CASES is thrilled to announce the launch of its inaugural Associate Board, bringing together a group of five volunteers who will contribute to the leadership of CASES’ fundraising and community engagement efforts. Through close collaboration with CASES’ Board of Trustees and Development & Communications team, the Associate Board will plan and execute projects to increase awareness around key issues related to criminal legal system reform, fundraise to support CASES’ programs and services, and broaden CASES’ network of donors and supporters.
“CASES is grateful to have these five volunteers representing the organization,” CEO Joel Copperman said. “In my conversations with Associate Board members, it is clear that the group is passionate about CASES’ mission. Each member has a lot to offer the organization as we communicate the importance of our work with new and existing supporters.”
The five members of CASES’ new Associate Board will complete a two-year term, during which they will also help to shape the structure, mission, and goals of future iterations of the Associate Board.
“Expanding our individual fundraising is a critical organizational priority at CASES, and I am excited and grateful to be collaborating with this team of creative and highly motivated volunteers,” said Loyal Miles, Chief Development & Communications Officer. “Already in our first meetings, the Associate Board has brought new ideas to our individual fundraising efforts, which are essential for ensuring the sustainability of CASES’ services and realizing a vision for community safety that emphasizes support, healing, and opportunity as opposed to arrest and incarceration.”
Please see below to learn more about the members of CASES’ Associate Board:
Katherine V. Charles
Katherine V. Charles is an experienced litigation attorney at a civil defense firm in New York City, as well as a real estate broker, mentor, and activist. Prior to commencing her career in the civil sector, Katherine served as a prosecutor in the Bronx and Rockland County District Attorneys’ Offices. As an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx Criminal Court, she became very familiar with CASES and their work. As a Rockland County prosecutor, Katherine suggested an array of alternative-to-incarceration programs for her defendants. Furthermore, she volunteered as an instructor and mentor with an organization dedicated to building relationships between youth and law enforcement. Currently working in the civil sector, Katherine seeks to make a profound impact in the criminal justice system through her work with CASES. With a longstanding passion for criminal justice reform, Katherine is eager to work with her fellow Associate Board members. She looks forward to continuing changing the narrative of what it means to be an attorney and fighting the “good fight.”
Jilly Chen
Jilly Chen is very excited to be part of the CASES Associate Board. Serving on a grand jury in New York City transformed her forever. That experience launched a learning journey that brought her to CASES. She is proud to be part of an organization dedicated to helping people live their best lives regardless of prior involvement in the criminal justice system or behavioral health treatment needs. Jilly’s career has been dedicated to helping others but in more corporate settings. She spent eight years as a consultant at IBM and then Ernst & Young’s Mergers and Acquisitions Technology group. She currently leads Customer Success at Mobot, a startup that provides quality assurance (QA) services for mobile using robots on real devices. Before joining corporate America, Jilly established what is now Princeton University Nonprofit Consulting, a student group that provides pro bono consulting to nonprofits. More than anything, Jilly enjoys cultivating strong relationships and hopes to use this skill and others to advance the important work CASES does.
Hannah Furstenberg-Beckman
Hannah Furstenberg-Beckman began her career in direct service, advocating for youth in New York City. She became passionate about reforming the justice system while working as a Case Manager in an alternative-to-incarceration program at CASES. As Vice President at ideas42, Hannah developed and led the organization’s Public Safety and Criminal Justice practice, where she used behavioral economics research to develop, implement, and evaluate large-scale initiatives. Her deep belief in building the power of communities to reimagine the justice system led her to join the Biden/Harris campaign as a Regional Voter Protection Director. With over a decade in public service, she plans to use her experience to build a more representative and inclusive democracy. Hannah is a graduate of Wesleyan University (BA) and the Harvard Kennedy School (MPA). She is honored to rejoin the CASES family as a member of the Associate Board.
Justin Karfo
An interview of the Rapper Meek Mill on the Daily Show where he explains how a wrongful conviction led him to speak out about criminal justice reform changed Justin Karfo. These 15 minutes of realness from one of his favorite musicians led him on a learning journey that brought him to CASES. In light of recent events and inspired from his personal readings, Justin couldn’t think of a better way to contribute to addressing some of the criminal justice issues in this country than joining the Associate Board at CASES. Justin started his career at the United Nations Development Program in New York City before embarking on a six-year private equity journey starting at Goldman Sachs in London then at the Emerging Capital Partners (ECP) in Abidjan & Nairobi before Wendel in Casablanca. Justin is currently an Expansion Principal at Via Transportation Inc. He is a Princeton (BSE) and Wharton (MBA) graduate, with extensive experience in VC and PE investing, Entrepreneurship, Tech and Emerging Markets with over eight years of work experience.
Katie Lyon
Katie Lyon is the Business Sector Innovation Specialist for the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Central Office of Continuing Education and Workforce Programs. Katie has 15 years of experience in economic and community development in New York City. She specializes in building public-private partnerships that create equitable economic growth. Prior to joining CUNY, Katie served as a consultant with BJH Advisors and the Deputy Director of Real Estate and Planning at the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. Katie earned a Master’s in Urban Planning from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. Passionate about criminal justice system reform, Katie is thrilled to join the Associate Board of CASES in its efforts to break the cycle of arrest and incarceration.