Our Founder - Chelsea Nelson
I’m a former union organizer and a lifelong advocate for people whose power and potential are too often dismissed. I’ve worked across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors — most recently at Amazon — bringing communities together, shifting systems, and building pathways to opportunity where none existed.
I’m also a mom to an 8-year-old daughter. She is my deepest “why.” I grew up in Salt Lake City as a good, closeted gay Mormon kid who couldn’t come out at home — it was too scary. I moved to Seattle because I needed a place where I could finally breathe. Not long after, I found myself knocking on doors for Washington State’s marriage-equality campaign.
It was exhilarating, nerve-wracking, and — let’s be honest — it felt a little rebellious. I volunteered 63 days straight. One day, I was paired with Big Mike. Mike was not who you’d expect at a marriage-equality campaign. 6’4″. Covered in tattoos. A grill bright enough to blind you.
Naturally, I asked, “So… Mike, are you gay?”
He laughed. “Nah. I don’t even know anyone who’s gay. But I’m here because I hope someday, people will knock on doors for my people.”
His people? People with criminal records. That conversation changed my life.
Since then, I’ve built my entire career around fixing our broken criminal-justice and reentry systems. I’ve worked with unions, government leaders, corporations, and community organizers — but my commitment has always been the same: stand with the people closest to the problem, because they’re always closest to the solution.
Ardell Shaw
Kara Janssen
I didn’t come into this work through policy textbooks or boardrooms—I came through lived experience, through the cracks in a system that wasn’t built for healing or dignity. After serving five years in an Arizona prison, I’ve seen firsthand how incarceration can strip people of their voice, their agency, and their hope. But I also know what happens when those same people are given the tools to tell their stories, to organize, and to lead.
From testifying at the Capitol for prison oversight to mentoring women in prison, my journey has been about turning pain into power. I’ve led organizing efforts at the ACLU of Arizona, served on the Governor’s Prison Oversight Commission, and built coalitions that center humanity over punishment. My story isn’t just mine—it’s part of a larger movement to transform how we see justice, leadership, and community. And I’m here to make sure that movement lasts.
Alex Mayo
Matthew Ellis
Matthew Ellis is a multidisciplinary designer and justice-focused advocate dedicated to building tools, stories, and digital spaces that create real-world impact. As a formerly incarcerated person and registrant, he understands the deep harm caused by punitive systems—and the power of reclaiming voice, agency, and dignity.
A graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Communications, Matthew brings a strong foundation in strategic storytelling, creative direction, and community-centered messaging to every project he leads.
As a executive committee volunteer for AZRSOL, Matthew helps guide statewide efforts to advance civil rights, reform ineffective policies, and support communities directly impacted by the criminal legal system. His journey from surviving those systems to actively reshaping them is central to his commitment to advocacy and reform.
With extensive experience in web design, brand development, and visual storytelling, Matthew also serves as the lead web and graphic designer for Engage36, where he shapes the organization’s digital presence and ensures every campaign is both powerful and accessible.
Blending creativity with purpose, Matthew uses design as a form of advocacy—helping organizations communicate boldly, mobilize effectively, and reimagine narratives that have long needed rewriting. His work reflects both his professional skill and his belief that transformation is possible, individually and collectively.