Meet the Team

I am President of Families Shoulder to Shoulder. I spent 25 years in prison and know firsthand of all the disparities that exist. Further more, I am one of the co-founders of TEACH (Taking Education and Creating History) and Vice-president of the Black Prisoners Caucus Community Group. Not only that, but I'm a certified life coach, certified peer counselor, reentry navigator and caseworker.

My drive for criminal justice reform helps me advocate and help at-risk youth, influencing penitentiary reform, and working to build our community. As the President of Families Shoulder to Shoulder I have made it my work to reunite loved ones with family members and continue to be the bridge between the criminal/civil legal system and community.

Ginny lived through seeing her son, Willie Nobles, seduced by gang life when he was only 12 years old. Those activities led to him being sentenced to 96 years when he was only 18. Ginny has dedicated her life to helping other families to navigate the court systems and to work through the isolation of having an incarcerated loved one. In the years since her son was incarcerated, Ginny has worked tirelessly towards prison reform and aid for those suffering under the current system.

Ginny is an organizer with WA Community Action Network, an organization that works on Mass Liberation issues surrounding incarcerated individuals and their families; volunteers and has been an instructor of Education and Restorative Justice Classes inside many Washington State prisons; and was a contributor to the Washington State Criminal Sentencing Task Force, helping to refine the Sentencing Reform Act and improve draconian sentencing grids that keep people incarcerated for unjust lengths of time.

Polly Trout, Ph.D., is the founder of Northwest Education Access, a nonprofit that provides comprehensive and individualized support to help low-income young people build their own path to higher education and beyond. She has 25 years of experience in nonprofit management and community organizing. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and living her values out loud in public.

Jasmine was born and raised in Oakland, and moved to Berkeley after her birth mother served a lengthy prison sentence when she was a child. Being a child of incarcerated parents fuels her passion and commitment to dismantling the criminal system. Her work with families, specifically with children of incarcerated families, started when she was a middle school student.

When Jasmine attended UC Davis, she learned the Sociological perspective on the criminal system and the data behind it. Being invested in her community, she wanted to be a part of movements that advocated for human rights, gender and racial equity, and dismantling the injustice system. Her journey after UC Davis continued to the Iron Triangle, where her work with families supported her transition to begin working in East Oakland and discovering her newfound passion for Restorative Justice work.

Jasmine has worked with families and youth impacted by incarceration throughout Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and San Francisco County, working at Bay Area Community Resources (BACR), Community Works West, RYSE, and San Francisco Family Support Network. While at the RYSE Youth Center, Jasmine managed the First Restorative Diversion Program.

Jasmine most recently worked at a legal services agency as a Paralegal, supporting policy change/revisions and The Rising Scholars Program in the State of California, analyzing RAP sheets and filing expungements under 1203.4, Prop 47, and other terminations. She has filed hundreds of petitions, with many students having successfully granted petitions.

James Rollins is a dedicated community leader with over 20 years of lived experience, committed to justice, healing, and systemic change. He serves in multiple leadership roles advancing education, liberation, and advocacy for impacted communities:

• Families Shoulder to Shoulder – Special Events Manager
• Leads fundraising, community engagement, and event planning.
• Black Prisoners Caucus Community Group – Social Committee Director
• Organizes events to amplify the voices of incarcerated individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, and the community.
• Freedom Project – RPKC Case Manager
• Supports system-impacted youth affected by gun and gang violence.
• Transcend the Narrative – Founder
• Builds organizational unity for education and liberation within the prison system, for formerly incarcerated individuals and the community, while addressing homelessness and youth housing.