Edward Yellowhammer American Indian COmmunity Advocate Ed (he/him) has served as a Community Advocate at the Legal Rights Center since 2011. Before joining LRC, he worked at the Upper Midwest American Indian Center for 12 years as a community outreach worker in the Youth/Father Program. Ed brings substantial advocacy experience for issues relating to… Continue reading Edward Yellowhammer
Emanual Williams Community Defense attorney Emanual Williams (he/him) is an attorney of LRC’s Community Defense Team. Emanual is originally from Lovelady, Texas, where his deep passion for criminal justice reform began. He believes that every voice can and should be heard. He has experience with clemency, parole, and expungement work throughout various organizations. Before joining… Continue reading Emanual Williams
Chelsea Schmitz-Gillam Restorative Facilitator & Youth Advocate Attorney Chelsea (she/her/hers) has worked as a restorative facilitator, Circle Keeper, and youth defense attorney at the Legal Rights Center since 2015. Chelsea was drawn to restorative practices because she believes in the power of creating space where all people have the opportunity to feel seen, heard, valued… Continue reading Chelsea Schmitz-Gillam
Beau RaRa Youth Restorative Justice Initiative Lead Beau RaRa (they/them) is a poet and a lawyer who believes relationship is the locus of most transformative social change. Born in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, Beau moved back to Minnesota in 2016 after working in positive youth development after school in North Denver and Boulder, Colorado. Equal parts learner… Continue reading Beau RaRa
James Miller Development and Communications Manager James Miller (he/him) joined the Legal Rights Center in 2022. As Development and Communications Manager, he is focused on building support for the organization – financially, through fundraising and donor organizing, and digitally, through narrative campaigns and storytelling. James holds a B.A. in Biology and Geography from Gustavus Adolphus… Continue reading James Miller
Sam Koltes Restorative Facilitator & Youth Advocate Sam Koltes (she/her) joined the Legal Rights Center as a Restorative Facilitator and Youth Advocate in the summer of 2021. Previously she had worked with youth in school-to-prison pipeline disruption through facilitation of restorative processes, circle mentorship, and community diversion. At the Legal Rights Center, Sam’s role is… Continue reading Sam Koltes
Hersch Izek Community Defense Attorney Hersch has served as an attorney at the Legal Rights Center since 2001 and brings substantial felony trial experience. Before working for the Legal Rights Center, he handled federal public defender assigned cases and also represented personal injury clients. Hersch graduated from the William Mitchell School of Law.
Anna Hall Community defense attorney Anna Hall (she/her) is a criminal defense attorney and a researcher focused on pretrial justice in Minnesota. Through direct representation, community education, qualitative research, and partnership-building, Anna works to make the law more accessible to all Minnesotans, especially those most impacted by mass incarceration and policing. Anna is guided by… Continue reading Anna Hall
EMILY GREEN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Emily Green (she/her) joined the Legal Rights Center in 2023 as Administrative Assistant. Her role includes providing administrative support to leadership and to programs in the form of organization, data entry, communication, financial processes, hiring systems, and facilities maintenance. She comes to the organization with a passion for social justice and… Continue reading Emily Green
Norma Gaona Administrative Assistant Norma joined the Legal Rights Center in 2006 as part of the administration team. As Administrative Assistant, Norma handles reception duties and is responsible for accurate data collection. Before coming to the Legal Rights Center, Norma worked at U.S. Bank and with Radio Rey, a local Hispanic radio station.
