Just Communities Staff

The Team

Caroline Isaacs

Executive Director

Caroline has worked for over 20 years advocating for just and effective criminal justice policy in Arizona. She is the author of several reports on the poor performance of private prison companies in Arizona, conditions in correctional facilities, and criminal justice policy and sentencing. 

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Salon.com, The Appeal, Dan Rather Reports, In These Times, Al Jazeera America, The Huffington Post, and numerous state and local media outlets.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the College of Wooster and a Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University.

Jason Martinez

Finance / Operations Manager

Jason grew up in Albuquerque, NM, a city that has been home to his family for many generations. As a student at the University of New Mexico, he took a flamenco dance class and became entranced by this unique art form. He met his wife through flamenco and they toured together as part of a dance company. 

Jason holds a bachelor degree in Sociology and obtained his M.A. in Communication from Northern Arizona University. He produces the Between The Lines with Jason Martinez podcast promoting Tucson culture.

DeAnna Ford

Justice Reinvestment Program Manager

DeAnna has over 20 years of experience as an educator, mental health advocate, and community organizer. She recently retired after two decades of teaching technical College in the Human Services discipline as a Faculty member. Her passion for organizing and strategic thinking led her team to record breaking Voter Registrations in Southeastern WI.

She helped organize over 65 grassroots orgs around Justice Reinvestment and Prop 207 while building solidarity within local Black and Brown grassroots orgs.

DeAnna holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of WI and a Master’s degree in Education from Oklahoma City University and EBD in Educational leadership from Edgewood College.

Enrique Olivares-Pelayo

ReFraming Justice Organizer

Enrique has been with JCA since September 2020.

In his role as a community organizer, Enrique has worked with directly impacted people to advocate for punishment reform, developed and maintained the largest outreach mechanism in Arizona for Prop 207 expungement assistance, and worked closely with his fellow Tucsonans to transform their sense of community safety via Safety Incubator Projects.

Enrique is currently completing a doctoral program in geography at the University of Arizona.

Just Communities Staff

The Team

Caroline Isaacs

Executive Director

Caroline has worked for over 20 years advocating for just and effective criminal justice policy in Arizona. She is the author of several reports on the poor performance of private prison companies in Arizona, conditions in correctional facilities, and criminal justice policy and sentencing. 

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Salon.com, The Appeal, Dan Rather Reports, In These Times, Al Jazeera America, The Huffington Post, and numerous state and local media outlets.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the College of Wooster and a Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University.

Jason Martinez

Finance / Operations Manager

Jason grew up in Albuquerque, NM, a city that has been home to his family for many generations. As a student at the University of New Mexico, he took a flamenco dance class and became entranced by this unique art form. He met his wife through flamenco and they toured together as part of a dance company. 

Jason holds a bachelor degree in Sociology and obtained his M.A. in Communication from Northern Arizona University. He produces the Between The Lines with Jason Martinez podcast promoting Tucson culture.

DeAnna Ford

Deputy Director

DeAnna has over 20 years of experience as an educator, mental health advocate, and community organizer. She recently retired after two decades of teaching technical College in the Human Services discipline as a Faculty member. Her passion for organizing and strategic thinking led her team to record breaking Voter Registrations in Southeastern WI.

Since relocating to AZ, she helped organize over 65 grassroots orgs around Justice Reinvestment and Prop 207 while building solidarity within local Black and Brown grassroots orgs.

DeAnna holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of WI and a Master’s degree in Education from Oklahoma City University and EBD in Educational leadership from Edgewood College.

Enrique Olivares-Pelayo

ReFraming Justice Organizer

Enrique has been with JCA since September 2020.

In his role as a community organizer, Enrique has worked with directly impacted people to advocate for punishment reform, developed and maintained the largest outreach mechanism in Arizona for Prop 207 expungement assistance, and worked closely with his fellow Tucsonans to transform their sense of community safety via Safety Incubator Projects.

Enrique is currently completing a doctoral program in geography at the University of Arizona.