Our Team
Staff
Jodi Galvin
Executive Director
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.
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. 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 the DC area. He's excited to have this opportunity to give back to the veterans who have given so much.
Costa Via
Project 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!
May Ong
Program Developer
May Ong manages/develops programs, relationships and funding opportunities. Her background is in research, and she obtained her bachelor’s degree and PhD from UCLA. She studied health disparities to improve disease outcomes for underserved populations at Charles Drew University in Los Angeles. She volunteered with CVJP off and on since 2019.
Yvette Kelley
Program Developer
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.
David Caddle
Program Developer
David joined the CVJP team in 2024 to further his advocacy for urban policy and community development. He previously served as a fellow in the Mayor's offices in Jackson, MS, and Memphis, TN, focusing on public safety audits, affordable housing, and COVID-19 response. As a Coro Fellow in Los Angeles, he contributed to ballot initiatives and legislation for the creative economy. David holds a BA in Urban Policy from Rhodes College.
Karl Risinger
Veteran Outreach Worker
Karl Risinger served in the United States Army from 1994-2005 as a Weapons Trainer and Military Police. Never deployed, but took a Government contracting job in Iraq in 2010 because he had to see what his brothers and sisters had been through. Karl moved to Los Angeles in July of 2000 and has been active in the Veteran Community as well as the community around him. He has worked in the entertainment industry and been an event/project manager for several years. He enjoys watching football, playing with his children and being a loving husband.
Emmanuel Lazo
Veteran Outreach Worker
I'm a U.S Marine Veteran who joined CVJP in 2025 after obtaining a "Peer Support Specialist" certificate. As someone who has personally dealt with their fair share of hardships I empathize deeply with those currently struggling. I plan to dedicate my life towards giving back and hope to make a positive impact.
Brian Flexen
ARG Housing Navigator
Brian is a U.S. Army veteran, community leader, and District 1 Case Navigator with the Community Veterans Justice Project (CVJP). He brings a lifetime of lived experience, service, and advocacy to his work supporting justice-involved veterans and their families.
Brian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. His academic focus, combined with personal experience navigating trauma, loss, and systems of care, allows him to approach veteran support through a trauma-informed, strengths-based, and relational lens.
For more than 25 years, Brian has served his community as a youth coach and mentor, working with children of all ages through local football and baseball programs, including high school and youth leagues. Coaching has shaped his belief in accountability, structure, teamwork, and second chances.
Brian is a husband and father of four boys, and family is central to his mission. Through CVJP, Brian is committed to helping veterans access housing, benefits, treatment, and community resources that restore dignity, stability, and purpose.
Michelle Bradley
ARG Housing Navigator
Michelle supports justice-involved individuals through workforce navigation, resource coordination, and reentry planning focused on housing assistance and long-term stability. With a strong background in Human Resource and Talent Acquisition, she also enjoys working closely with community partners, employers, and service providers to remove employment barriers and connect clients to sustainable career pathways to ensure housing sustainability.
Michelle is also a U.S. Air Force Reservist, serving as an AFE Specialist, where she contributes to mission readiness through equipment accountability, compliance, and operational support. In addition to her military service, she brings over eight years of experience in talent acquisition and recruitment leadership across healthcare, logistics, nonprofit, and corporate environments. Michelle is currently pursuing her MBA and is deeply committed to advancing veteran advocacy, reentry success, and equitable workforce access.
Marli Crowe
ARG Data Analyst
Marli Crowe is a strategic, results-driven business leader with over 10 years of experience in data analytics, marketing, operational strategy and cross-functional team leadership. She is experienced in leveraging data insights and reporting to measure program impact, improve processes, and support organizational goals. Over the course of her career, she has worked with notable companies such as Meta and Nielsen, as well as early-stage startups and non-profits, bringing a diverse wealth of experience and perspective to her work. Skilled in translating complex data into clear, actionable insights, Marli has a strong track record of helping organizations demonstrate outcomes and tell their impact story through data. She is also the daughter, granddaughter, and niece of veterans, born on an Air Force base, and deeply passionate about serving the veteran community. Marli is a graduate of Spelman College with a degree in Economics.
Andrew Stefanidis
Justice Navigator
Mr. Andrew Stefanidis is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran who enlisted following the attacks of September 11, 2001. During three deployments to Iraq, he served as an infantry squad leader with the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines and led combat operations during the Second Battle of Fallujah. Wounded in combat, he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Valor for leadership, courage, and service. Following his deployments, he served as an Infantry Combat Instructor, helping develop the leadership, discipline, and combat readiness of more than 1,800 Marines. After his honorable discharge, Andrew faced the challenges of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. Without adequate support and treatment, these service-connected conditions contributed to circumstances that ultimately led to his incarceration. Rather than allowing those experiences to define him, he used them as a catalyst for accountability, growth, and transformation. Andrew earned an associate degree in Addiction Counseling and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from California State University, San Bernardino. Today, he is dedicated to serving justice-involved veterans through CVJP, drawing upon both his military service and lived experience to help veterans navigate legal, treatment, and community systems. His mission is to ensure that fellow veterans have access to the resources, support, and second chances they deserve, empowering them to achieve healing, successful reintegration, and lasting recovery.
Volunteers
Viviana Diaz
Volunteer
My name is Viviana Diaz. I currently work at LAX at Mercury Cargo with Cathay Pacific Airlines in the Import Department and have been there for three years. I am a graduate student at CSULB. I aspire to learn and always grow. I enjoy going to the beach, go hiking, and always staying active. Thank you for the opportunity.
Christian Castaneda
Volunteer
My name is Chris Castaneda. I served in the Marine Corps Reserve and am currently studying film production. Through short film projects, I’ve gained hands-on experience in videography, editing, and photography. I enjoy telling stories that connect with people, and I’m excited to bring those skills to CVJP and support the veterans it serves.
Jonathan Galbraith
Volunteer
I'm currently a senior at California State University, Long Beach, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I have a passion for helping individuals throughout the criminal justice system and hope to build a career focused on supporting others and making a positive impact in my community. Outside of academics, I enjoy spending time at the beach and fishing in Lake Arrowhead, which are some of my favorite ways to relax, recharge, and spend time outdoors.
Kelly Pompermayer
Law Clerk
Kelly Pompermayer is an Oregon native and a second-year law student at Willamette University College of Law. At CVJP, Kelly looks forward to supporting veterans while gaining hands-on experience and expanding her practical legal skills.
Ashwin Bhat
Law Clerk
Ashwin Bhat is a U.S. Army Reserve veteran. He received his B.S. from the University of Oregon and is a 3L at UC Davis School of Law. He brings his experience in the private sector to the CVJP team to give back to the veteran community and support its legal needs. Upon graduation, he will join a global law firm called Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in its litigation practice group and plans to center his pro bono practice around veteran advocacy.
Rebecca Bueno
Law Clerk
Bio TK
Voices from the community
Voices from the community
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The encouragement and resources I received here have helped me rebuild my confidence. This place gave me a sense of belonging and a renewed purpose in life.