior Fellow in the Historic Black Church Program at University of Miami Law School’s Center for Ethics and Public Service.
She has tried over seventy-five cases to jury, including 37 homicides of which 9 have been capital.
Throughout her Public Defender service she regularly trained lawyers both in the office as well as in the community. Currently Ms. Georgi is a Senior Fellow in the Historic Black Church Program at University of Miami Law School’s Center for Ethics and Public Service.
Quincie Doucet
Board Member
Board Member
"Q" is an experienced facilitator, rooted in restorative practices, who is an expert in crafting containers for community to listen, reflect, create, and witness each other with presence and depth to inspire what is possible. Quincie has collaborated with a myriad of communities, organizations, and universities/colleges to develop and deliver programming that is tailored to a community’s need/curiosity. They are also a founder of Unity 360 Institute working toward offering customized, experiential training workshops and technical assistance for institutions, companies and organizations to guide them toward intentional representation and an inclusive transformative culture. Q also provides organizational development consulting through Unity360 IDEAS.
Saskiya Fagan
Board Member
Board Member
Saskiya Fagan is a first generation Jamaican American activist storyteller who was an outspoken leader standing against state violence and oppression following the 2012 murder of George Floyd. As an activist storyteller, Ms. Fagan uses the visual art of photography to depict the stories of the fight for social justice. Saskiya is currently employed as the Creative Content & Community Outreach Specialist for The Innocence Project of Florida (IPF) responsible for IPF's digital communications, including graphic design, photography, and videography. In addition to IPF work, Sakiya owns her own photography business, Soul Design, Inc., is a non-violent communication (NVC) leader with The Bigbie Method, interned with Community Connections in Tallahassee supporting system-impacted youth, and served as the Transformative Justice lead for Dream Defenders.
Steven Mangual
Board Member
Board Member
Steven Mangual is a long-time Advocate and Activists in the fields of health, social and criminal justice both from behind the walls and in his community. He started his career in 1997 as a Facilitator, Peer-Educator and Organizer from within the New York State Department of Corrections while serving a 14-year sentence joining the leadership of such prison organizations like Latino Organizations and the Lifer’s and Long-termers Organizations. Upon his release in 2006, Steven worked as a HIV Case Manager, Hepatitis C Educator, collaborating with the NYS Department of Health. Steven returned to DOCCS providing training to peer educators, HIV rapid testing, and transitional reentry planning. Steven volunteered for thirteen years as the Latino Affairs Producer/Co-host for “On The Count: The Prison and Criminal Justice Report,” a 60-minute talk, news, and interview program featuring criminal and social justice subjects on radio station WBAI, 99.5 FM. Most recently, Steven worked with Common Justice Organization running an Alternative to Incarceration Program for youth in his native The Bronx, NY, where he served as Assistant Director of Intervention responsible for all court mandated participants and facilitating restorative justice circles.
Dejah Myers
Board Member
Board Member
Dejah Myers is a life-long social justice advocate who is passionate about harm reduction and social revolution. She is a public speaker specializing in topics regarding race, gender, mental and physical health, and environmentalism, and has spoken for organizations around the world in countries like Mexico and South Africa. For the past 4 years, Dejah has worn many hats while working with the PeaceJam Foundation – an international organization founded by Nobel Peace Laureates for the purpose of inspiring youth to better themselves and their communities – including mentor, conflict resolution leader, and mentor trainer. Additionally, Dejah served as an adjunct professor at Thomas University, teaching their Peace Leadership course.
Dejah has also received both a Bachelors and Masters from Florida State University in the field of Sport Management and is currently pursuing a second Masters in Clinical Social Work with the hopes of continuing to work within the field of criminal justice reform and advocating for the importance of mental health.
Dejah has also received both a Bachelors and Masters from Florida State University in the field of Sport Management and is currently pursuing a second Masters in Clinical Social Work with the hopes of continuing to work within the field of criminal justice reform and advocating for the importance of mental health.
Tolliny Rankins
Board Member
Board Member
Tolliny Rankins, Th.D. is an Author and Instructor in the field of Personal Enrichment and Criminal Justice Reform. For 25 years she was an entrepreneur with a successful direct sales career. She earned her Doctorate in Christian Theology from International Miracles Institute in Pensacola Florida. She has a Masters degree in Christian Theology. She is the published author of 28 Ways To A Better You, Let’s Pick A Fish, I’m Amazing and Co-author of 28 Pitfalls Of A Man. As an Adjunct Professor Tolliny Rankins has taught her original courses at Northwest Florida State College along with leading Personal enrichment lectures and Diversity workshops. Her materials have been taught at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice as well as in the Re-entry Department in Correctional Institutions in Florida and Tennessee. She is dedicated to actively serving with those involved in criminal justice & prison reform as she shares her experience of the effects of having an incarcerated loved one. She is the Co-founder of Redemption 100; a non-profit organization committed to Criminal Justice Reform, assisting those being released from incarceration with essential materials to effectively navigate back into society.
Aaron Williamson
Board Member
Board Member
Aaron Williamson lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he works as an attorney and restorative justice facilitator. In his 15 years of law practice, Aaron has served as general counsel to tech startups and nonprofits, defended individual clients from Federal criminal charges, and represented individuals and organizations in civil litigation. These experiences showed him the limits of the law’s capacity to deliver accountability and healing, and led him to restorative practices.
Executive Co-Directors
Dan Kahn
Executive Co-Director
Executive Co-Director
Along with serving as our Executive Co-Director, Dan teaches empathy skills to teenagers and supports them to achieve their goals with the Community Connections Restorative Justice Program in Tallahassee,
Dan received his AB from Amherst College, and his JD from Lewis and Clark College's Northwestern School of Law.
He is the seventh of eight siblings, and uncle of many. He lives in Tallahassee, where he loves to swim, bike, play, cook, eat, and watch stuff grow.
Dan received his AB from Amherst College, and his JD from Lewis and Clark College's Northwestern School of Law.
He is the seventh of eight siblings, and uncle of many. He lives in Tallahassee, where he loves to swim, bike, play, cook, eat, and watch stuff grow.
JoHanna "J" Thompson
Executive Co-Director
Executive Co-Director
JoHanna Thompson, MPA is an Executive Management Consultant who earned a Master of Public Administration from New York University, Wagner School of Public Service, and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Columbia University.
J’s career has been dedicated to creating collaborative spaces across an intersection of networks, fostering relationships, and maintaining a vision to increase the capacity of influencers, community organizations, programs and campaigns working toward equitable social and transformational justice.
J Thompson lends lived experience and expertise as a Social Impact Strategist, Public
Administrator, Organizer, Guardian ad Litem, Therapeutic Foster Parent, Temporary Instructor,
Interventionist, Restorative Justice Practitioner, facilitator, trainer, and Healer. A self proclaimed
agent of change and persuasion, J’s personal commitment and approach to life aligns with
community accountability, Structural Reconstruction, and the belief that “one day change gonna come.”
J’s career has been dedicated to creating collaborative spaces across an intersection of networks, fostering relationships, and maintaining a vision to increase the capacity of influencers, community organizations, programs and campaigns working toward equitable social and transformational justice.
J Thompson lends lived experience and expertise as a Social Impact Strategist, Public
Administrator, Organizer, Guardian ad Litem, Therapeutic Foster Parent, Temporary Instructor,
Interventionist, Restorative Justice Practitioner, facilitator, trainer, and Healer. A self proclaimed
agent of change and persuasion, J’s personal commitment and approach to life aligns with
community accountability, Structural Reconstruction, and the belief that “one day change gonna come.”
Founders
Dr Cindy Bigbie, Julya Rose Taylor Denholm DeMaria, and Kelly McGrath, Esq.
Around a kitchen table in Tallahassee in 2014, these three friends and colleagues - dedicated to a more just and peaceful world - signed the founding documents for this organization.