Chijioke has over 20 years of professional experience, with eight years in senior roles at Maryland Legal Aid and its subsidiary, the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance.

In these positions, he supervised and mentored more than 100 administrative and legal staff, and assisted thousands of pro se litigants. Among his many accomplishments was establishing an innovative self-help call center at MCLA and a centralized intake system for Maryland Legal Aid. In 2022, Chijioke was honored by the Daily Record and Maryland State Bar Association with a Leader in the Law award.

Earlier in his legal career, Chijioke managed his own law practice where he represented homeowner’s associations, small businesses, and immigration clients. He also served as a Fellow in the DC Office of the Attorney General. As a law student at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Chijioke participated in the foreclosure mediation and immigration clinics that were instrumental in his educational experience and deepened his passion for serving low-income and disenfranchised communities.

As Interim Deputy Director, Gustava (“Gusty”) Taler brings a wealth of experience working in a wide range of settings including non-profits, government, and the private sector. Prior to joining Rising for Justice, Gusty was chief operating officer for Maryland Legal Aid (MLA). There she managed the day-to-day administration of Maryland’s third largest law firm with 12 offices statewide, 300 staff, and a $34 million budget. Specifically, her work included supervision of budget/finance, human resources, facilities, information technology, grants/contracts/compliance, and training/pro bono teams. Under her leadership and that of MLA’s former executive director, organizational revenues increased by 47%. This was accomplished by broadening the pool and breadth of funding sources, developing and coordinating innovative and collaborative service delivery programs, and dramatically increasing the number of multi-year grant and contract awards to serve the civil legal needs of the state’s low-income and most vulnerable residents.

Prior to joining MLA, Gusty was chief of staff for the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, and worked for the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, the Pro Bono Resource Center, the Maryland General Assembly, and in the private practice of law. As part of her work with the Women’s Law Center, she created and was project director for the Multi-Ethnic Domestic Violence Project, which provides legal assistance to foreign-born victims of domestic violence.

Before entering the legal profession, Gusty worked in public relations and public affairs. She received her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law, her M.S. in Public Relations from American University’s Kogod School of Business, and B.A. from the Johns Hopkins University.

Gregory Nolen is the executive assistant at Rising for Justice. He primarily assists the executive director and the deputy director. Gregory joined the organization after spending the past six years with the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance (MCLA), a fully owned subsidiary of Maryland Legal Aid. Gregory served as an administrative assistant and was later promoted to office manager during his time with MCLA

Gregory earned a certificate in paralegal studies at Anne Arundel Community College in May of 2016. While in the program, he completed an internship as a paralegal at the Anne Arundel County office of Maryland Legal Aid, which was later turned into a part-time role upon completion of the program. He also earned a BA in history from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD in May of 2013, graduating cum laude.   

In his spare time, Gregory enjoys reading nonfiction books, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family.

J. Roby Penn IV has previously served in positions that involved executive leadership, marketing, consulting, and strategic fundraising in both the private and public sectors—from the petroleum industry to national political campaigns to arts institutions to international nonprofits.

A Fort Worth, Texas native and longtime resident of Palm Beach, Florida, Roby is an alumnus of Culver Military Academy where he was Cadet Captain and Black Horse Troop Commander. He received a BA in History from Texas Christian University. His post-graduate studies include attending Georgetown University (MLA), and he is a Candidate for a Master of Divinity at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He received a Certificate from the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University.

Roby serves or has served as a board or committee member of numerous organizations including Achilles International, the American Ballet Theater, the Chinati Foundation, the Corcoran Gallery, the Instituto Allende, the Kimball Museum, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Society of the Four Arts, the Texas State Society, and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Megan Kneisl is the Development Manager, Grants at Rising for Justice. She manages the grants proposal pipeline by leading new grant prospect research, writing the appropriate grant submissions, and maintaining a grants calendar. She drafts reports and other organizational documents for submission to foundations and other institutional funders. Megan also strategically advances individual donor campaigns and provides event support to the Development Department. 

Megan holds her B.A. in Women’s Studies and History from the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. She holds her J.D. in Public Interest Law from the Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. After law school, she practiced with Philly VIP as a volunteer attorney. Megan also completed a transformative term of service with the AmeriCorps program Public Allies Delaware. As part of her term of service, she developed a mentoring program for at-risk youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware (BGCDE). She subsequently served as the program’s director and a staff member at BGCDE, where she successfully secured funding to administer the program and renovate three Learning and Skills Centers to support mentoring activities. 

In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time with her three children, family, and friends. She also enjoys reading, writing, and going for walks with the family dog, Sofie. 

Andrew Rabinowitz is the Director of the Tenant Justice Program, bringing a robust background in legal services and advocacy. Most recently, he served as the Director of Senior Legal Services at a non-profit law firm affiliated with the Bar Association of Baltimore City. During his tenure there, Andrew successfully tripled the organization’s operating account and secured funding to implement over 30% salary increases for all staff, significantly enhancing the firm’s capacity to serve its clients.

Before this role, Andrew was the Chief Attorney for Maryland Legal Aid’s Housing and Consumer Law Unit in Baltimore City. In this capacity, he managed a team of attorneys, paralegals, law clerks, and administrative staff engaged in critical housing and consumer litigation, legislative advocacy, and community outreach initiatives. His extensive experience also includes private practice, where he focused on landlord/tenant matters and criminal law.

A 2012 graduate of Barry University School of Law, Andrew combines his legal expertise with strong leadership skills, positioning him to make a meaningful impact in his new role at RFJ.

Outside of his professional commitments, Andrew is an avid whitewater kayaker, often found exploring local rivers or competing in freestyle events, reflecting his adventurous spirit.

Philip Robinson is the Director of the Housing Advocacy and Litigation Clinic at Rising for Justice. Prior to joining RFJ, Phillip Robinson spent two decades building a successful legal career in private practice and public interest law, focused on complex consumer protection issues. Based in his hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland, Phillip has been an active member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates (“NACA”) and various state organizations in Maryland focused on economic rights.

As a recognized consumer litigator in the areas of mortgage servicing, foreclosure defense, and debt collection practices, Phillip’s state and nationwide practice concentrated in the areas of aiding homeowners with sustainable solutions who have fallen victim to unfair, deceptive, or otherwise illegal consumer practices by mortgage services, lenders, and debt buyers. Phillip served as co-trial counsel in a $38,630,344.00 jury verdict against LVNV on behalf of a class of 1,589 Maryland consumers; this case was affirmed as to liability on appeal and thereafter settled on appeal. 

Previously, Phillip served as Executive Director for the award-winning Civil Justice, Inc. Phillip is recognized for his innovative, creative approach to case management and systemic creditor practices. Building on the work of NACA members who uncovered the mortgage robo-signing practices, Phillip pressed the certification of classes of defendants facing foreclosure and asked Maryland courts to dismiss hundreds of pending foreclosure cases. While at Civil Justice Phillip served as a lead training for Maryland’s Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project where he trained over 2,000 Maryland attorneys volunteering to aid homeowners.

Phillip has also served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Baltimore School of Law, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, and Delaware Law School. Phillip has been appointed to numerous boards and advisory committees and in 2008 was recognized as the Maryland Consumer Advocate of the Year by the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition.  In 2016 he was also recognized as NACA’s Consumer Advocate of the Year.  

In the Economic Securities unit, Will wrote criminal record sealing motions and represented Social Security and TANF clients in administrative hearings and other capacities to help them secure public benefits.

Will graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in May 2017, where he  participated in the Civil Rights Clinic. While in law school, Will also interned at various public interest organizations, including the Mexican Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. Prior to law school, Will worked in public education for nearly 20 years as a high school teacher in Washington DC and New Haven CT and as co-director of a non-profit youth development program in Berkeley, California.

In his spare moments, Will enjoys spending time with his three teenage sons and attending their dance performances and baseball games.

Ayaan is a Housing Paralegal with the Tenant Justice Program at Rising for Justice. Her commitment to legal aid and advocacy was established through her previous role at the Virginia Poverty Law Center Senior Legal Helpline, where she addressed the intersections of elder and poverty law.  

In May 2024, Ayaan graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Political and Social Thought, concentrating in Sociology and African American Studies. During her undergraduate studies, she dedicated her advocacy efforts to supporting immigrant communities in Charlottesville. Her thesis project, which explored identity construction among first and second-generation African immigrants, highlighted the unique integration challenges faced by this often-underrepresented group in sociological research. Ayaan aspires to attend law school to advance her commitment to public interest work. 

In her free time, Ayaan enjoys spending time with friends and family, crocheting, and listening to music. 

Rebecca Silva is a Staff Attorney & Georgetown Justice Fellow in Rising for Justice’s Tenant Justice Program. Rebecca previously participated in RFJ’s Housing and Litigation Clinic as a Student Attorney. 

Rebecca graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2024. As a student, she received recognition for achieving Georgetown’s Special Pro Bono Pledge by providing 100 hours of pro bono legal service. She served on the school’s Professional Responsibility Student-Faculty Committee and oversaw administration of the student disciplinary code. Rebecca also interned with the DC Office of Human Rights. 

Prior to law school Rebecca worked as a theatrical stage manager in the Washington, DC area. She graduated magna cum laude from American University with her bachelor’s degree. Originally from Rhode Island, Rebecca has lived in the DC area for over 10 years. Outside of the courthouse, Rebecca spends her time doting on her rescue dog, Rosie. 

Jacob Lemon-Strauss is the Program Director of Rising for Justice’s Expungement & the Respondent Representation Program.

Before joining Rising for Justice, Jacob was a Supervising Attorney at the Bronx Defenders, a nationally recognized public defender organization. He represented people charged with every level of offense, from traffic violations to homicides. As a Supervising Attorney, Jacob managed and trained staff attorneys in the office.

Jacob attended law school at Georgetown University Law Center, graduating cum laude in 2011. While in law school, he was a student attorney in the Criminal Defense and Prisoner Clinic, where he represented people charged with misdemeanors in DC Superior Court, as well as people eligible for release before the U.S. Parole Commission. Jacob graduated from Macalester College in 2006 with a BA in Religious Studies.

In his spare time, Jacob enjoys taking hikes with his dog, biking around DC, and watching basketball.

Adam Farr is a Senior Staff Attorney for Rising for Justice’s Expungement & Respondent Representation Program.

Before joining Rising for Justice, Adam was an Assistant Public Defender at the Arlington County and City of Fredericksburg offices in Virginia. He represented indigent clients with various charges including serious domestic violence cases and drug distribution cases.

Adam graduated from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2018. While in law school he coached the undergraduate mock trial team, competed in various mock trial and moot court competitions, and interned with the Bedford County Public Defender Office. Adam graduated magna cum laude from Bellarmine University in 2015 with a BA in Political Science and History.

In his spare time, Adam enjoys walking his dogs, biking throughout Northern Virginia, and playing every Escape Room he and his wife can find.

Before working as a paralegal, MaryHelen interned at RFJ with these two programs during the senior year of her undergraduate career.

MaryHelen graduated cum laude from James Madison University and the university’s Honors College. She received her B.A. in Political Science with a Pre-Law concentration, and she hopes to attend law school in the future. She is a Virginia native, originally from Locust Grove. In her free time, MaryHelen enjoys hiking, watching sunsets, and attending live music performances.

Passionate about promoting wellness and mental health to reduce stigma, Chaz has served as a presenter and facilitator on such topics as grief and loss, trauma-informed systems, suicide prevention and culturally responsive mental health and self-care strategies to name a few.

Chaz combines his clinical knowledge and program management experience to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB), and relevant data into successful programs that center the communities being served.

In his spare time, Chaz enjoys traveling with his family, baking, and reading or watching science fiction.

Antionette Parks is the Supervising Social Worker for Rising for Justice. She has over 25 years of experience in the Social Work field. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)in the District of Columbia and a Licensed Independent Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) in the State of Maryland. She is approved by the Maryland Board of Social Work to provide supervision to LMSWs pursuing their clinical social work licenses.

Her social work career has given her the opportunity to provide therapy and case management services to underserved children, teens, and families dealing with challenging life issues. Focusing on individuals’ strengths to succeed has been her inspiration to promote a positive impact.

She enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, gardening, and reading.

Safiyya Phillip is a Supervising Social Worker for Rising for Justice and a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) in the District of Columbia. Safiyya is passionate about providing assistance to individuals in historically underserved communities to bring about holistic wellbeing. She is also committed to addressing systemic injustices, especially those related to environmental injustice, in areas such as housing and food security. 

Safiyya graduated summa cum laude from Howard University with a Master of Social Work in 2024 and summa cum laude from Southern Adventist University with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2023. During her graduate program she interned at Rising for Justice, assisting in resource connection, case management, and providing psychoeducational and emotional support while working with clients. Her undergraduate experience includes an internship at her university’s food pantry, where she helped run daily operations and engaged the community in awareness-raising projects concerning food insecurity on college campuses. She also worked as a social work intern at a facility for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, helping residents complete various brain-exercising activities and assisting in developing biopsychosocial assessments for clients.

In her free time, Safiyya enjoys listening to music, spending time in nature, and listening to all kinds of podcasts, especially ones about animals or various events in history.

Linda Brooks is the Director of Human Resources for Rising for Justice. Her tenacious energy, friendly demeanor, and integrity when dealing with confidential and sensitive information helps to promote our organization to a higher level of professionalism and respect in the community.

Linda is a committed and diligent individual who is very compassionate about the needs of the employees. With over 26 years of human resources/payroll experience at Maryland Legal Aid (formerly know as Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.), she is determined to go above and beyond to educate employees about HR policies and benefits information.

She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Coppin State College. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and enjoys volunteering in the communities.

Linda enjoys watching her son play football, volunteering at his high school and making delicious meals.