Liz is the Policy Director for Initiate Justice. Liz is a formerly incarcerated public servant and lawyer with nearly twenty years working in legislative and government affairs, policy law, and media. Liz graduated from UC Davis with a BA in Communication and History, J.D. from McGeorge School of Law, and earned certifications in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine.  In 2016, Liz founded Organized Voices to raise awareness on various social justice issues including police brutality, gun violence, and First Amendment violations, with the launch of a podcast and several annual symposiums featuring west coast rappers to highlight community mentorship against gun and gang violence. 

Liz also served as President of National Lawyers Guild in Sacramento for 10 years, Public Relations Director at Women’s March for six years, and managed political campaigns for women candidates running for school boards. Liz also teaches social justice and public speaking courses at the Los Rios College District in Sacramento and has taught at Mule Creek State Prison and frequently lectures on civil rights as a visiting professor at universities across the state.