Aisha Canfield-Allen, MPP, Director: Ceres Policy Research

Aisha Canfield has worked in systems reform for the last decade. She began her career working as a case assistant in death row appeals for indigent prisoners in the state of California, served as a board member for the local chapter of a national organization to increase civic engagement amongst women, and later worked as a paralegal for a private civil rights litigation firm. Since receiving a master’s degree in public policy from Mills College, she has largely focused on juvenile justice reform - partnering with communities and probation departments to prevent system-involvement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender nonconforming (LGB/GNCT) youth of color while improving outcomes for those already system involved. She has conducted national and statewide research on this topic and has published in numerous academic articles. She has trained and provided technical assistance to dozens of juvenile justice systems nationwide to implement SOGIE data collection systems and change culture for youth in secure facilities. Aisha has also served as an evaluator for community-based organizations that provide an alternative to incarceration for youth throughout the United States. Most recently Aisha has been hired to lead the implementation of federal standards that will architect the safety of 18,000 incarcerated adults and 1,000 detained youth in all of Los Angeles County detention facilities.