Public Rights Project announces 2025 Affirmative Leaders Fellows

For immediate release: July 31, 2025

Media contact: Jackie Jena, jackie@publicrightsproject.org

OAKLAND — Public Rights Project today announced 26 government attorneys will participate in its 2025 Affirmative Leaders Fellowship. The four-month fellowship is an opportunity for fellows to build their skills in affirmative impact litigation, coalition-building and community engagement, and public leadership.

“When local governments protect civil rights, they’re standing up for people and families,” said Jill. Habig, founder and CEO of Public Rights Project. “Our flagship fellowship program gives local government attorneys the skills and tools for this type of proactive litigation. Our fellows go on to make a difference in their community and join our growing network of local leaders fighting for democracy.”

As of 2024, PRP has trained and supported nearly 250 fellows across 27 states through its multiple fellowship programs.

2025 Affirmative Leaders Fellows

• David Aigboboh, Deputy County Counsel, Affirmative Litigation and Consumer Protection Division, Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office
• Nina Aubuchon-Jones, Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel, Government Services Division, City of Boston Law Department
• Nirali Beri, Deputy City Attorney, Housing Justice Initiative unit, Affirmative Litigation team, Oakland City Attorney’s Office
• Ryan Bishop, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Arizona Attorney General’s Office
• Katherine Carroll, Deputy Commissioner, Law Enforcement Bureau, New York City Commission on Human Rights
• Nora Cassidy, Worker Protection Attorney, Affirmative Litigation, Innovation and Enforcement Division, Oakland City Attorney’s Office
• Fu Chieh “Flora” Chang, Assistant Attorney General, Children’s Justice Unit, Civil Rights Division, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
• Kevin Farley, Associate Commissioner, Law Enforcement Bureau, New York City Commission on Human Rights
• Antonio Favela, Associate General Counsel, Office of the President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
• Robert Helwig, Assistant County Solicitor, Allegheny County Law Department
• Jesse Hudson, Assistant Corporation Counsel, Administrative Law and Regulatory Litigation Division, New York City Law Department
• Alex Keiser, Assistant County Attorney, Environmental Division, Harris County Attorney’s Office
• Devon King, Deputy City Attorney, Office of the City Attorney, City of Albuquerque
• Julie Koren, Associate Solicitor, Federal Litigation Group, City of Pittsburgh Law Department
• Zenia Laws, Special Counsel, Public Advocacy Division, D.C. Office of the Attorney General
• William “Bill” Lowry, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Bureau, Public Interest Division, Office of the Illinois Attorney General
• Kelsey McElveen, Assistant City Attorney, Civil Litigation Division, Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office
• Chelsea Metcalf, Assistant Corporation Counsel, Affirmative Litigation Division, City of Chicago Department of Law
• Stephanie Rivera, Assistant Commissioner of Pre-Complaint Operations and Litigation, New York City Commission on Human Rights
• Kevin Roberts, Assistant City Attorney, Litigation Division, City of Austin Law Department
• Aaron Setliff, Division Chief, Protective Order Unit, El Paso County Attorney’s Office
• Danielle Thorne, Deputy Associate Director, Affirmative Enforcement Unit, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights
• Catherine Twigg, General Counsel, Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission
• Hannah Vahl, Assistant City Attorney, Litigation Division, City of Austin Law Department
• Andrea Velasquez, Supervising Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento City Attorney’s Office
• Elizabeth Walsh, Deputy Attorney General, Special Litigation Section, New Jersey Office of the Attorney General

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Public Rights Project
As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, Public Rights Project helps local government officials fight for civil rights. We do this by building their capacity to protect and advance civil rights, convening and connecting them on issues of civil rights, and providing legal representation to governments to help them win in court on behalf of their residents. Since our founding, we’ve built a network of over 1,300 partners, including elected officials and 227 government offices across all 50 states, and helped recover over $46 million in relief for marginalized people. www.publicrightsproject.org