Team
Dee Marie
Co-Founder, CEO
[email protected]
DeAnne Knipschild is an alum of La Sierra University. She got her B.A. in Liberal Studies in 2004 and M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction in 2007. She currently works in the School of Education as an Administrative Assistant and Advisor for students getting their teaching credentials and Master’s Degrees. She also is a contract teacher for the university teaching classes on how to survive college and the history of education. Outside of work she wears many hats keeping herself busy. She is a singer who has traveled all over the country and world singing gospel music with several groups. She is currently the lead singer of a Country Rock band called “Sweet Mischief”. DeAnne believes in giving back and service to the community and so she volunteers her time singing and leading praise for churches, and helps out with community events such as free health clinics, feeding the homeless, and bible studies. She is also on the Board for a non-profit organization called Black Girl Hockey Club which promotes diversity and equality in the sport of hockey and just recently started an organization and is Co-Founder of “Locked In” which centers on 3 pillars: Communication, Education and Action to make lasting change for those affected by injustice.
Van Houston
Co-Founder, Director of Programming and Lead Trainer
[email protected]
Van is a system impacted social activist who holds a degree in Social Behavior. He is a Addiction and Drug Specialist. He has extensive experience in Cognitive Based Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. He is currently the lead facilitator at Keys to Tranquility and has worked in mentorships with Phoenix House, Center Point Substance Abuse programs, and is a level II Kingin Nonviolence facilitator.
Johnny Howe
CFO
[email protected]
Johnny David Howe was incarcerated for 28 years from the age of 17. He was able to receive an AA Degree in General Studies, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science, and also received his State Certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor/Certified Addiction Specialist. He currently works for an alcohol and drug residential treatment facility in Watts while also working for a non-profit by the name of GOGI “Getting Out by Going In”. Johnny enjoys going back into prison and working with incarcerated people. He is 49 years old, married to an amazing woman by the name of Cynthia, has a son and a daughter, and 2 twin grandsons.
Luis Trujillo
Secretary
[email protected]
Origionally from El Paso, Texas Luis Trujillo resided in Californias Inland Empire and workd as an Educational Assistant with the San Bernardino Superintendent of Schools and worked with at-risk youth at the Youth Justice Center for the Juvenile Justice Depatment until his incarceration in 1998. While incarcerated Luis earned an Associate Degree from Imperial Valley College in Sociology with an emphasis on Social Problems. Luis is also a four time graduate of Coastline College with an Associate Degree in a range of specialties including Business with an emphasis in Ethics and the Leagal Environment and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Luis served as a Life Coach for Locked In CEA Inc. He has also held leadership roles in programs such as Social Justice through the Arts and Alcoholics Anonymous and served as a facilitator for Prison Compassion Project. Luis took the lead on developing a curriculum for shame resiliency workshops based on the work of researcher and author Brene Brown. Among his skills, Luis is an experienced public speaker having participated in Toastmasters and being chosen valedictorian for his Calipatria Adult School graduating class in addition to his leadership roles. Luis is currently enjoying life outside the prison walls by pursuing his certification as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor with plans to attend the University of California in the fall. Luis has two daughters, Abriana and Samantha, and one grandson.
Carl Dawson
Marketing Director
[email protected]
Carl has 20+ years’ experience in multimedia, direct response, digital, copy writing, marketing, advertising, branding
and producing short-form TV commercials & long-form TV infomercial’s, multi-channel media distribution, and client
development.
Mr. Dawson has a deep understanding of Lead Generation via multimedia Direct Response, Media Production,
Multi-channel Distribution and enablement such as English & Spanish TV and Radio, International Media, Mobile
Marketing, Online Marketing, VOD, Pay Per Click, Pay Per Call TV Advertising and other interactive platforms.
Carl has developed 100s of lead generation proven performance-based ad campaigns (many on a pay per
response) & conducted lead platform management delivering 1000’s of TV generated calls daily with turnkey
optimization in many lead gen verticals such as; Equity Crowdfunding, Products, Beverage, Mortgage, Insurance,
Travel, Health, Rehab, Home Base Business, Tax Relief, Debt Relief, Loan Modification, Credit Repair, Payday
Advances, Tort Litigation and more.
Carl Dawson’s noted results from multimedia direct response marketing efforts (TV, Radio, digital, PR):
✓ Generated over 100 million LIVE quality media leads
✓ Managed Countrywide $15mm multimedia marketing budget, generating over $250 million in revenue within 6 months
✓ Managed Morgan Drexen / CashCall marketing budget of $1mm per week, resulting in ROI of $30 million per month
✓ Generated pipeline of $25 million within 30 days for FOTV Networks directly from the media push and a
spend of $1 million
✓ Generated over $100 million pipeline of investor interest for companies seeking Equity Crowdfunding.
Dr. John Brown Childs, P.hD
Director of Communications
[email protected] | [email protected]
John Brown Childs is Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the
University of California, Santa Cruz. He was born on December 2nd, 1942, in a public
housing project in the Roxbury section of Boston. In 1965, he took part in the Civil
Rights Movement in Montgomery, Alabama as an ally of the Student Non-violent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC). As a volunteer with the “Prison Education Project”
of the community organization Barrios Unidos, he has spent the past seventeen years
doing volunteer teaching and speaking on peacemaking and “transcommunal
cooperation” in Soledad Correctional Training Facility where he works with the multi-
ethnic “Cemanahuac One-World Cultural Group” of incarcerated men. He is the author
of numerous works including the book Transcommunality, from the Politics of
Conversion to the Ethics of Respect. This book discusses ways in which people from
diverse backgrounds and perspectives can, with mutual respect, work together, and learn
from one another, while holding on to their own cultural and personal foundations. In
1997, he was awarded the Fulbright “Thomas Jefferson Chair of Distinguished
Teaching” which he held in the Netherlands at the University of Utrecht. Of African-
Madagascan and Native American descent, he is an enrolled member, of the
“Massachusett (Big Hills) Tribe of Indians at Ponkapoag (Sweet Water Pond),” whose
ancestral lands are in Massachusetts, not far from where he was born.
Iki Taimi
Board Member
[email protected] | [email protected]
Iki Taimi is the lead pastor for the La Sierra Univeristy Church. He has been in full time ministry for over 17 years with a deep passion for social justice and community engagement. He is currently doing a Doctorate of ministry in church transformation and justice through Fuller Seminary in Pasadena He is happily married to his amazing partner Melanie Taimi, and has two wonderful kids. He loves people, food and Jesus.
Jay Wilson
Technical Advisor
[email protected]
Christopher Diep
Coach
[email protected]
A Vietnamese-American growing up in Southern California and Texas, Chris Diep navigated through life lost by not having a father, hateful for the murder of a childhood friend, and confused about how to emotionally handle their deaths. Having unresolved emotions ultimately led him to abuse alcohol and drugs, use violence, and commit a life crime. During his twenty-years of incarceration, faced with depression, loneliness, and numerous challenges, Chris wanted something more and sought healing through education, employment, and self-improvement classes. Since 2013, Chris has spent countless hours reflecting on past traumas, understanding emotions, challenging old beliefs, sharing his experiences and vulnerabilities, and having meaningful conversations. Through his commitment of service, members elected him into leadership positions such as; Cemanahuac Cultural Group (Chairperson), Alternative to Violence Project - Soledad (Vice-Chairperson), and various other positions as a Coach, Mentor, and Facilitator for Kingian Nonviolence, Phoenix Alliance, Defy Ventures, and Locked In CEA. Toastmasters International brought out his confidence to share his story. In June of 2023, Chris was released from prison and is grateful for a second chance to be a contributing member of society. He strives to assist in the restoration of communities.