The Carter Center's Access to Justice Program Staff

Atlanta

Tom Crick
Mr. Crick joined the Center in 1994 as a research assistant in the Conflict Resolution Program, became executive assistant to the director of the Peace Programs, then assistant director of the Center's China Village Elections Project, and is now associate director of the Conflict Resolution Program. Mr. Crick has worked on numerous Carter Center election and conflict resolution projects, primarily in Africa, including the Carter Center-brokered 1995 Guinea worm cease-fire in Sudan, the Great Lakes peace initiative from 1995-1997, and the Center's mediation between Sudan and Uganda. Most recently, his work has concentrated on peace-building issues in Liberia.

Mr. Crick received his bachelor's degree from Bristol University, his master's degree from the Queen's University of Belfast, and has conducted doctoral research at the London School of Economics and at Emory University. Prior to joining the Center, he lectured in political science at a number of polytechnics in the United Kingdom and worked as a journalist and as a project leader at an interdenominational youth project in Northern Ireland. Mr. Crick is a licensed mediator in the state of Georgia.

Cassandra Grant
Cassandra Grant is program assistant for the Center's Conflict Resolution Program.  In this capacity, she is responsible for providing assistance to the Access to Justice Program in Liberia by creating and managing program budgets, providing administrative and logistical support for the program, and coordinating with local and international partners to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.

Prior to joining the Center, she served as administrative officer for The National Training Agency of Jamaica, where she coordinated the application and testing process for new recruits to the organization's training programs, and managed the fiscal and administration functions of the organization for the northeastern region of the island. She also has worked with the National Development Foundation of Jamaica, a financial institution providing loans to small businesses. Ms. Grant holds a B.A. degree in management from Nova Southeastern University in Florida and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Phoenix.

Catherine Schutz
Catherine Schutz is the assistant program coordinator for the Carter Center's Access to Justice in Liberia project. Ms. Schutz joined the Center in March 2011 and supports the financial and administrative activities of the project from the Atlanta headquarters.

Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Schutz spent a year as an English language teacher at a high school in Chongqing, China. While at university, Schutz worked for the International Volunteering Society, an organization that sends students to volunteer with NGOs around the world. She also volunteered for a number of programs abroad, including working with communities in Thailand affected by the 2004 tsunami, as well as volunteering at an orphanage in Tanzania.

Ms. Schutz holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of Birmingham, as well as a master's of science degree in NGOs and development from the London School of Economics.

Liberia

Monrovia Office

Chelsea Payne
Chelsea Payne is country representative for The Carter Center in Liberia and project lead for Access to Justice programming in country.

A Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, Balliol College, Ms. Payne completed service as a special advisor in rule of law to the Liberian Minister of Justice.  Prior to her work at the Ministry of Justice, she worked with UNIFEM in Liberia and was previously a judge's clerk in the Supreme Court of New Zealand, working primarily in the areas of criminal and human rights law.  Ms. Payne holds masters' degrees in both law and African studies, and is in the process of completing a doctorate at Oxford University, which focuses on ownership of the rule of law in Liberia.

Pewee S. Flomoku
Pewee S. Flomoku is senior project coordinator for the Center's Access to Justice project in Liberia. He has worked with The Carter Center since 2005, contributing to the development and implementation of the Center's in-country programming.  Mr. Flomoku previously worked for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) as part of its Demobilization, Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) program in PI section, as well as with a variety of Liberian civil society organizations.

He is also an accomplished photojournalist, having worked for the Associated Press.  In 2005, Mr. Flomoku was named the Liberian Photojournalist of the Year by the Press Union of Liberia.  His photos of Liberia and the Liberian civil war have appeared in New African, West Africa, Africa Weekly, and the BBC's Focus on Africa. His work has also been featured in many documentary films, including the award-wining films "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," "Liberia: A Fragile Peace," "An Uncivil War," and "Rebel Soldiers." His work has been published in leading magazines and major news outlets all over the world.

A tireless campaigner for social justice and respect for the rule of law, Mr. Flomoku holds a B.A. degree in mass communication from the University of Liberia and is currently enrolled in the Kofi Annan Institute of Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation in Liberia.  He has also completed studies as a summer fellow at Stanford University, receiving a certificate in Democracy, Development and The Rule of Law, and is an ABA certified mediator.

Mr. Flomoku is well-traveled in Europe, the United States, and across Africa; however, Liberia remains most dear to his heart and he is proud to have visited villages in every county of Liberia.  In his free time, he enjoys Diet Snapple, photographing, walking, and collecting traditional songs and African music.

Lemuel E.A. Reeves, Sr.
Lemuel Reeves is the senior legal associate for the Center's Access to Justice project in Liberia.  Counsellor Reeves has worked for the Center since 2008, and primarily provides advice, training and capacity-building support to the Carter Center's legal literacy activities in Liberia.  He also serves as a legal resource for community legal advisors. Additionally, Cllr. Reeves provides training and capacity building support to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the judiciary by participating in the planning and execution of quarterly county attorneys' meetings.

Prior to joining The Carter Center, Cllr. Reeves served as a judicial affairs officer with the United Nations Mission In Liberia (UNMIL), and was involved in monitoring activities of the legal judicial system in Liberia, in the preparation of thematic reports on various legal issues and topics, and in various trainings.

Cllr. Reeves has more than 20 years of experience as a law enforcement officer involved in criminal investigation with the Liberian National Police. He rose through the ranks from a police recruit to assistant director of police for criminal investigation, criminal intelligence and Interpol affairs, and eventually chief of legal affairs of the police.

He holds a B.A. degree in sociology and a bachelor of law degree from the University of Liberia, as well as diplomas for training in basic policing, criminal investigation and judicial ballistics from Romania. He has also attended seminars in constitutional adjudication for sub-Saharan Africa, seaport security, money laundering & financial crimes,and refugee law in Tanzania, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Liberia.

Cllr. Reeves is a member of the Supreme Court Bar of Liberia, and a member of the Liberian National Bar Association.

David M. Kortee
David Kortee is the senior finance and administrative officer for the Center's Access to Justice project in Liberia, handling a wide range of duties to ensure smooth implementation. Prior to joining The Carter Center in 2007, Mr. Kortee worked in finance for the Opportunities and Industrialization Center, the Ministry of Health's National Health Policy, Medecins Sans Frontieres, GTZ, UNICEF/NARDA, and Landmine Action.

Mr. Kortee was born in a small town 35 miles from Voinjama, Lofa County, and moved to Monrovia in 1992.  He is the father of three children: Godwyn, Pinko, and Paulina. His partner Pauline was a midwife in River Cess County, but now lives in Monrovia.  He is an active leader of the choir at Trinity Lutheran Church and assists many Liberian youths in leadership development and business skills. He holds degrees in public administration and management from the University of Liberia.

James Jarwolo
James Jarwolo is a project assistant for the Center's Access to Justice project in Liberia.  In this capacity, he oversees logistics and provisions for the Center's two field offices. He rejoined the Center in 2008, having previously worked for The Carter Center during the 2005 elections as a driver and logistics assistant.  Mr. Jarwolo has also worked in logistical support for Dyncorp International, the United Nations Mission in Liberia, Partners for Democratic Development-Liberia, and Pacific Architects and Engineers.

He hails from Bomi County and is presently a student in the Stella Maris Polytechnic Arthur Barclay Business College, studying database management.

Musu Salee-Redd
Musu Salee-Redd serves as finance and logistics assistant with The Carter Center.  Ms. Redd was born in Firestone Rubber Plantation in Margibi County, but hails from Voinjama district, Lofa County.  Before joining The Carter Center, Ms. Redd worked with the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) as transcriber of the rule of law survey in Liberia, and as a social worker with the GTZ—German technical program in Liberia—from 2004-2006 in Grand Gedeh and Lofa Counties.  She holds a diploma in bookkeeping from the Esther Harmon Vocational Institute, certificates in computer science from Phoenix Computer School and Career Development Institute, and a certificate in peace building and counseling from the Liberia Opportunities Industrialization Center.

Aslean J. Thomson
Aslean Thomson is an office assistant for the Carter Center's Access to Justice Project in Liberia. Prior to joining The Carter Center, Ms. Thomson worked as an administrative assistant at Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church of Liberia, where she served for 10 years.

She holds an associate of arts degree in accounting from the C.W.A. Junior College Program of Business, now the United Methodist University, and also a certificate in secretarial science from the Don Bosco Youth Center. She is an active member of the Episcopal Church of Liberia where she serves as acolyte and a leader of the Girls Friendly Society.

Robert Numehni Gbarbea
Cllr. Robert Gbarbea joined The Carter Center in 2010 as a legal associate with specific assignments at the Ministry of Justice and the National Traditional Council (NTC). At the Ministry of Justice, he provides legal advisement and support, conducts investigations, and gives legal assistance to the solicitor general of Liberia and the minister of justice and attorney general of the Republic of Liberia. At the National Traditional Council, he provides legal assistance to the chairman, officers, and members. He also provides legal assistance and conducts training programs for all traditional leaders and some institutions. Additionally, Cllr. Gbarbea assists Cllr. Reeves in conducting trainings and capacity building programs for partners of The Carter Center.

Cllr. Gbarbea formerly served as a Legal Adviser with the U.N. Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). He participated in several rule of law projects, monitoring of courts, revision of statutes, and provision of legal assistance to the Sexual and Gender Based Crimes Unit of the Ministry of Justice. Previously, he worked as a legal counsel in a private law firm.

Cllr. Gbarbea holds a bachelor of law degree from the University of Liberia. He is a counselor-at-law and a member of the Supreme Court Bar of Liberia, as well as a member of the Liberian National Bar Association. Prior to obtaining a law degree, he obtained a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the University of Liberia.

Cllr. Gbarbea is the beneficiary of a wealth of training programs, including a rule of law training conducted in Sweden by the Forte Bernnadotte Academy and ZiF of Germany, an alternative dispute resolution training conducted in Monrovia by ACCORD of South Africa, and an office management training conducted by UNMIL in Monrovia. Additionally, he was part of a delegation representing Liberia at the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) office in Abuja, Nigeria, to draft a directive on cybercrimes and a supplementary act on the imposition of sanctions on ECOWAS member states.

Gray Clevenger
Gray Clevenger joined The Carter Center in June 2012 as the monitoring and evaluation manager for the Access to Justice Project. He leads all monitoring and evaluation activities and contributes to program design and management. Prior to his current role, Gray worked in Liberia with The Carter Center as part of his graduate studies and as a short-term observer for the Center's election mission to Liberia in 2011. He also has worked on trade and healthcare matters for an international law firm and served as a participant on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.

Gray holds a master's degree in development practice from Emory University and a bachelor's degree in history from Furman University.

Amanda Rawls
Amanda Rawls is the program advisor and legal associate for the Center's Access to Justice Project in Liberia. She joined The Carter Center in July 2011 and is based in Monrovia to assist in the development, implementation, and management of project activities on access to justice and the dual justice system. She also represents The Carter Center in a number of government-led taskforces and committees devoted to developing policy and drafting legislation to enhance access to justice and protect human rights nationwide.

Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Rawls worked as legal advisor to the Liberian Ministry of Justice and as the policy director for the nonprofit Touch Foundation in Tanzania. She holds a master of laws degree in indigenous peoples law and policy from the University of Arizona and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, where she focused on law and development, human rights, and international law. Ms. Rawls also holds a master of science degree in international development management from the London School of Economics, a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and served for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer advocating for girls' education in northern Togo.

Gbarnga Field Office, Bong County

Bindu Kromah
Bindu A. Kromah is a project officer for the Center's Access to Justice project in Liberia.  She joined the Center in 2007 and currently heads the project's Gbarnga field office.  Ms. Kromah holds primary responsibility for overseeing the Community Legal Advisor Program in the central region (Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties). Prior to joining The Carter Center, she served as a finance officer for the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, one of the Center's current civil society partners. She has also served as women's coordinator for the National Muslim Students Association of Liberia (NAMSAL). She is currently acting president for the Women Development Association of Liberia (WODAL), a women's advocacy group.

Ms. Kromah holds a B.A. degree in accounting and management from the African Methodist Episcopal University in Liberia. She has received training certificates in trauma counseling, focus group discussion, sexual and gender-based violence, finance, and mediation.

Nyan Flomo
Nyan Flomo is a project officer for the Center's Access to Justice project in Liberia.  He has worked for the Center since November 2007, when he joined as a logistics assistant. Prior to joining The Carter Center, Mr. Flomo worked as a program officer for the domestic elections observation at the European Commission Bi-Lateral Elections Program in Liberia. Prior to this, he worked for the Christian Children's Fund and Right to Play.

Mr. Flomo has a B.A. degree in administration and management from the African Methodist Episcopal University in Monrovia. He has also been trained in mediation by the American Bar Association.  Mr. Flomo hails from Sanniquellie City, Nimba County.

Emmanuel V. Kwenah
Emmanuel V. Kwenah is a project officer for the Center's Access to Justice project in Liberia.  Mr. Kwenah joined the Center in 2008 and holds primary responsibility for overseeing the work of the Center's civil society partner organizations in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties.  Before joining the Center, he worked as program coordinator and later executive director for the Bong Youth Association (BYA), one of The Carter Center's longstanding civil society partners.  During the 2005 elections, Mr. Kwenah was both a civic educator and an election observer with the Bong Youth Association. He has also previously served as a community facilitator for the Development Education Network, Liberia (DEN-L).

In addition to his work with The Carter Center, Mr. Kwenah is a consultant for the Bong County Development Council, the body tasked with affecting bottom-up development under the Poverty Reduction Strategy of Liberia.

Mr. Kwenah is a graduate of  Cuttington University located in Suacoco, Bong County, Liberia, where he studied sociology and management. He holds certificates in conflict management and resolution, community youth peace building, conflict mediation and development education.

Michael Biddle
Michael Biddle is a project officer at the Carter Center's field office in Gbarnga, central Liberia. He joined The Carter Center in February 2011 having worked for the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission's (JPC) regional office for over eight years as information officer and lead monitor under the Access to Justice Project. Prior to joining the JPC, he worked with the Diocesan Caritas and Development Office as its assistant coordinator responsible for relief and development from 1998-2002. He previously worked as senior producer at Radio Nimba in Yekepa from 1992-93, at which time he had to flee to the Ivory Coast to escape the conflict. While in the Ivory Coast, he worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service in providing humanitarian services to Liberian refugees.

He has earned several certificates in peace-building from a number of international organizations that include UNDP, Caritas International, and the American Bar Association.

Cora N. Hare
Cora N. Hare is a legal associate of The Carter Center Access to Justice Program in Liberia. She joined the Center in April 2011 and is assigned in Gbarnga, Bong County, where she provides legal information to, monitoring, and mentoring of community legal advisors in Nimba, Lofa, and Bong Counties.

Prior to joining The Carter Center, Atty. Hare served UNMIL as a judicial affairs officer with the responsibility of monitoring the formal and informal justice systems in Bong County. Atty. Hare also served as a supervisor on the American Refugee Committee's gender-based violence program for five years. She holds a bachelor of science degree in political science and a bachelor of law degree in law. She is a member of the Liberian National Bar Association and a member of the Association of Female lawyers of Liberia (AFELL).

South East Field Office, Maryland County

Yah Pay-Bayee
Yah Pay-Bayee is a project officer for the Center's Access to Justice project in Liberia.  Since joining the Center in 2008, she has overseen the work of civil society partners in the southeast and helped to facilitate project activities.  Prior to joining The Carter Center, Ms. Pay-Bayee worked for the Human Development Foundation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia, and the Liberian National Red Cross.

Ms. Pay-Bayee hails from Monrovia and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration in management, with a minor in accounting, from the African Methodist Episcopal University in Monrovia.

Lury T. Nkouessom
Lury T. Nkouessom is a legal associate for the Carter Center's Access to Justice Project in the South East of Liberia. Attorney Nkouessom joined The Carter Center in April 2011. He primarily provides day-to-day legal guidance to Carter Center staff and community legal advisors operating in River Gee and Grand Gedeh counties. He also mentors, trains, and assists in the general capacity building of community legal advisors.

Prior to joining The Carter Center, Atty. Nkouessom served as a legal officer with UNMIL where he monitored the legal and judicial systems in Liberia, provide advice to legal actors including magistrates, county attorneys, judges, etc., prepare thematic reports on various legal issues and topics and assist in various trainings.

Atty. Nkouessom holds a bachelor of law from the University of Yaoundé II in the Republic of Cameroon and a master's degree in international relations from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon. Additionally, he holds certificates for training and examination in French language proficiency, conflict analysis, project planning, and various computer programs. He speaks English, French, and Spanish fluently.

Strengthening Traditional Leaders Dispute Resolution Project Staff

Johnny K M Ndebe
Johnny K M Ndebe joined The Carter Center in April 2010 as the national dispute resolution mentor. As national dispute mentor (NDM),  Mr. Ndebe is charged with overseeing the day-to-day implementation of the Strengthening Indigenous Dispute Resolution Capacity project. He plays a key role in the delivery and organization of project-related training. Mr. Ndebe has also worked for Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA) as qualitative research manager (June 2009-March 2010), under the direct supervision of Assistant Professor Christopher Blattman of Yale University. He has also worked as a lead field researcher for the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and the Oxford University Center for Studies on African Economies (CSAE). He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Liberia. He also holds certificates in conflict analysis and interfaith conflict resolution, both from the USIP.

Gregory M. Mieh
Gregory M. Mieh joined The Carter Center in April 2010 as the Maryland County dispute resolution monitor. He previously worked for the UNHCR in Harper and Maryland Counties as a protection assistant. He also served as program coordinator for Caritas, a Catholic relief organization, and as a secondary school principal and a social worker for Save the Children UK. Mr. Mieh holds an associate's degree in mechanical engineering, a diploma in international humanitarian assistance from CICH in Kenya, a certificate in trauma healing reconciliation from the Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL), and a certificate in refugee status determination from UNHCR.

George Saye
George B. Saye joined The Carter Center in April 2010 as the Nimba County dispute resolution monitor.  Previously, he worked for the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) as the lead researcher assigned to Nimba County, in preparation for the USIP report "Looking for Justice: Liberian Experiences with and Perceptions of Local Justice Options," released in 2009.  Mr. Saye also worked for Oxford University as survey supervisor for five counties  in Liberia, and served as an election officer during the 2005 general and presidential elections in Liberia. Mr. Saye holds a certificate and diploma in secondary education.

Lorweimon Johnnie
Lorweimon D. Johnnie joined The Carter Center in April 2010 as the dispute resolution monitor assigned to Bong and Margibi Counties. Mrs. Johnnie has previously worked for several institutions in the NGO sector.  In 2009, Mrs. Johnnie served as project supervisor for civic education on the Rule of Law for Special Emergency Activity to Restore Children's Hope (SEARCH), a local NGO partner to TCC. Mrs. Johnnie holds a certificate and diploma in secondary education and several other certificates from workshops in disciplines such as child protection, human rights monitoring, and sexual and gender-based violence.

Ismail Kromah
Ismail Kromah joined The Carter Center in April 2010 as the dispute resolution monitor for Lofa County.   Prior to coming to The Carter Center as a county dispute monitor, Mr. Kromah worked with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as a community development officer.  He also served as the Voinjama Center manager for Save the Children-USA and monitoring & evaluation officer for CHF-International.  While living in Guinea, Mr. Kromah also worked for the IRC as a classroom teacher, peace facilitator, and later as peace education officer.  Mr. Kromah is currently the chairman on the board of advisors of Radio Kintoma, a community radio station in Voinjama. Mr. Kromah is also general secretary of the Lofa United Muslims of Liberia, a member of the National Muslims Council of Liberia and representative of the Lofa Muslims Community on the Lofa County Health Board.

In 1994, Mr. Kromah worked with United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) as an interviewer in Todee Demobilization Camp, and in 1996 he served UNMIL as senior Iiterviewer in Voinjama Disarmament Camp. In 1997,  he served as assistant election magistrate for Lofa County. Mr. Kromah has also served as reporter, editor, producer in media institutions Radio ELRV-Voinjama, ELBC radio, Star radio, and the National News Paper in Voinjama and Monrovia respectively. Mr. Kromah holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication from the University of Liberia. He also holds a diploma in development communication from the Liberia Rural Communication Network in Monrovia. Additionally, he has a certificate in mediation from the American Bar Association, Monrovia, and has a certificate from IRC/UNHCR in peace education.