Justice 101: Voices Beyond the Walls — Justice, Reentry, and Civic Power

Vanessa Caracoza is a visionary leader in public service, bringing a deep commitment to community advocacy and organizational excellence. As Deputy Executive Director for the Office of the City Commissioners in Philadelphia, she has pioneered transformative initiatives to increase voter access, including establishing ten permanent Satellite Election Offices in Philadelphia. Her leadership has been instrumental in expanding access to the democratic process and supporting equitable voter participation citywide. 

Previously, Vanessa spearheaded strategic partnerships and coalition efforts for the 2020 Census, strengthening Philadelphia’s representation and resource allocation. She has also overseen major election operations, ensuring integrity and accessibility during recent pivotal elections. Her work extends beyond elections into public health, where she has led initiatives to address disparities in vaccine access and other community health resources. During her service at the City of Philadelphia, she has managed budgets of over $5 million and led large teams of over 130 employees. 

In addition to her public service role, Vanessa is President of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Philadelphia, dedicated to empowering Latino leaders across sectors. She is also the Chair of the City’s Community Resource Group for Latinidad, fostering professional growth and engagement for Latino city employees. Vanessa was recently appointed to the Women’s Committee for Philadelphia 250. 
Vanessa’s impact and leadership have been recognized with several awards: Philadelphia Business Journal Women of Influence, City & State PA’s 40 Under 40, Metro Philadelphia’s Power List, and Hispanic Media’s Most Powerful Latinas Award.

Benjamin Geffen is a Senior Attorney at the Public Interest Law Center. He works across several practice areas, including voting rights, public health, and civil rights for people with criminal records.

Mr. Geffen’s successful cases at the Law Center have included striking down Pennsylvania’s gerrymandered congressional map and its Voter ID law, a class action that restored visitation rights for inmates at the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center, numerous matters protecting children’s access to healthcare and education, and challenges to employment discrimination against people with criminal records.

Preceding his start at the Law Center in 2010, Mr. Geffen spent two years clerking for the Honorable Robert M. Levy in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Geffen is a frequent public speaker. His community involvement has included membership in the American Law Institute since 2022, service as a mayoral appointee on the City of Philadelphia’s Police Advisory Commission (2015-2022), and service as President of the Philadelphia Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society (2016-2021). Mr. Geffen is a graduate
 

William “Bill” Hart is the associate director at Temple University’s Office of Community Affairs and Engagement. His history with Temple extends more than 30 years, first as a student and ROTC cadet, and later as an employee. Hart has created a career path that allows him to support and empower others. 

He first joined Temple as an assistant director in Development and Alumni Affairs. Hart then served as a major gift fundraiser for TU Athletics. He was later appointed director of community employment and hiring. Hart left Temple to work for the city of Philadelphia. Among other roles, he was executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Reintegration Services for ex-offenders. Hart returned to the university during the summer of 2018. He is a proud alumnus of the Fox School of Business and a certificate holder in fundraising from the University of Pennsylvania. Hart is passionate about civic engagement. He is a member of Central High School’s Alumni Board and a master scuba diver who trains inner city youth in the sport.

Omar Sabir was elected on November 5, 2019, and sworn in as City Commissioner of the County of Philadelphia on January 6, 2020. In 2024, he was voted Chairman by the other two Commissioners. As Chairman, he is committed to empowering all Philadelphians to participate in the voting process, tackling voter apathy, and educating communities on civic engagement. 

A lifelong advocate for the people, Chairman Sabir previously served as a senior staffer in the Office of Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes and held leadership roles with the Nathaniel Sabir Memorial Scholarship Fund, Citizens for State Representative Louise Williams Bishop, and the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. He began his career as a union construction worker, gaining firsthand insight into the needs of working families.

Chairman Sabir created several grassroots initiatives to boost civic participation, including the Octavius Catto Taskforce to highlight voter registration, the impact of elections, and the fight against voter suppression. In 2024, he launched Platinum Voters, an initiative focused on helping older voters register and receive voter education.
He has been featured in major media outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, 60 Minutes, The New York Times, Politico, Al Jazeera, and Showtime’s The Circus. 

He was recently named one of Philadelphia’s Most Influential African Americans by the Philadelphia Tribune and commended by President Joseph R. Biden for his work supporting voter participation. Chairman Sabir founded Vote Philly Vote, which aims to raise voter turnout to over 90% in all city elections. He is a graduate of Cheyney University and the University of Pennsylvania’s DiverseForce On Boards program. He is a proud husband and father of 7 children and a lifelong Philadelphian.

As Executive Director of the Division of Reentry, Assata sets a clear vision and direction for a comprehensive citywide approach to improving reentry outcomes and reducing recidivism. Prior to her current role, she served as Chief Community Justice Officer of the Institute for Community Justice (ICJ), a program of Philadelphia FIGHT. As Chief, she oversaw the effective execution of ICJ’s aims to provide support, education, and advocacy for individuals, families, and communities impacted by mass incarceration.

Assata has over 20 years of social service experience. She commenced her training as a Corrections Officer with the State of New Jersey and became the first female President of the Corrections Officers Training Academy of New Jersey. Concurrently, she received a B.A. with honors from Rutgers University in Africana and Urban Studies and a Masters of Restorative Justice from Vermont Law and Graduate School.

She is a passionate advocate on behalf of those affected by mass incarceration; moreover, having lived through the experience of a felony conviction, she is uniquely qualified to speak with credibility and authority to the issues facing all who have been affected by the system. Her personal trajectory and hard-won successes fuel her passion for helping others.