Staff

Rudy Angulo
Senior Staff Attorney, Criminal & Municipal
Inez Bordeaux
Deputy Director of Partnerships & Organizing
Lee Camp
Managing Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy
Brianna Coppersmith
Staff Attorney, Civil Rights Litigation
Mykal Dean
Paralegal
KB Doman
Staff Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy
Jessica Estes
Director of Partnerships & Organizing
Da’Ziya Faust
Accounting Specialist
Alisha Frazier
Operations Specialist
Johnny Wu Gabbert
Deputy Director of Communications
Sarah Galloway
Senior Staff Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy
Tiara Gore
Case Manager
Z Gorley
Communications Director
Maureen Hanlon
Managing Attorney, Civil Rights Litigation
Jessica Hurn
Development Operations & Stewardship Lead
Rachel Hurtado
Organizing Lead
Dom Hussain
Managing Paralegal
Nick Johnson
Director of Finance and Operations
Will Krueger
Liman Law Fellow & Staff Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy
Michael Lakey
Paralegal
Jacki Langum
Deputy Executive Director
Valerie Lee
Executive Assistant
Catie Luepke
Receptionist
Morgan Martin
Case Manager
Ebony McKeever
Staff Attorney, Civil Rights Litigation
Li-Mae McNehlan
Staff Attorney, Criminal & Municipal
Theresa Nash
Senior Paralegal
Kim Neu
Staff Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy, & Expungement Coordinator
Lindsay Ponce
Staff Attorney, Criminal & Municipal
Annie Rice
Senior Counsel, Policy & Partnerships
Sarah Roberts
Grant Writing Lead
Britt Robinson
Investigator
Stephen Ryals
Special Litigation Counsel
Blake Strode
Executive Director
William Waller
Managing Attorney, Criminal & Municipal
Ashley Williams
Social Services Manager
Ymani Wince
Communications Specialist

About Us

Learn More

Our Impact

Learn More

Get Involved

Learn More

Subscribe

Rudy Angulo

Senior Staff Attorney, Criminal & Municipal

BA, Psychology, UMSL
JD, Saint Louis University School of Law

Rudy Angulo joined ArchCity Defenders in August 2019 as a Staff Attorney with the Direct Representation team, representing clients on a variety of civil and municipal matters. He interned with ACD during his third year of law school and connected with the values and mission of ACD. Rudy would describe ArchCity Defenders as dedicated, passionate, and zealous.

Fun fact:
I like camping, hiking, and seeing live music.

Inez Bordeaux

Deputy Director of Partnerships & Organizing

Inez Bordeaux joined ArchCity Defenders in July of 2019 as the Manager of Community Collaborations. She believes in ACD’s holistic legal advocacy work and over the last 10 years, ACD’s efforts have inspired her to do more. Inez was first was introduced to ACD in 2013, when she was a going through a challenging time and was targeted by the racist criminal legal system. Her background is in healthcare, and she worked as an LPN for 14 years. In 2018, she volunteered as an Organizer for the Close the Workhouse campaign. In her current role, Inez works with partner organizations, advocacy groups, organizers, and activist to build relationships that allow ACD to reach common goals of community well being.

Fun fact:
I’m kinda obsessed with the Zombie Apocalypse. I’m absolutely prepared and know exactly what to do if it happens. I’m a nurse and the nurse never dies in zombie movies, so stick with me!

Lee Camp

Managing Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy

BA, Marketing Management, University of Arkansas
JD, St. Louis University, School of Law

Lee joined ACD in 2017 as a Direct Services Attorney focusing on civil-consumer law, landlord-tenant law, and municipal law.  In 2020, he rose to the position of Senior Staff Attorney. His legal practice consists of assisting low-income, elderly, and disabled clients in addressing various legal housing needs including increasing access to affordable and federally-subsidized housing, preventing evictions, fighting against housing discrimination, and advocating for those currently experiencing homelessness. Lee also engages in extensive policy and media advocacy focusing on tenants’ rights. As an expert in the area of sub-habitable housing, he has successfully argued on the issue before the Missouri Supreme Court, testified on legislation regarding habitability, and continues to give presentations on the issue throughout Missouri and the country.

In 2019, Lee received the Missouri Lawyers Media Legal Champion award.

Fun/personal fact:
“I’m as anti-onion as they come.”

Brianna Coppersmith

Staff Attorney, Civil Rights Litigation

BA, English Literature, Washington University in St. Louis

JD, Saint Louis University School of Law

Born and raised in St. Louis, Brianna worked in higher education prior to attending SLU Law. After law school, Brianna clerked at the Missouri Court of Appeals before joining ACD in June 2024. As a staff attorney on the Civil Litigation team, Brianna’s work focuses on issues including police brutality and jail conditions.

Fun fact:

I love to spend time in St. Louis’s parks and libraries.

Mykal Dean

Paralegal

UMKC

Paralegal State Certification Program

Mykal Dean is a native St. Louis resident, who joins ACD with education from University of Missouri-Kansas City, and is currently completing the Paralegal State Certification program with anticipated grad date July 2026. Her background is in healthcare, where Mykal worked with children with critical and sometimes terminal illnesses.  

Mykal is a previous ArchCity Defenders client, who was assisted in a wrongful eviction case. She says the case and work with ACD legal and social services opened her eyes to see more flaws in the system, leading to transition to legal work. In her current role at ACD, Mykal joins the Housing and Civil Advocacy team as a paralegal,  in hopes to continue addressing the deeper barriers that impact lives.

FUN FACT: I listen to close to 100 audiobooks a year! I love a good psychological thriller!

KB Doman

Staff Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy

BS, Economics and American Studies, Saint Louis University
JD, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law

Originally from Indiana, KB joined ArchCity Defenders in 2023 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, sponsored by an anonymous donor. Her EJW project focuses on unhoused rights and housing justice. KB first connected with ArchCity Defenders in 2020 while protesting tent community sweeps, then was an intern on the Housing Justice team for two semesters.

Fun Fact: I love cartwheels and making collage art.

Jessica Estes

Director of Partnerships & Organizing

BA, Psychology, UMSL
MSW, Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis

Jessica Estes joined ArchCity Defenders in January of 2022 as Director of Partnerships. She learned about ArchCity Defenders as a result of their landmark cases against municipal courts. Prior to joining the team here, Jessica worked in philanthropy. Notably, she was the former statewide organizer for Pro-Choice Missouri, formerly NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri. Jessica also worked in mental health care for over 10 years. In her role as Director of Partnerships, she will be leading ACD’s efforts to build and sustain individual and institutional relationships. 

Fun fact: Jessica eloped! She ditched the big wedding plans and happily married her husband in a Miami, FL courthouse in a white prom dress!

Da’Ziya Faust

Accounting Specialist

MS, Accounting (Audit and Accounting Information Systems) – Southern Illinois University Carbondale

BS, Accounting with a Concentration in Criminal Justice – Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Da’Ziya joined ArchCity Defenders with a passion for helping individuals and families strengthen their financial well-being through budgeting, saving, and financial education. During her academic and professional journey, she interned and worked with two of the top Big Four accounting firms, gaining valuable real-world experience in accounting and auditing. While building a strong foundation in the field, she discovered a true passion for helping others gain the knowledge and tools needed to create healthy financial habits and long-term financial stability.

Da’Ziya was especially drawn to ArchCity Defenders because of its commitment to serving underserved communities and making a meaningful impact in people’s lives through compassion, support, and advocacy.

Fun/personal fact: I enjoy relaxing at home with coloring books, Sudoku puzzles, and word searches.

Alisha Frazier

Operations Specialist

Alisha joined ArchCity Defenders in July 2017, and works as the Operations Associate. Prior to this role, she worked at ACD as an Executive Assistant and Receptionist/Intake Coordinator. Alisha is from St. Louis and has lived in North County for more than 20 years. While living in North County, she has witnessed how the police have targeted black people and the impact that has had on their ability to work, drive and provide for their families and this drew her to ACD.

Fun Fact:
I love karaoke and cooking.

 

 

Johnny Wu Gabbert

Deputy Director of Communications

BA, English and Communications, University of Missouri – St. Louis 

Johnny joined ArchCity Defenders in December of 2022 because his values align with ACD’s mission and vision. As the Deputy Director of Communications, he collaborates with the organization on client story production, issue-based content, breaking news, and multimedia content. Previously, he was involved in editing and communications work at two equity-focused research centers at Washington University. Johnny was born in St. Louis and grew up in California before returning.

Fun/personal fact:
I play bass in punk bands.

Sarah Galloway

Senior Staff Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy

BA, Psychology and Political Science, University of Kentucky
JD, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law

Sarah joined ArchCity Defenders in July of 2020 as a Staff Attorney on the Direct Representation team. In this role, she provides holistic legal representation to clients in civil and municipal cases. Prior to joining ArchCity Defenders, Sarah focused on representing individuals in a variety of family law matters in the St. Louis area, including as an advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence.

Tiara Gore

Case Manager

BSW, Bradley University
MSW, Washington University in St. Louis

Tiara joined ACD in March 2024 as a case manager with the social services team. She is excited to be a part of an organization that works to dismantle oppressive systems and challenges the criminalization of poverty. Before her role at ACD, Tiara worked with families involved in the foster care system and with survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Fun/personal fact:

I have officiated two weddings.

Z Gorley

Communications Director

American Studies and Social Work, Saint Louis University
MSW, Saint Louis University

Z is from Cincinnati and started at ACD in August 2016 because they believe in ACD’s commitment to challenging state violence, racial injustice and criminalization of poor people. As the Communications Director, Z helps people get to know about ACD through social media, news media and alternative media (podcasts, films, etc). Before ACD, they were involved in community organizing, development and media advocacy work.

Fun/personal fact:
I used to read the dictionary and learn words for fun. Also used to study/speak Arabic, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

Maureen Hanlon

Managing Attorney, Civil Rights Litigation

Political Theory, College of Wooster
JD, Saint Louis University School of Law

Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Maureen came to Missouri for a job in 2008 and later worked at College Bound before going to SLU Law school. Prior to joining ACD as a Staff Attorney, she clerked for a judge on the Missouri Supreme Court. As a Staff Attorney with ACD’s Civil Litigation, Maureen is focused on several cases that span from jail conditions, police brutality and beyond.

Fun/personal fact:
I enjoy evangelizing about how everyone should adopt senior rescue dogs.

Jessica Hurn

Development Operations & Stewardship Lead

BS, Business Administration, Stevens Institute of Business & Arts

Jessica joined ACD as the Development Specialist in May of 2021.  Jessica specializes in database management, reporting, and analysis and is responsible for managing ArchCity’s donor database.

Prior to ACD Jessica was the Regional Development Specialist of the Missouri-Arkansas Red Cross Region from 2017 to 2021.  She is a two-time nominee and the 2020 Division Winner of the Development Specialist of the year, and the Hustler awards. Jessica has more than ten years of experience in nonprofit development, database management, gift management, and donor relations.

Fun Fact:
I am probably the only St. Louisan that doesn’t like barbeque sauce.

Rachel Hurtado

Organizing Lead

BSW, University of Oklahoma
MSW, Washington University in St. Louis

Rachel Hurtado joined ACD in 2023 as the community collaborations associate. She supports efforts to build people power in St. Louis, including the We the Tenants, Peoples Plan, and Defund. Reenvision. Transform. campaigns. Originally from Oklahoma, Rachel moved to St. Louis to earn her MSW and fell in love with the city. She has a background in local policy work and community organizing on a range of issues, including immigration, housing, enviro justice, and sex worker rights. Rachel is passionate about harm reduction, abolitionist organizing, and building community through collective care practices.

Fun/personal fact:
I have a cat who is great at playing fetch (and another cat whose top/only skill is being an angel).

Dom Hussain

Managing Paralegal

BS, Political Science, The University of Utah

Dom joined ArchCity Defenders in July 2020 as a Civil Advocate and Paralegal.  Born and raised in Utah, Dom graduated from the University of Utah, and studied Political Science, Ethnic Studies, and Gender Studies. Prior to joining the ArchCity team, they served as an AmeriCorps Vista at Pro Bono Net from 2019-2020 developing a manual and project to connect rural, underserved, and marginalized communities to pro bono legal assistance. Dom’s commitments to social and racial equity and legal advocacy brought them to ArchCity after having a formative intern experience there in 2018. Dom is passionate about ArchCity’s commitments to community-informed movement activism and abolishing laws, mechanisms, and institutions that perpetuate marginalization, oppression, and violence in our communities.

Fun/personal fact:
Dom is an avid baker and peanut butter and chocolate enthusiast, consuming various combinations of the two almost exclusively in their daily diet.

 

Nick Johnson

Director of Finance and Operations

BBA, Oklahoma State University
MBA, University of Michigan
MPP, University of Michigan

Nick joined ArchCity Defenders in January of 2025 because he loves designing systems that help social impact organizations reach more people. As the Director of Finance and Operations, he provides hands-on leadership in finance, human resources, operations, and technology. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer for LaunchCode and The Opportunity Trust, and he looks forward to doing even more work for St. Louis with ACD.  

Fun fact:
Nick has taken three horticulture classes from St. Louis Community College and enjoys farming vegetables in his backyard.

Will Krueger

Liman Law Fellow & Staff Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy

Will defends people facing eviction, fights for housing justice, and helps build tenant power. Before joining ACD, he was a political organizer on many campaigns, including efforts to raise the minimum wage and end gerrymandering in Missouri, and served as a staff member for local and federal elected officials. He has previously worked in tenant defense and housing advocacy, as well as voting rights policy and litigation.

Fun/personal fact
I love to scuba dive and can’t wait to explore Missouri’s world-class underwater cave systems.

Michael Lakey

Paralegal

 

B.S. – Political Science and International Relations, Truman State University 

B.A. – Economics, Truman State University 

 

Michael grew up in St. Louis and wanted to work with ArchCity Defenders since hearing about the organization while in high school. He feels a connection to the work of ArchCity from his love of St. Louis and his belief that its concerns are solvable. After a brief period in local politics, Michael interned at ArchCity in 2024 and always wanted to find his way back. He is excited to have the opportunity to join the organization and do meaningful work with the Civil Litigation team.  

 

Fun fact: I’ve been to all 30 MLB stadiums with my dad. We drove to every single one.  

Jacki Langum

Deputy Executive Director

BA Political Science, BA Religious Studies, and BJ Journalism (News Editorial Sequence), University of Missouri-Columbia
JD, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law

Jacki holds the role of Deputy Executive Director at ArchCity Defenders (ACD). In January 2017, she joined ACD as Director of Advocacy, supervising the organization’s legal staff and works to identify and pursuing advocacy strategies via direct representation, systemic litigation, media and policy advocacy, and through community collaborations.

Previously, Jacki served as a staff attorney in Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s Housing Law Program since 2006 where she represented low-income tenants in state and federal court; worked with individuals experiencing homelessness to provide legal assistance to remove barriers to housing and employment; advocated for the rights of utility customers; and spoke extensively on landlord-tenant law, fair housing, and the housing rights of domestic violence survivors. There she also provided legal assistance in municipal, housing, consumer, and family matters through the organization’s youth and family advocacy program to families and youth under 21 in St. Louis County and she served as the organization’s Ferguson-North St. Louis County Stabilization Initiative Project Coordinator

She has received the 2013 Missouri Lawyers’ Media Women’s Justice Rising Star Award and the 2017 Missouri Lawyers’ Media Up & Coming Lawyer Award.

Fun/personal fact:
I’m a certified yoga teacher.

Valerie Lee

Executive Assistant

Graduate certificate in nonprofit management and leadership, University of Missouri – St. Louis
MA in Organizational Communication, University of Missouri – St. Louis
BA in Communication Theory and Rhetoric, University of Missouri – St. Louis

Valerie joined ArchCity Defenders in May 2023 as the Executive Assistant. Prior to this role, Valerie worked as administrative assistant or office manager at various schools in the St. Louis area and at the United Way of Greater St. Louis in the Community Investment Division. Valerie was born in St. Louis at the former Homer G. Phillips Hospital, the current site of the Annie Malone Children’s and Family Service Center, where she worked at their alternative school as administrative assistant to the principal. Valerie has lived in North St. Louis City all her life and is excited to join the team at ArchCity Defenders.

Catie Luepke

Receptionist

Catie joined ArchCity Defenders in May 2026, with over ten years of customer service experience. She previously worked the front desk for the Humane Society of Missouri in South City, as well as a local vet clinic. In addition to her passion for animals, Catie has a lifelong passion for justice and advocacy. She has volunteered with Operation Food Search and attended many local protests. When Catie learned about ACD, she knew this was the place she belonged and was thrilled to join the ACD mission.

Fun Fact: I grew up on a small horse farm in Jefferson County and as a kid, I told all of my secrets to my favorite horse, Jojo.

Morgan Martin

Case Manager

MSW, University of Missouri – St. Louis

BA, Political Science and Anthropology – Southeast Missouri State University

Morgan joined ACD as a case manager with the social services team in June 2023 and was excited to work at an organization that fights against the criminalization of poverty and aligns with her values on abolition. Prior to that, she was a social work case management intern with ACD from August 2022 to May 2023. Morgan also interned at Keyway: Center for Diversion and Reentry in 2022, managed the Triton Pantry at UMSL from 2021 to 2022, and served as a peer mentor for at-risk students at Southeast Missouri State University from 2019-2021.

Fun/personal fact: My goal is to read 100 books a year.

Ebony McKeever

Staff Attorney, Civil Rights Litigation

Raised in the Midwest, Ebony joined ACD in July of 2024 as a staff attorney in the Civil Litigation Department. Ebony was first drawn to ACD after an acquaintance received a settlement payment from ACD’s class actions combatting debtors’ prisons. Before joining ACD, Ebony practiced law at a private firm in Iowa—however, Ebony’s primary goal in obtaining a law degree was always to help others and effectuate equality.

Fun fact:
I love visual art.

Li-Mae McNehlan

Staff Attorney, Criminal & Municipal

University of Colorado – BS in Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Spanish
Washington University in St. Louis –  MA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law – JD

Li-Mae (she/her) went to law school to pursue skills and education that would allow her to address systemic injustices. She has a particular interest in race, gender, and reproductive justice. She joined ACD as a staff attorney in criminal and municipal defense in 2024 after interning with that department during her final year of law/grad school.

Fun Fact: I have a piano that has been in St. Louis since the 1800s.

Theresa Nash

Senior Paralegal

Certificate in Secretarial Studies

Theresa was born in St. Louis and was inspired by the passion of the founders of ACD, and joined in 2012. She received her certificate in secretarial studies in 1987 and began her career in the legal field in 1997. She is currently a paralegal for three attorneys.

Fun/personal fact:
I collect anything “Lucy”.

Kim Neu

Staff Attorney, Housing & Civil Advocacy, & Expungement Coordinator

BA, Political Communication, The George Washington University
MPS, Political Management- focus on issue campaigns, The George Washington University
JD, Michigan State University

Kim joined ACD in September 2023 as a staff attorney in housing and civil practice and as the criminal record expungement coordinator.

She was born and raised in the St. Louis area and has been active in St. Louis’s social justice community since she was 19 years old. Prior to ACD, Kim served as a housing, public benefits, and expungement staff attorney at Land of Lincoln Legal Aid in Alton, Illinois. Additionally, she has worked in various roles at non-profits, universities, state legislatures, and Congress.

Kim connected with the mission of ACD when she started out in casework at the same time ACD was a young non-profit in the late ’00s. She has since focused on tailoring her education and professional development on providing holistic services to clients in need.

Fun/personal fact:
I learned to cook from watching PBS cooking shows and by experimentation– mercifully without too many kitchen fires in the process!

Lindsay Ponce

Staff Attorney, Criminal & Municipal

Truman State University- BS in Justice Systems and BA in Spanish
University of Missouri, Columbia JD

Lindsay was born and raised in St. Louis. After graduating law school, she worked for the Missouri Public Defender in the Carthage and Moberly Trial Offices. In 2016, she worked for the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office doing juvenile-lifer resentencings and direct appeals. As a public defender, Lindsay was regularly frustrated by her inability to help clients beyond their criminal cases. After returning to St. Louis in 2023, she was drawn to ArchCity Defenders because of its dedication to and vision of holistic advocacy.

Fun fact: I am an expert on all things Bravo and love to karaoke.

Annie Rice

Senior Counsel, Policy & Partnerships

BA, Ministry, Greenville College (IL)
JD, University of Cincinnati College of Law

Annie is thrilled to serve as Senior Policy Counsel with the Community Collaborations Team at Arch City Defenders. Prior to joining ACD, Annie served on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen from 2018-2023, working closely with people-centered coalitions to advance impactful legislation and working with constituents to improve their relationship with their local government and their lived experience in our city. Her legal career began working with families through the complicated legal processes of immigration in the US and she’s still a strong supporter of the MICA Project in St. Louis. She’s a 2018 Aspen-Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership, a 2020 NewDEAL Leader, and former member of Local Progress, but her political activism blossomed in Ferguson, on the streets of St. Louis, and on the steps of the City Justice Center. Her experiences in law, government, and public service have shown her that the mission of ArchCity and partner coalitions is more important than ever; she’s excited to use her skills and experience with a trusted organization that truly impacts people’s lives for the better in St. Louis.

Fun/personal fact

Annie’s toy poodle Abbie is basically her in dog form. Annie and her husband love Abbie dearly, and the moment you meet her, you will too!

Sarah Roberts

Grant Writing Lead

BS, Communication, Minor in Sociology, Saint Louis University

Sarah Roberts is a St. Louis native who has been involved in nonprofit fundraising and organizing for over 10 years. Sarah joined ACD in October of 2021 as the Grant Writing Lead. She has previously held fundraising roles at various local nonprofits, including The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, PreventEd and most recently at the International Photography Hall of Fame. Sarah’s commitment to social and racial justice attracted her to ACD, and she is passionate about their commitment to challenging state violence, racial injustice and the criminalization of poor people.

Fun Fact: While previously under the assumption I couldn’t keep any plants alive, I went from having one plant to over 30 during the lockdown.

Britt Robinson

Investigator

University of Missouri-St. Louis — BSW

Britt joined ACD in July of 2025 as the Investigator. She previously worked in domestic violence with MERS/Goodwill in the ACCESS Program and assisted with the YWCA Court Watch Program. She then worked as a Legal Assistant at the Missouri State Public Defender (MSPD) in PCR/Appellate and then moved up to Investigator with the Children’s Defense Team. Britt was drawn to ACD because of the organization’s outspoken call for abolition and their ability to platform community voices with regards to the criminal legal system.

Fun/personal fact: I know the words to every song in Kendrick Lamar’s discography.

Stephen Ryals

Special Litigation Counsel

Blake Strode

Executive Director

International Economics and Spanish, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
JD, Harvard Law School

Blake Strode is the Executive Director of ArchCity Defenders, a nonprofit civil rights law firm in St. Louis, Missouri providing holistic legal advocacy and combating the criminalization of poverty and state violence against poor people and people of color. Blake is a native of the St. Louis region and joined ArchCity as a Skadden Fellow and Staff Attorney following his graduation from Harvard Law School in 2015. Blake attended the University of Arkansas and majored in International Economics and Spanish.

Blake helped to establish the Civil Rights Litigation unit at ArchCity, which has brought challenges to a variety of unlawful and predatory practices including debtors’ prisons, police misconduct, and inhumane jail conditions, among others. In the past few years, Blake and his colleagues have filed more than 50 civil rights cases in state and federal court, impacting upwards of 40,000 people in the St. Louis region. Blake also played a significant role in the class-action debtors’ prison case against the City of Jennings, Missouri that reached final settlement in December 2016. The landmark case provides a blueprint for permanent legal reform in the region’s courts and afforded monetary relief to hundreds of individuals who were jailed because of their inability to pay court debts.

As Executive Director, Blake manages ACD’s growing and talented staff; explores new opportunities for advocacy and systemic litigation; communicates the work and mission of ACD to students, supporters, fellow advocates, and media; and works with the Board and leadership to set the strategic direction for the organization. He is responsible for making sure that the dedicated team at ACD has everything it needs to provide the best holistic advocacy possible for our clients.

Blake regularly speaks at conferences and panels throughout the country and has authored columns and essays for publication on issues of race, policing, and criminal justice. He and Kayla Reed (Director of Action St. Louis) co-host a podcast called “Under the Arch,” which discusses the issues impacting community and the people working to change them. Blake’s leadership has garnered several accolades including the 2020 Missouri Lawyers Media Legal Champion, Harvard Law School’s Bellow-Charn Championship of Justice Emerging Leader Award in 2019 as well as the “Emerging Leaders Award by Focus St. Louis’s What’s Right with the Region.”

Fun/personal fact:
I’m a Cubs fan in Cardinals land. I know more about the Golden Girls than you do.

William Waller

Managing Attorney, Criminal & Municipal

Philosophy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MSW, Washington University in St. Louis
J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law

William is from Milwaukee and joined ACD in Spring 2015. He joined because he wanted to practice holistic criminal defense in the context of movement lawyering and impact litigation. As the Managing Attorney for the Direct Representation team, William represents individual clients (primarily in criminal and municipal contexts), supervises the staff attorneys engaged in direct representation, and develops and implements guidelines and expectations regarding holistic legal services. Prior to ACD, William was an Assistant Public Defender in the St. Louis City Trial Office.

Ashley Williams

Social Services Manager

BSW, University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign

MSW, Washington University in St. Louis

MSP, Washington University in St. Louis

Ashley Williams comes to ACD as a licensed clinical social worker, originally from Chicago, IL,  who settled in St. Louis post-graduate school. Previously, Ashley worked for the Missouri Public Defender’s Children Defense Team, where she served as a mitigation specialist, advocate and consultant for juvenile holistic defense. Ashley also provided mental health support to new and expecting mothers and their families. She joined ACD in November of 2025, as the Social Services Manager, after an accident reignited passion to advocate for clients involved in the criminal legal system. Ashley desired  to be a part of an organization whose mission aligns with hers: zealous advocacy for those impacted by the criminal legal system.

Ashley brings nearly a decade of experience in the social services and mental health field. She is also a published author for her research on trauma and adolescent brain development.

Fun/personal fact: I am a foodie and enjoy exploring restaurants and coffee shops in the STL area.

Ymani Wince

Communications Specialist

BA, Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Missouri-Columbia

Ymani joined ACD in July of 2025 as the Communications Specialist after several years as an entrepreneur and creator of The Noir Bookshop, a concept bookstore dedicated to the Black experience. She has over a decade of experience in journalism, social media management, storytelling and community building. Before opening a bookstore, Ymani spent time with brands such as Arch Grant winner Advocado, along with Ranken Technical College, Washington University in St. Louis, and several others. After experiencing housing and contract injustices, Ymani decided to join ACD in order to help educate the public on housing rights, and encourage others to fight back. Ymani is a writer, zine maker and mixed media artist, with a vision to tell Black stories, no matter how small. Born and raised in St. Louis, Ymani loves reading and her little dog, Riesling.

Fun/personal fact: I am very intrigued by celebrity and public figure family trees. I can spend hours looking up who is related to whom, and go down a rabbit hole of mess and scandal.