LaTonya was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and came to Louisville in search of recovery after being incarcerated for over a third of her life. She recreated her life in Kentucky after being a client, and later an employee, of The Healing Place. LaTonya has worn a lot of hats: she’s been a caregiver, advocate, and a case manager for homeless outreach, and was introduced to the Smart Justice Advocates in 2018. Since then, she’s become more passionate about justice reform, especially about reentry and voting rights issues.
LaTonya is also a mother of 2, grandmother to 1, and recently married her partner of 14 years. She wishes she had had a group like the SJAs when she was younger, and is excited to be a voice for others involved in the justice system. Together with her SJA co-leader, Selena Coomer, LaTonya is focused on building comradery among the group’s members, providing more opportunities for them to learn more about the policymaking process, and ensuring they feel comfortable providing input at all stages in the process.