Our Staff
Leena Odeh
Interim Executive Director
Leena Odeh (she/her) is a legal advocate, consultant, professor, and community weaver.
Leena co-leads people-centered transformative justice organizations with the belief that creating sustainable and alternative systems to punishment, domination, consumption, and control, is as important as dismantling these harmful systems and structures. Leena advises, invests in, and sits on the boards of groups working on transformative justice “glocally.” In her spare time, she is committed to a practice of unearthing and preserving the embodied cultural wisdom to honor our elders and ancestors and carry on that wisdom generation after generation.
Leena holds a B.A. from Carleton College and JD from Northeastern University School of Law. She is an alumna of the Center for Constitutional Rights Movement Lawyering Fellows and co-founder of Reed Smith LLC’s Pro Bono Detained Refugee Protection Project. She hails from Chicago’s southwest side.
Contact: leena [at] first-defense.org
Nadia Woods
Director, Community & Legal Education
Nadia Woods (she/her) currently serves as the Director of FDLA's Education Programs.
With roots in Reproductive Justice and Abolitionist organizing, Nadia is passionate about further fostering community education and advocacy skills while centering Black and Queer voices and experiences.
When she's off the clock, Nadia enjoys reading, playing team sports, spending time with loved ones (including her dog), and brushing up on her American Sign Language.
Nadia graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2021, and is admitted to the Illinois Bar and the General Bar of the Northern District of Illinois.
Nadia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Anthropology from Texas A&M University.
Contact: nadia [at] first-defense.org
Daniel Massoglia
Director, Civil Rights Clinic
Daniel Massoglia (he/him) is the Director of FDLA’s Civil Rights Clinic. He graduated from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2014 and was sworn in to the Illinois Bar the same year. Daniel was introduced to social movements by Occupy Chicago and likes dogs, punk rock, and Liverpool Football Club.
Through FDLA’s clinic, Daniel has helped lead litigation in state and federal court on Freedom of Information Act, impoundment, and constitutional tort matters, with an overarching focus on redressing and preventing violations of civil and human rights by police. FDLA's clinic has obtained significant wins for our clients, including the establishment of a historic consent decree with the City of Chicago aimed at ending incommunicado detention in the city.
Prior to his time at FDLA, Daniel worked as a civil litigator through his own law practice, Daniel Massoglia, Esq., and as Of Counsel to other Chicago firms. He is a member of the General Bar and Trial Bar of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is also admitted to practice before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Contact: daniel [at] first-defense.org
Kristian Davis Bailey
Director, Strategic Communications
Kristian Davis Bailey (he/they) is a writer, journalist and cross-pollinating activist whose work focuses on the intersections of local and global freedom movements.
Kristian was previously the communications manager at Palestine Legal in Chicago. Their writing has appeared in AFROPUNK, Al Jazeera English, Colorlines, Ebony, among other outlets.
Kristian believes writing should be used in service of exposing systems of oppression and bringing power to the oppressed Global Majority.
Kristian received a BA in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity at Stanford University.
Contact: kristian [at] first-defense.org
Ray Robinson
Know Your Rights Program Manager
Ray Robinson (he/him) is a member of the Alumni Association of Cook County Jail, and advocate for the formerly incarcerated and addicted.
Ray has held numerous outreach and policy advocacy roles where he helps bring the voices of those impacted to the table with professionals in the system to address human rights issues in the jail and community.
Ray is an engaging facilitator committed to preventing unnecessary incarceration.
Contact: ray [at] first-defense.org
Andrew Torrence
Community & Legal Education Program Manager
Andrew (he/him) has a background in political science, film, and youth development. His work centers on engaging communities throughout the city, promoting alternatives to policing, and highlighting entry points for young people to engage in civic processes. Andrew aims to connect media and storytelling to amplify community education efforts throughout Chicago.
Outside of work, Andrew enjoys cooking meals for friends and family, listening to music, and rewatching The Iron Giant.
A Georgia native, Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rutgers University.
Contact: andrew [at] first-defense.org
David Alvarez
Senior Hotline Responder
David Alvarez (he/him) is a call center responder at FDLA, who has continuously connected and educated community members to legal resources offered through FDLA.
David has over 20 years of experience working as an outreach worker, mentor, case manager, and now the Victim Services Coordinator at New Life Centers. David has a long history, working with Central States SER, Enlace Chicago, and New Life Centers, who provide employment, education, mentorship, and other restorative justice services. He has founded the Little Village and Brighton Park Gang Tattoo Removal program which has helped hundreds of people.
David currently leads a small group which reaches out to the community and walks with people through their transition of change.
Contact: david [at] first-defense.org
Emma Melton
Community and Civil Rights Attorney
Emma (she/her) was born in raised in Chicago, and cares deeply about her community. As a community activist and abolitionist, she believes that Chicago must shift power back to the community and create space for individuals who have been impacted by the carceral system. In her previous roles, Emma focused on criminal justice and immigration reform, as well as civil rights litigation and housing justice. However, she is most passionate about holding law enforcement accountable and dismantling the police state.
On the weekends, Emma helps supervise a help desk for individuals experiencing homelessness and enjoys cuddles on the couch with her pup, Luna.
Emma graduated from DePaul University College of Law in 2019 with a certificate in Public Interest Law. She is a member of the Illinois Bar and the General Bar for the Northern District of Illinois.
Contact: emma [at] first-defense.org
Joseph DiCola
Civil Rights Attorney
Joseph DiCola (he/him) is passionate about movement lawyering and aspires always to use his legal training in support of liberation movements in Chicago. He believes civil Rights litigation is an important tool for advancing social justice and working to dismantle white supremacy and other structures of oppression.
Joe graduated from UIC Law and received his license in 2018. He is admitted to the General Bar of the Northern District of Illinois.
Before coming to FDLA, Joe worked as a solo practitioner and then as a Staff Attorney at the Westside Justice Center, where he focused on state civil litigation, eviction defense, and criminal records relief.
Joe received his B.A. from Loyola University Chicago in 2013 in Philosophy and English Creative Writing.
Contact: joseph [at] first-defense.org
Amira Raja
Administrative Coordinator
Amira (she/her) brings in years of experience in managing data, supporting staff and streamlining operations to ensure that the team is running smoothly. She has a talent for finding creative ways to keep things organized and a keen eye for detail. She has a proven track record of building strong relationships with clients and colleagues. She is dedicated to ensuring that those around her receive the support and guidance they need to achieve their goals.
Amira’s career first started in Early Childhood Education where she spent five years as a Teacher’s Assistant. There she learned a lot about being adaptable, patient, and how to understand things from unique perspectives.
Being part of FDLA has given her the opportunity to learn more about the importance of productive legal systems, and finding ways to better protect ourselves and others in unpredictable circumstances. As a Chicago native herself, she is grateful to be apart of the work that FDLA does to support the city, and she is excited to contribute to the success of the team.
Contact: amira [at] first-defense.org
Advisory Board:
Wayne Novak, Law Offices of Wayne Novak
Sean P. MacCarthy, Chittenden, Murday & Novotny LLC
Dev Parikh, Law Offices of Dev Parikh
Emlyn Ricketts, Jones College Prep
Sulaiman M. Qazi, Seagen
Sarah Garza Resnick, Cook County Public Defender’s Office
Brendan Shiller, Shiller Preyar
David Simon, Eimer Stahl LLP
Patricia Smith, Law Offices of Patricia A. Smith
Theodore Woerthwein, Woerthwein & Miller
Julie Biehl, Director, Children and Family Justice Center
Jeff Brown, Northeastern University
Besty Clark, Juvenile Justice Initiative
Elfreda Dockery, Law Offices of Elfreda Dockery
Richard Dvorak, Dvorak Law Offices, LLC
Alan Mills, Uptown People’s Law Center
Shaena Fazal, John Howard Association
Craig Futterman, University of Chicago School of Law
Scott Levy, Law Offices of Scott Levy
John Lyke, Law Offices of John Lyke Jr.
Honorary Board:
Karen Yarbrough: Cook County Recorder of Deeds
Kenneth L. Cunniff: Law Offices of Kenneth L. Cunniff
Locke E. Bowman: Northwestern University School of Law
Martin Castro: Former Chair: Illinois Human Rights Commission, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Miguel Rodriguez: Alternatives Inc., Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development (BUILD)
Ora Schub: Community Justice for Youth Institute
Eugene Pincham: In Memoriam, Former Justice, Illinois Appellate Court
Randolph N. Stone: University of Chicago School of Law
Richard S. Kling: Chicago-Kent College of Law
Robert Wildeboer: WBEZ
Scott Turow: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP and Author
Sladjana Vuckovic: Law Office Of Sladjana Vuckovic, Former First Defense Staff Attorney
Sonia Antolec: Chief Administrative Law Judge for Illinois Healthcare and Family services, Former Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney
Stan Willis: Law Office of Standish E. Willis, Ltd., Black People Against Police Torture
Terence F. MacCarthy: Federal Defender Program
Terrence Truax: Jenner & Block
Terri Mascherin: Jenner & Block
Thomas Sullivan: Jenner & Block
Thomas Breen: Breen & Pugh
Alan Goldberg: Office of the State Appellate Defender
Andrea D. Lyon: DePaul University College of Law
Carol A. Brook: Federal Defender Program
Cathy Cohen: University of Chicago department of Political Science, Black Youth Project
Cheryl Graves: Community Justice for Youth Institute, Northwestern Univeristy School of Law Children and Family Justice Center (Former Professor)
Darrius Lightfoot: Fearless Leaders by the Youth
David Coar: United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Former District Judge)
Edwin A. Burnette: Former Cook County Public Defender
Flint Taylor: Founding Partner People’s Law Office
Harold Saffold: CPD Veteran, Founding member of: FDLA Board of Directors, Afro-American Patrolmen’s League (AAPL) and the National Black Police Association (NBPA)
Harold Winston: Assistant Cook County Public Defender and Supervisor in the Post-Conviction Unit
Herschella Conyers: University of Chicago Law School Mandel Legal Aid Clinic
Jamie Kalven: Invisible Institute
Jane Raley: In Memoriam: Northwestern University Law School’s Center on Wrongful Convictions
Joey Mogul: People’s Law Office, DePaul University
John T. Fitzgerald: Howard Area Community Center (Retired Executive Director)
Jorge Roque: New Life Center, CeaseFire Violence Interrupter