Executive Board & Board of Directors
Ulanda Caldwell, Administrative Co-Chair. Ulanda began her Michigan political career within the 15th Congressional District, with the late Honorable Congressman John Dingell. Currently a Management Analyst (MBA- Nonprofit Cert), Ulanda works in the nonprofit and political sectors and is a member of UAW Local 2320 AFL-CIO. She also worked with the MDP Voter Protection, Fair Fight 2020 as a State Organizer and the Deputy Director of the African American Outreach – created the statewide “Mass Incarceration Project.” Additionally, Ulanda is a former Paralegal/ Project Coordinator for the American Bar Association, Justice Center, Standing Committee on Judicial Independence.
Jeremy Kaplan, Presiding Co-Chair. Born and raised in Oakland County, Jeremy has worked on local, state, and federal campaigns for over a decade. He served in Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence's district office for over four years before becoming Campaign Manager and Finance Director for the Committee to Re-elect Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack in 2020.
Mark Miller, Treasurer. Mark Miller has been a member of the Justice Caucus since 2004. He has served on the State Central Committee for six terms, was Sixth District Chair for four terms, a national delegate for Obama in 2008, an elector for Joe Biden in 2020 and serves on the MDP Rules Committee. He is currently Clerk for Kalamazoo Charter Township.
Cristine Howe, Secretary. After graduating from Miami University, Cris had a real education in politics at the University of Chicago working on the McGovern campaign. She still measures political corruption by what she saw in Illinois. Years later, with kids at home and a job in a library, she ran for office herself. She was on the local school board for twenty-two years, and president of the local Democratic Club for about fifteen. She joined the Justice Caucus to help with Camp Millie, with the slogan "Catering is my calling.”
Jihan Aiyash, At-Large Member. Jihan is a daughter of immigrants and a lifelong resident of the 14th Congressional District. She currently serves as the President of the Hamtramck school board and is fiercely dedicated to systemic equity.
Hedieh Briggs, At-Large Member. Hedieh Briggs is an activist who has held and still holds positions at the executive board level at the Ann Arbor Dems, Washtenaw County Dems and Michigan Democratic Party. She has been a member of the Justice Caucus Board since 2014. Hedieh is passionate about social justice, equity and creating access for mental health treatment for all.
Michelle Deatrick, At-Large Member. Michelle Deatrick is the Founder and Chair of the DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council. Former Vice Chair of her County Commission and a veteran Peace Corps Volunteer, she serves on the National Advisory Board of Climate Power and several other boards. A member of UAW 2320 and a delegate to her regional labor federation, Michelle is a progressive dedicated to centering and uplifting racial, gender, economic, intergenerational, and environmental justice.
Amani Johnson, At-Large Member. Amani Johnson is an Organizer and a Trustee on the Southfield Board of Education. He graduated from CMU in 2018 with a B.S. in Public and Nonprofit Administration. Amani loves to cook and travel.
Nick Roumel, At-Large Member. Nick Roumel is a civil rights lawyer. His practice includes employment discrimination, representation of sexual abuse survivors, personal injury, and general litigation. He is co-chair of the Washtenaw County ACLU Lawyers Committee and a member of the Michigan Association of Justices Sexual Assault Legislation Committee.
Charlene Snow, At-Large Member. Charlene Snow is the Legal Director at United Community Housing Coalition in Detroit, where she represents tenants in 36th District Court. She has worked at UCHC since 2008. She has practiced law since 1976, doing a number of things, including representing women prisoners in two large class actions, divorce work, employment discrimination cases and other things.
Charlene a precinct delegate in Detroit and a member of the 14th District. She's been on the Justice Caucus board for a number of years and has been the coordinator of many Camp Millie's across the state. She is a past board member of the Women's Caucus of the MDP. She has volunteered for the MDP Voter Protection effort for many years.
Charlene is active in Irish Organizations, the Irish Cultural Forum and the Scholarship Committee of the United Irish Societies. She is also secretary for the Detroit Irish Music Association which is part of Comhaltas Celtori Eireann.
Paul Stevenson, At-Large Member. Co-founder of the Justice Caucus & former Administrative Co-Chair, Stevenson is an attorney licensed in Michigan & Pennsylvania. An honors graduate of the University of Detroit School of Law, he is an active member of the Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and the American Civil Liberties Union. In 2009, Michigan Lawyers Weekly named Stevenson as one of the Top 20 “Leaders in the Law.” Just a month out of high school, Stevenson was the youngest member of the 1972 Democratic National Platform Committee and a delegate committed to Hubert Humphrey at the 1972 Democratic National Convention.
Rashida Tlaib, At-Large Member. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was born and raised in Southwest Detroit and is the proud daughter of Palestinian immigrant parents.
Rashida represents Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, which includes several Detroit and Wayne County communities. She is a congressional leader in pushing for economic, racial, and environmental justice.
Henry Yanez, At-Large Member. Henry Yanez is currently a member of the Sterling Heights City Council. Appointed to council in January 2019 and won election to a full term in November of that year. Prior to serving on city council, Henry served as State Representative for House District 25 representing the cities of Sterling Heights and Warren for three terms.
Millie Hall, At-Large Member. Millie Hall is the President of the Metro-Detroit Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, serving in that capacity since 1990. Millie also serves as Coordinator for the Michigan Pay Equity Network and as a Board Member of the Oakland County Zoological Authority. Her passions include her volunteerism with the American Heart Association Go Red For Women and Heart Disease Movement and being an advocate for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Holly Bird, CD-1. While attending law school Holly created the Illinois Native American Bar Association. She is a published author of Native American law articles. Ms. Bird also served as Assoc./Acting Chief Judge for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians from 2008-2011. In 2010, she was appointed to the Supreme Court for the NHBPI Tribe and continues today. Ms. Bird was awarded the American Arbitration Association’s 2013 Higginbotham Fellowship and became the first Native American arbitrator in the US. Ms. Bird served as Ground Coordinator and Co-Executive Director for the Water Protectors Legal Collective, the leading legal service at the NoDAPL camp/protest in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Currently, Ms. Bird serves as Co-Executive Director for Title Track, a Michigan nonprofit dedicated to clean water, racial equity, and youth empowerment and maintains a private law practice in Traverse City.
Leonard Page, CD-1. Leonard is a retired staff attorney with the International UAW (30 years) who served two years as NLRB General Counsel before being removed by George W. Bush. He currently is vice chair of the Straits of Mackinac Alliance and is working hard to shut down Enbridge’s Line 5 and is hoping to see this case before the new Michigan Supreme Court.
Scott Urbanowski, CD-2. Scott Urbanowski has been involved in the Justice Caucus since 2015. A writer and digital media strategist, his work has helped a number of candidates and non-profits. Inclusion, equity, and social justice fuel Scott's activism.
Jim Haadsma, CD-3. State Rep. Jim Haadsma is serving his second term representing Michigan’s 62nd House District, which is located in Calhoun County and comprises the cities of Battle Creek, Springfield and Albion; and the townships of Albion, Bedford, Clarence, Convis, Lee, Pennfield and Sheridan. The son of missionaries, Jim spent a portion of his childhood living in Africa with his parents, which is where his deep appreciation for public service began. A Michigan State University alumnus, Jim earned his Juris Doctorate from the Wayne State University Law School.
Wesley Watson, CD-3. Wesley has served as Precinct Delegate Captain in Ada Precinct 1 since 2016 becoming the youngest and first Black Precinct Delegate in Ada Township history. Wesley became the first Black Vice-Chair of the Kent County Democratic Party in 2018 and Vice-Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Environmental Caucus in 2019. Wesley served as a national advocate for the Black AIDS Institute to fight health disparities and stigma in Black and Brown Communities.
Wesley Watson serves as the West Michigan Regional Organizing Director for NextGen America and Deputy State Field Director with For Our Future for the 2020 election cycle. Wesley believes if young people in our targeted regions use their resources to become agents of their political realities through intersectionality training & actions, then the result will be tangible progress on issues & a cultural shift around the politicization of young people (including voting). Wesley’s Deep grassroots organizing was key to flip Kent County in the 2020 election.
Nancy Gallagher, CD-4. Nancy is an attorney with over 25 years in private practice, (currently Gallagher, Everitt & Assoc PLLC, Alma, Michigan, with family and criminal law focus); previous experience in banking; graduate of Alma College and Thomas M. Cooley Law School, cum laude, with extensive involvement in community service and leadership (City Commission, 12 years; Mayor of Alma 6 years; 18 years as Alma College Trustee; over 30 years as Mid-Michigan Health Trustee, Masonic Pathways Director 6 years, member of numerous non-profit boards, and Director of a private industrial board, Powell's Manufacturing).
Bob Leddy, CD-4. Bob Leddy is an attorney with a law practice that has offices in Saginaw as well as Petoskey. He has been involved in over 60 different political campaigns in virtually every capacity in Michigan as well as several other states. Bob has also been involved with the Justice Caucus in the Camp Millie Candidate Training Program and been involved with the Voter Protection Program in Michigan.
Kristin Corbett, CD-5. As a lifelong Michigander and progressive Democrat, Kristin is passionate about many issues that plague our state - including gender, racial and sexual equality, environmental protections, voting and prison reform, wealth inequality, universal healthcare, and education. Kristin has been active with her local Democratic organizations since 2018; stirred into action after the 2016 Presidential election results. Her activism has also included work with Our revolution Michigan, Voters Not Politicians, and the Sunrise Movement.
Elanor Riley, CD-6. Elanor Riley has been active with her local Democratic organizations since 2016. She has previously volunteered as an executive board member representing CD6 in the MDP Progressive Caucus. Currently, Elanor is Chair of the CD-6 Democrats and has served as both an alternate and delegate on the MDP State Central Committee. Her goal is to support and promote candidates who stand for progressive values and advance progress for the people, not corporate interests.
Carolyn Hejkal, CD-7. Carolyn Hejkal is a retired preschool teacher and Democratic Precinct Delegate from Washtenaw County who has worked passionately for both candidates and causes since 2015. Her activism has included work with the Washtenaw County Democratic Party, Social Justice Michigan, Voters not Politicians, and the Poor People's Campaign.
Brendan Radtke, CD-8. Brendan is a December 2020 Graduate of James Madison College at Michigan State University where he studied Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy. As a student, Brendan helped found and lead two student organizations: Spartans for Sanders, campaigning for Senator Sanders at Michigan State, as well as Spartan Solidarity Network, an organization formed out of Spartans for Sanders with the intention of improving conditions on campus for students and workers alike. Brendan is a member of Detroit Democratic Socialists of America and he is hoping to soon begin his professional career working in the labor movement as a union organizer.
Kathleen Carney, CD-8. Kathy has been involved with local and state politics and the Democratic Party since the early 1980s.The issue of justice started locally for Kathy. Her community’s personal water wells were polluted by the State Road Commission.
Kathy is currently Vice Chair of the 8th Congressional District and from 2005 - 2017 she was chair of the 8th Congressional District. In 2002, Kathy was awarded by the Michigan Democratic Women's Caucus: “Outstanding Women who are making a difference.
Rudy Serra, CD-9. Rudy Serra was Judge on the 36th District Court, the third busiest court in the nation. Serra was a Michigan Lawyer of the Year in 2000, received the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award (2001), and ran in the 2002 Winter Olympic Torch Marathon. He has a Master’s Degree in Communication, and Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School. Serra is a former: Congressional Aide, Ferndale School Board member, Oakland County Commissioner and Human Rights Commissioner for Detroit. He was General Counsel for The Triangle Foundation, an Officer in The Michigan Democratic Party, and is President of the FernCare Free Medical Clinic.
Bernard Jocuns, CD-10. Lapeer attorney Bernard Jocuns is the current president of the Lapeer County Bar Association and is an active member of the following organizations: (Inaugural Chairperson) Marijuana Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (Board Member), Michigan Association for Justice, National Association of Criminal Defense Layers (lifetime members), National Lawyers Guild, American Association for Justice, Justice Caucus of Michigan Democratic Party (Board Member), (Chairperson) Lapeer Zoning Board of Appeals, Lapeer County Criminal Defense Bar Association (founding member & President), American Legion (lifetime member), and NORML Legal Committee (lifetime member).
Bernard is also Editor & Author of the Medicolegal Aspects of Marijuana in Michigan (Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company) and is the Host of the Podcast the Bernard Jocuns Holy Happy Hour.
Ethan Petzold, CD-11. Ethan Petzold is an organizer, nonprofit professional, and has been a party leader at the local, state, and national level. He hopes to bring his experience and passion for electing Democratic candidates to help move the Justice Caucus forward!
David Haener, CD-12. David is a board member of the 12th congressional district and is active in his communities with other organizations including both political and non-political groups. Being raised the youngest of 26 first cousins, David helps where he is told to and he was always told to help others clean up. So he still does.
Preston VanAlstine, CD-12. Preston is a recent college graduate and climate organizer. He coordinates the Ann Arbor chapter of the Sunrise Movement and works as Senior Climate Organizer to the DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council.
Don Mongrain, CD-13. Don has spent the past five years involved with the MDP. He has also been the male District 13 Representative of the Justice Caucus for the past four years. He looks forward to continuing to serve in this role.
Byron Nolen, CD-13. Byron Nolen has been a litigation attorney for 25 years. He also served as Mayor of the City of Inkster from 2015 to 2019. He has been active in several community organizations for many years, (Inkster Task Force, Inkster Chamber of Commerce, and Seeds2Feed Community Organization).
Harry Kalogerakos, CD-14. Harry Kalogerakos is an attorney in Detroit with a focus in municipal, real estate, and business law. He has been active in Democratic Party politics for over 25 years serving as a precinct delegate, president of the Grosse Pointe Democratic Club for 10 years, parliamentarian for 13th District Dems 2002 - 2010, statutory vice chair of the 13th District Dems 2011-2012, and first vice chair of the 14th District Dems 2013 to present. He joined the executive board of the MDP Justice Caucus in 2017. Additionally, he is a charter member of the Grosse Pointe/Harper Woods NAACP and currently serves on its executive board.