Building a Future Rooted in Healing:

Welcoming New Leaders to UnCommon Law

UnCommon Law is taking an important step forward as we deepen our commitment to providing healing-centered pathways for those impacted by incarceration while supporting their journeys home.

In a time when society continues to grapple with how we address violence, real change begins with understanding—understanding the experiences that lead to incarceration, the barriers to release, and the support systems needed to break cycles of harm. At UnCommon Law, we believe in the power of transformation—one that is rooted in a trauma-informed approach, healing, and accountability. True change happens when we create spaces for people to confront the roots of violence, process their experiences, and move toward growth and renewal.

We’re meeting this moment by welcoming four leaders to our team, each with a dedication to transformative justice and equity, who will help us shape UnCommon Law’s work today and in the future. Their collective expertise will expand our impact and amplify a powerful vision for what’s possible when we respond to violence with healing. 

Juan Antonio Govea, Development Director
Juan joins UnCommon Law from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, where he worked to push forward legal system reform. Juan brings a lifetime of community organizing and advocacy experience, rooted in a commitment to ending systemic discrimination. At UnCommon Law, Juan will strengthen relationships with donors, funders, and community partners, ensuring we have the resources to sustain and grow our impact.

Anastasia Mallillin, Deputy Director
Anastasia comes to UnCommon Law from CROP Organization, where she served as Deputy Director and led efforts to build organizational infrastructure. With over a decade of leadership across reentry, anti-trafficking, foster care, and education, she has dedicated her career to working alongside marginalized communities to close inequity gaps and create lasting change. At UnCommon Law, she will oversee internal operations and guide our team’s efforts to align with our mission and long-term strategic vision.

Kali Sherman, Communications Manager
Kali joins us from Make-A-Wish and a nonprofit providing safety-net services to low-income families and marginalized communities. She led communications efforts, using storytelling as a tool for advocacy and awareness. Kali will elevate UnCommon Law’s public narrative, helping shift societal perceptions of the incarcerated population and bringing to light both the realities of our prison and parole systems and policy advocacy issues relating to parole, while reinforcing the urgent need for a healing-centered approach to rehabilitation in prisons. Her career has been defined by a passion for amplifying the voices of underserved communities, advocating for equity and justice, and crafting stories that inspire action. Drawn to UnCommon Law’s mission to challenge systemic inequities within the criminal justice system, Kali views storytelling as a powerful tool for driving change.

Molly Stafford, Director of In-Prison Programs Molly comes to us from the Los Rios Community College District, where she served as Director of the Prison and Reentry Education Program (PREP), helping to expand access to education for incarcerated individuals. With extensive legal and educational experience, Molly has spent her career advocating for equitable opportunities within and beyond the prison system. She will lead our in-prison programs—Home After Harm and Pathways to Parole Success workshops—manage institutional partnerships, oversee stakeholder engagement, and develop program strategy and expansion.

The road ahead is not without obstacles. As policies and practices continue to exacerbate harm rather than address its roots, we know that our work will face challenges. Yet we are ready. These new additions to our team strengthen UnCommon Law’s ability to face these hurdles with clarity, resilience, and hope.

Together, we are laying down the groundwork for a justice system that fosters healing, empowers communities, and helps remove barriers for equitable transformation. Thank you for standing with us as we continue this important work.

Keith Wattley
Founder & Executive Director
UnCommon Law

Learn more about the full UnCommon Law team!