About Corinna
I grew up poor in a run-down trailer park on the Gulf Coast, surrounded by retirees who guarded their lawns against feral kids like me. As the oldest of four children with a single mom who waitressed most nights, I knew inequity on a cellular level. The challenges I faced growing up—poverty, parental addiction, and my father’s incarceration—shaped me into a tenacious and creative problem-solver. I bring that grit and resourcefulness to everything I do today.
Breaking the cycle of hardship, I became the first in my family to attend college. At Mount Holyoke College, I experienced a world far removed from the life I knew. As I sat in ivy-covered classrooms and dined with peers whose families held corporate power and immense wealth, my family back home was experiencing homelessness and struggling with untreated mental illness. I had to learn to code-switch between these vastly different worlds. Though it often left me feeling disoriented, it was also when I began to develop my ability to connect meaningfully with people across different life experiences—a skill that has been central to my work ever since.
Once a source of shame, my roots became a source of connection. As I began to share my story, I found that others opened up about their own struggles, sharing experiences of suffering and survival. These moments of mutual vulnerability would turn into conversations about solutions. I learned long ago that sharing our stories is a powerful tool for change: when we forge meaningful connections, we have the chance to build strength and power for ourselves, our families, and our communities.
This personal journey, combined with my understanding of historical and contemporary systemic oppression—like racism and settler colonialism—has driven me to dedicate my life to social justice. My purpose is simple but profound: to leave the world a little better—safer, healthier, freer, and kinder—than I found it.
Experience
Throughout my career, I’ve been deeply committed to advancing social justice, with a focus on criminal justice reform, harm reduction, housing, and economic justice. During my time at the Vera Institute of Justice, I was part of the herculean efforts–supported by the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge–to safely and sustainably reduce the jail population in New Orleans. The city’s incarceration rates were among the highest in the nation, and through our work, we developed a multi-pronged strategy to get and keep people out of jail. We introduced reforms like non-financial pretrial release conditions, expedited screenings, and ability-to-pay assessments for sentencing fees. By working closely with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Coordination and other system actors, we were able to build support for these changes and measure their progress.
One of my proudest achievements was leading the planning and launch of the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which provided a public health alternative to arrest for people struggling with mental illness, substance use, or trauma. This work involved not only designing the program but also training and collaborating with the New Orleans Police Department to shift perspectives on the role of law enforcement in responding appropriately and humanely to people with complex issues. I facilitated difficult but necessary conversations about the failure of arrest and detention to cure social ills and the need for more compassionate, effective approaches. These efforts were recognized by Gambit Magazine’s 40 Under 40, where I appeared alongside key LEAD partner, Chief Nicholas Gernon.
In addition to my work with LEAD, I provided training and technical assistance to initiatives across the country, including to 25 SAMHSA community crisis response partnerships. Through this work, I partnered with local advocates, policymakers, and decision-makers to develop and implement solutions that addressed pressing social issues. My background in community organizing and popular education has been integral to these efforts, ensuring that the people most impacted by these policies are involved in shaping the solutions.
Beyond criminal justice, I’ve been an advocate for reproductive rights, housing, and economic justice, recognizing the interconnectedness of these issues. I’ve spoken publicly on these topics, as well as on harm reduction, in various forums, ranging from local community events to national conferences such as the National Harm Reduction Coalition and the US Social Forum.
At the heart of all my work is a commitment to helping individuals and communities feel powerful and make meaningful progress. Whether through program design, facilitation, or advocacy, I believe that change is possible when we work together, and I am excited to continue building solutions that drive real impact.
For over two decades, I’ve worked with nonprofits and for-profits that share this purpose. My experience as a leader in justice movements spans economics, housing, sexual health and reproductive rights, youth, LGBTQIA+, anti-racism, and the legal system has taught me one very important thing: We are stronger, smarter, more effective, and better when we work together.
Let’s collaborate to find just solutions for the issues you’re facing.