Please join us in welcoming the newest members to the Access to Justice Board! We’re thrilled to have Brynn Felix, Carnissa Lucas-Smith, Jane Smith and Vanna Sing joining the Board. Each will contribute their unique experiences, perspectives and skills to the Board and Alliance for Equal Justice. Keep reading to learn a little more about them and what inspires each to do equity and justice work.

Brynn Felix

Brynn serves as General Counsel at Peninsula Community Health Services, a federally qualified health center, where she has developed a Medical Legal Partnership to connect patients with legal services. Prior to joining PCHS, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk to Justice Mary I. Yu of the Washington Supreme Court and was a litigator at a law firm in Seattle. In addition to her legal career, Brynn has served as a classroom teacher and civil rights policy advocate.

Question: Can you share a little about your background and what led you to become a Board member?

Brynn: Prior to law school, I studied international human rights law and worked at the ACLU of Washington as a civil rights policy advocate. I currently serve as General Counsel at Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS), a community health center that serves our region’s most underserved populations. Since joining PCHS, I have developed a Medical-Legal Partnership to identify patients’ health-harming legal needs and connect them with pro bono counsel. I was inspired to seek membership on the Access to Justice Board because I believe in its mission to increase access to the civil justice system.

Question: What role do you see yourself playing on the Board? Or said another way, what do you hope to bring to the Board?

Brynn: During my tenure as a Board member, I hope to bring a community-based perspective to our discussions. In doing so, I hope to draw on my experience in community health to center the voices of those who all too frequently lack meaningful access to the civil justice system.

Question: What are you looking forward to during your time on the Board?

Brynn: I am excited to chair the Technology Committee and to work toward ensuring that technology is utilized to increase access to our legal system rather than serve as a barrier. I am also eager to gain a greater understanding of the challenges that self-represented litigants face and to work with stakeholders to find solutions.

Question: Any final thoughts that you’d like to leave us with?

Brynn: I deeply appreciate the opportunity to serve on this Board and look forward to working alongside and learning from my fellow Board members.

 

Carnissa Lucas-Smith

Carnissa Lucas-Smith is a public defender at the King County Department of Public Defense. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, she attended New York University School of Law, graduating in 2020. In law school, Carnissa focused on public interest work through her internship at the Northwest Justice Project and engagement in multiple clinics. Prior to law school, Carnissa worked as a litigation assistant at a local law firm. As a native Seattleite, Carnissa has strong bonds within her community and has always wanted to be involved in public service.

Question: Can you share a little about your background and what led you to become a Board member?

Carnissa: From a young age, I have been interested in public interest work. Principles of equity and justice have always drawn my attention. I have experiences in a variety of non-profits and currently am a public defender. While direct services is of the utmost importance, I also wanted to be involved in more systemic changes. That desire to make a positive impact on a systemic level, as a compliment to my current role in direct services, lead me to the ATJ Board.

Question: What role do you see yourself playing on the Board? Or said another way, what do you hope to bring to the Board?

Carnissa: Having recently graduated law school, I hope to bring the perspective of a young professional. I bring with my all of my identities as a life-long Washingtonian and black woman. While I see myself supporting the Board and crafting new ideas, I also see myself learning a great deal from the ATJ Board.

Question: What are you looking forward to during your time on the Board?

Carnissa: I’m most looking forward to meeting like-minded, justice-focused individuals. The ATJ Board brings together a diverse collection of actors with the purpose of making much needed improvements in the civil justice system. It is an honor to be able to meet with and learn from these individuals.

Question: Any final thoughts that you’d like to leave us with?

Carnissa: I’m very excited for my tenure on the ATJ Board! I am ready to provide my perspective as well as learn from others involved.

 

Jane Smith

Jane M. Smith has served in Colville Tribal Courts for over 41 years as an administrator for both the trial and appellate courts. She has been with the Court of Appeals for 25 years. She has been a tribal judge since 1994. She is the past president of the Northwest Tribal Court Judges Association and the National American Indian Court Clerks Association. She was appointed to be one of four lay committee members on the original WSBA Practice of Law Board, where she served for eight years. She was on the Gender & Justice Committee for two terms, and she served on the Disciplinary Board for the WSBA. She was on the Fall Judicial Planning Committee for several years as the tribal representative. She is currently a Justice of the Colville Tribal, Tulalip, Quinault Nation, and Spokane Tribal Courts of Appeals. She has served as a pro tem/appellate judge for several other northwest tribal courts. She is a member of the Colville Tribal Bar Association. She developed the Court Reporting system currently in use by the Colville Tribes Court of Appeals for publishing its opinions. She is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation and is a second-generation tribal judge. She has one dog and two kitties, loves time spent with family and friends, camping, photography, watching sports, and good food. She enjoys doing beadwork and other crafts.

Question: Can you share a little about your background and what led you to become a Board member?

Jane: I have spent 43 years in the Trial Court judicial system. I’ve worked as a secretary for the prosecution, Court Administrator, magistrate, judge, and justice. I’ve participated and taught trainings on tribal court systems both locally and nationally. I’ve served on several WSBA committees and have made many great acquaintances, many whom suggested that I should be on the ATJ Board. ATJ is a Board that I’ve considered many times, but never had the opportunity and time to join before now. I’m looking forward to this opportunity.

Question: What role do you see yourself playing on the Board? Or said another way, what do you hope to bring to the Board?

Jane: I think I bring a different perspective to the Board, one that may have not been represented before. As a tribal member and from a rural background, I think that I have some unique ideas that will give the Board ways to look at old problems. I don’t expect to solve any major issues, but I hope to get the Board members to think about issues which concern the tribal communities in their respective districts. We have issues, but we also may have resources that could be tapped in certain circumstances.

Question: What are you looking forward to during your time on the Board?

Jane: I am looking forward to bringing new thoughts to the Board and meeting new people who share my concern for problems plaguing the legal system. Hopefully together we can move the system forward a little bit d make life better for more people.

Question: Any final thoughts that you’d like to leave us with?

Jane: I appreciate the opportunity to share my experiences and thoughts with the Board and hope that I will be able to contribute at the level that my supporters expect.

 

Vanna Sing

My name is Vanna Sing, a 43 y/o genocide survivor from the country of Cambodia. My roots are from Southeast Asia, Kingdoms of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. I was raised in Salishan, Eastside of Tacoma from 1981 – 2004. Raised through poverty, disparities, racism, lack of positive role models and opportunities to heal and thrive. Baptized at 8 years old by the Church, Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and then raised Buddhist. I believe that being spiritual saved me. I was chosen by my ancestors. My family crossed many borders just so I could be here today. I am here because I survived a lot of the atrocities and traumas. Education was not a priority to me because attending school was a struggle. During middle school years was where it started for me. Being faced with racism by your neighbors and classmates taught me how to stand up for myself. I was coping by skipping school and running away from home. My parents did not know what I was going through nor did they understand. They were trying to adapt to the American lifestyle themselves and still struggling. Learning survival skills was very necessary for SE Asians in Tacoma. There was no mentorship for young people, employment opportunities, encouragement to stay in school or support during a crisis. There were more recruitments into jails and prisons than college pathways. SE Asians were also racially profiled, over sentenced, many have criminal records, struggle with recidivism and final deportation orders. We were taught that we don’t have a choice. My community is in decline because we were not given too many options. The people do not have faith in the criminal justice system. They continue to destroy and separate families.

At age 36, I learned that I was a community leader. Unlearning what I was taught growing up has been the most challenging but at the same time, exciting. I never imagined in my whole life that I would be here with you all, sharing the struggles of my community. I am humble and grateful for this opportunity. Using my transferable skills I was in a position to create a 501c3 nonprofit, Tacoma Healing Awareness Community. We disrupt the cycle of systemic/internalized oppression in SE Asians as well as other ethnic groups in Tacoma and surrounding communities. Our vision is to empower and support youth, families and individuals in need by providing tools and resources. We collaborate with community agencies/leaders to heal, reconcile and restore justice to marginalized communities at risk for systemic/internalized oppression. Our grassroots organization needs an attorney with a criminal justice background to serve on our board, reliable volunteers, grant writers to help get funding and nonprofit experts to help create the right structure. Please consider joining our team if our mission and vision resonates to your soul.

I look forward to bridging the gap of services and being a part of the solution. It’s going to take lots of money, effort, collaboration, partnership and honest conversations to do this work. If nothing changes, nothing changes. Do we really want to see change? We all have work to do! Here’s to new beginnings of anti-racist work! Gratitude.

Question: Can you share a little about your background and what led you to become a Board member?

Vanna: My roots are from SE Asia, the Kingdoms of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Our family escaped the Khmer Rouge Genocide in 1979. I entered the United States as a refugee with lawful permanent residence and was raised in Salishan (Tacoma Housing Authority) from 1981 to 2004. I grew up in an oppressed community impacted by racism since the age of 13 years old. We formed gangs because of lack of protection from horizontal racist attacks. There were no opportunities to make legit money, no positive role models, no programs for youth or mentorships. There were many disparities. We were raised in an impoverished community who had to take care of themselves. I have survived domestic and street violence since the age of 13 years old. I am healing from historical, generational and personal traumas. I am one of the few people who stand strong in my culture and faith so I could lead change. I founded the Tacoma Healing Awareness Community in 2016. We are a grassroots 501c3 organization. Our mission is to empower and support youth, families and individuals in need by providing tools and resources. We collaborate with community agencies and leaders to heal, reconcile and restore justice to marginalized communities who are at risk for systemic oppression. Our vision is to disrupt the cycle of systemic oppression of SE Asians as well as other ethnic groups in Tacoma and surrounding cities. Personally I am currently practicing spirituality. This is my way of coping through the constant traumatic experiences I consistently encounter from other community leaders. I do not have a degree, only a GED. My lived experiences are what I am using to drive my passion for change. I am a very optimistic human being. I have faith that we will be truly committed and devoted to creating change. The racist people, policies and supremacy culture led me here to this platform.

Question: What role do you see yourself playing on the Board? Or said another way, what do you hope to bring to the Board?

Vanna: I represent the SE Asian struggles in the criminal justice system. I am here to bring awareness, diversity and culture to the Board. I want to make sure my people’s issues are being heard and felt. I am seeking collaboration to fix what has caused my people to suffer, create strategies to bring healing and justice to my community. I am here to break the cycles of oppression against SE Asians!

Question: What are you looking forward to during your time on the Board?

Vanna: I am looking forward to learning how I could be supportive of the new transition of including community voices to the table and the change that’s going to happen! I am looking forward to JUSTICE, EQUITY, EQUALITY, HEALING AND REAL CHANGE!

Question: Any final thoughts that you’d like to leave us with?

Vanna: We need everyone to understand that it’s going to take genuine partnerships, collaboration and lots of money to help the underserved communities. May we start seeing the grass roots leaders as assets and allow them to heal the community through their cultural traditions. No more colonizing cultures! My people deserve equality, equity, justice and healing! A CHANGED BEHAVIOR IS THE BEST WAY TO PROVE YOU’RE SORRY FOR YOUR ACTIONS.