Community Veteran Justice Project
Meet The Team
Jodi Galvin
Executive Director
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Jodi Galvin has spent her career in public service. She is a seasoned attorney with over 30 years of experience working within the criminal justice system. Jodi served as a Public Defender Investigator for eleven years in both the Mental Health and Criminal sections, and also as a Los Angeles City Attorney Prosecutor for twenty-one years. Coming from a military-connected family, Jodi has always been a valuable advocate for veteran affairs. Jodi is the Founder and Executive Director of the Community Veteran Justice Project; chairs the Legal & Re-Entry Committee for the LA Veteran Collaborative, has been an active member of the LACBA Armed Forces Committee; and has served on national, statewide and local veteran committees and projects.
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Peter Fendel
Volunteer Attorney
Peter is a Marine Corps veteran and an attorney licensed in California (awaiting bar results in Colorado). Peter graduated from Pepperdine Law School cum laude where he served as the president of the Veterans Legal Society and sat on the Veterans Recruitment Committee. He also attended the University of Colorado Boulder where he received a B.A. in Political Science. Peter has extensive experience working with veterans - serving as the veterans and military liaison in a Congressional office, volunteering with his fellow veterans conducting disaster response with Team Rubicon, and through his own journey as a service-connected V.A. patient. Peter has experience in civil litigation and water law, and is currently transitioning to a career in public service law. Peter enjoys golfing, hiking, and exercising where he lives in Colorado with his rottweiler, Bear.
Monica Mooring
Social Worker Field Supervisor
Dr. Monica Mooring is a social work professional with over 20+ years of direct practice at the macro-level, mezzo-level, and micro-level. She is passionate about helping those most vulnerable realize and achieve their highest potential as they define achievement.
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Jimmy Askew
Project Coordinator
Jimmy Askew is an attorney who is licensed in NY and in CA. A graduate of Cardozo School of Law in NYC, he has worked in entertainment and IP law as well as doing litigation support. He currently serves as a Neighborhood Council member in North Hollywood and as a member of Metro's Citizens Advisory Council. Jimmy's father spent 21 years on active duty in the Army Corps of Engineers, including a year in Vietnam, and he spent the first ten years of life as an army brat before settling down in Fairfax County, VA. He's excited to have this opportunity to give back to the veterans who have given so much.
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Ilya Kurbanov
CVJ Worker
Ilya served in the United States Army for 6 years. During that time, he deployed 5 times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Regiment. Currently, Ilya is studying Business at Pasadena City College and plans on completing his Business Degree at the University of Southern California. He is a member of the Veterans Club at Pasadena City College and the PCC advocate and volunteer for the CJVP. He is passionate about assisting Veteran students and becoming a stellar member of the PCC Community.
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Sean Stone
Project Coordinator
Sean is a Master of Public Policy graduate from the University of Michigan. Prior to earning his Master’s degree Sean worked for the County of L.A 5th District Supervisor and helped implement the annual “Salute to Veterans and their Families”, as well as represented the Supervisor at the monthly L.A. Veterans Collaborative. Sean has two years of legislative affairs experience while with Pete Conaty & Associates, the firm that was responsible for the legislative advocacy of over 800,000 California veterans and eight Veteran Service Organizations across the state. While interning with Pete Conaty, Sean was earning his Bachelor’s of Political Science from the University of California, Davis, which was completed in 2014. Sean is the proud son of a veteran of the United States Navy and also an L.A. native.
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Cleveland Foy
CVJ Worker
Cleveland Foy is an Honorably Discharged Naval Veteran. After transitioning out of the military, Cleveland pursued his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at California State University Northridge, CA. Post- Graduation, Cleveland will be attending law school in Southern California and has a vision of his career path focusing on veteran advocacy. During Cleveland’s military journey, he has been challenged with PTSD, physical disabilities, and homelessness. Cleveland wants fellow Veterans to know there are programs and services to assist and looks forward to helping them access these resources.
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Queen Smith
IT Support
Queen is an Information Technology professional with 32 years of experience with the State of California. She held technical, supervisory and management positions. Work assignments included project management, contract management, feasibility studies and post implementation evaluation reports, applications support, database management, systems administration and support, networking, security, web site management, data center management, help desk and desktop support, and customer service. She is a graduate of California State University Los Angeles. She is the daughter and granddaughter of war veterans. She has a passion for helping other people go beyond the ordinary, to stretch out and become more, to do more than they ever dreamed they could do.
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Costa Via
Program Manager
Costa Via is a U.S. Army veteran. He received LLM from Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law in 2015 and since then he was involved in VET2VET, a non-profit educational project dedicated to assist veterans with adjustment to civilian lifestyle and providing assistance in obtaining VA and other available benefits. Through his own journey as a service-connected V.A. patient, Costa derives a strong sense of fulfillment from providing assistance to service members and their families.
In God We Trust: E pluribus Unum!
Lance enlisted in the Marines. His military career was marked by excellence but after a combat tour in Afghanistan he faced severe PTSD. He turned to self-medication, leading to criminal involvement and a life sentence less than a month after returning home. During incarceration Lance transformed his life earning an honors college degree, spearheading the Veteran’s Incarcerated Program, and becoming an instructor.
Lance Eric Stark
CVJP Case Manager
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Yvette is a combat veteran with over 30 years of leadership as an Army helicopter pilot and a broad spectrum of specialized experience in human resources, logistics, aviation, and operations, culminating her career in the Pentagon. In 2019, she completed her Jurisprudence Degree (JD) from the University of Southern California (USC) and passed the California bar exam in 2020. Yvette served in two non-profit organizations as President & CEO helping veterans facing homelessness and as an Executive Director for Bob Hope USO.
Yvette J Kelley
Program Developer/Manager
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Guy, born in San Francisco and raised in the South Bay, attended the University of California, Berkeley and received a bachelor’s degree in political science. Currently, Guy is a third-year law student at the University of California, Berkeley. He spent his 1L summer working for California State Department of Justice, before accepting a corporate associate position for Fenwick & West. Guy is passionate about protecting veterans and ensuring that they make full use of their rights.
Guy Rotstein CVJP Law Clerk
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I am currently a senior at Cal State Los Angeles. My major is Rehabilitation Services. I was sure of my career objective after completing my "Boots to Books" class last semester. The class focused on veterans and their reintegration into society. I was inspired by the guest speakers who shared about their service and experiences. I am interested in working with the Veteran community in my future. I enjoy cooking and gardening. I look forward to working with you all.
Ekaterini Kate Telles
OCVJP Intern
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Alayah Williams is a senior at California State University of Los Angeles. She is currently majoring in Rehabilitation Services with a certificate in Veteran Services. She's excited to be working with Veterans. She wants to give back to the individuals who selflessly gave up their lives for others. She wants to help improve their lives, help them transition to their next life changes, and help advocate for them. She has realized how selfless, dedicated, and brave they are.
Alayah Williams
CVJP Intern
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May Santiago Ong manages/develops programs, relationships and funding opportunities. Her background is in research, she obtained her bachelor’s degree and PhD from UCLA. She studied health disparities to improve disease outcomes for underserved populations during her tenure at Charles Drew University in south Los Angeles. She grew up in Bataan, Philippines. Her grandfathers served, one as a medic and the other as a cook. She volunteered with CVJP off and on since 2017.
May Santiago Ong
Program Developer/Manager
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Marlee, a student at Cal State LA, will earn a degree in Rehabilitation Services and a certificate in Veteran Services in the spring of 2024. She plans to enroll in a Master of Social Work program in the fall. Her commitment to supporting the Veteran community is rooted in her family's military background and her relationship with her grandfather, a combat Marine who served during the Vietnam War. Marlee hopes to make a difference for Veterans and vulnerable populations.
Marlee Hoy
CVJP Intern
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Scott sperved almost 42 years in the Department of Navy with 26 years as an active duty Marine Corps officer (retired as a Lieutenant Colonel) and 16 years as a federal employee (GS15). He attended law school while on active duty with a wife and three children helping. As an appellate attorney, Scott argued three prisoner civil cases in front of the 9th Circuit, handled immigration related appeals with the 9th Circuit and the Board of Immigration Appeals, and conducted numerous criminal indigent appeals at the state district and superior court levels.
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Scott Cramer
Volunteer Attorney
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For over 20 years Defense Attorney Mark Rosenfeld has been helping veterans with criminal and Department of Motor Vehicle troubles. He is proud to work alongside CVJP in helping veterans through a difficult and confusing time. Attorney Rosenfeld is on the Board of Governors of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, a Specialist Member of the California DUI Lawyers Association, and a State Ambassador and Founding Member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. Attorney Rosenfeld is qualified to analyze blood, administer breath tests and has completed the instructor training for the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Working with CVJP gives Attorney Rosenfeld a chance to give back, and show his gratitude, to our veterans in their time of need. For more information go to Attorney Rosenfeld’s Video University: https://www.mrduila.com/video-university/
Mark Rosenfeld
Volunteer Attorney
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