OUR FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY
CAROL MITCHELL, J.D., M.A.
The Institute for Black Justice was founded in September, 2020 by Carol C. Mitchell, a local attorney and social justice advocate. Mitchell holds a Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law, a Master of Arts in Organizational Systems Renewal from Seattle University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Washington Seattle.
Mitchell has more than 20 years of public sector leadership experience, having served most recently in Pierce County, Washington. Mitchell's primary responsibility was to improve outcomes for individuals with behavioral health and substance use conditions who were caught in the grip of the criminal justice system. Mitchell has significant organizational and human resources experience, having served as the Chief HR Officer for the Port of Tacoma, Chief Organizational Development and HR Officer for Metro Parks, Public Relations Officer for Pierce Transit, and as Executive Consultant for her own preventive law firm.
Mitchell spent 17 years as the host of TV Tacoma's "CityLine," a Tacoma, WA based public affairs talk show. Her volunteer activities include a Gubernatorial appointment to the Board of Trustees of Clover Park Technical College, Past President of the Fair Housing Center of Washington Board, member of the Palmer Scholars Board of Directors, and Past President of the Tacoma City Association of Colored Women's Clubs, Inc.
Tiawania Harris Dalton, Director of Media & Communications
Tiawania (Tia) Harris Dalton is a Pierce County native with a background in administration, environmental sciences, and geospatial mapping. While pursuing her chosen line of work, she realized that there were issues with diversity, equity, and inclusion in many of her positions. This awareness led her to develop her skills independently.
Tia dove headfirst into entrepreneurship to be a part of the change needed for others with a mixed skill-set and similar struggles to get established permanently in the workforce. Her goal is to create generational wealth for her family and create a pathway to do the same for other underrepresented peoples in her community.
Tia has a passion for food sovereignty, ethical marketing, video productions, and diversity equity, & inclusion in green and technological spaces. She spends her free time volunteering in the Pierce County Community with the WSU Extension Pierce County Master Gardeners and engages in her neighborhood community garden.
Peggy Hurd, Director of Social Work
Peggy Hurd is originally from Los Angeles, California, where she started her educational journey. She attended Pepperdine University and majored in Psychology.
Mrs. Hurd moved to Washington state in the early 1980s. She received her Bachelor of Arts with a focus on Environmental Social Work from the Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus. She has a year of master-level classes from Walden University with a focus on mental health. Chemical Dependency is also another area of study.
Mrs. Hurd recently retired from the King County Department of Children, Youth, and Family where she served as a Children's Family Welfare Social Worker for over five years.
Mrs. Hurd has over 25 years of experience in social services. Her focus on services has been: empowering individuals to be who they can be and assisting them in removing barriers that may prevent them from reaching their full potential.
Leandra Taylor, Parent Peer Advocate
Leandra Taylor is a Parent Peer Advocate with a personal record of successfully navigating the challenges of the child welfare system. Certified by the Department of Health as a Peer Mentor in 2023, Ms. Taylor brings a professional background in the healthcare field, and a wealth of lived experience as the parent of a young son. Leandra provides weekly check-ins and support to IBJ CHIMES Family Advocacy clients, and acts as a motivational speaker sharing the lessons and learning from her own personal journey.