Meet Our Team
It’s the season of giving thanks and Civil Survival is very excited to spotlight our very own staff for the months of November & December! Not only would we like to show our gratitude for their dedication but also share with our communities the faces of those responsible for the life-changing work we do. Our work is not possible without our passionate team. They work hard every day to support our formerly incarcerated families & individuals and thanks to them, we are one step closer to a world free from mass incarceration.
We’re kicking off this week with another #StaffSpotlight highlighting Charlie (he/him), who is one of our staff attorneys with the Reentry Legal Aid Program (RLAP) and seriously one of the, if not the, funniest person on our team!
From the get go, Charlie knew he wanted to fight for communities that are the most impacted by the current oppressive systems in place. He is proud to be able to help remove legal barriers for impacted individuals so they can move forward with their lives and thrive.
Keep scrolling to learn more about Charlie!
What drew you to working with CSP?
The reason I went to law school was to fight for the underserved and oppressed. To that end, the mission of CSP aligned perfectly with my own. I strongly believe that individuals caught up in the criminal legal system should be seen as the humans they are and not criminals. As is the case with any human, we all make mistakes and we all deserve the opportunity to move forward. To the extent that I have the ability to help people take advantage of those opportunities and reengage with their communities and the world at large, I believe I have an obligation to do so.
What event or impactful change are you the most proud of during your time working with Civil Survival? Or, what part of Civil Survival Project’s work resonates the most with you?
I’m very proud to have played a part in our Kitsap NEW Day event held last September. It was very fulfilling to see so many people not just have a positive experience in a court of law for once, but to also be able to free themselves of the heavy burdens they had carried for years.
What’s something you’re looking forward to in the future of CSP?
I’m looking forward to see how we can continue to push for more systemic change and empower directly impacted people. Our team has grown so much in the past year and I’m excited to see how much of an impact all of us can make together.
What’s something you’re grateful for within the last year?
I am forever thankful for my partner, and our two children. This past year has been a year of some big changes and they have been my constant.
The first picture is of my kids and me. They are the center of my life. The second picture is of my wife and me. She is my best friend, the person who can make me laugh the most, and my rock. The last picture is a picture from Highway 1 that I took while running the Big Sur Marathon. I was able to spread my dad’s ashes here, 10 years to the day of his death, and I ran an entire marathon on a broken foot. It was a good reminder of mortality and all the things I have to be thankful for in life.