The Marshall Project - Cleveland has established an Advisory Committee of distinguished community leaders to expand the reach of the local criminal justice-focused newsroom to strengthen the impact of its work.
Led by local co-chairs Fred Cummings and Jim Crutchfield, the 13-member committee is an important development in the local newsroom’s commitment to produce journalism that responds to community needs. Acting as ambassadors, members will champion the role of investigative journalism in civic life and help inform communities about the need for a more transparent, effective and humane criminal justice system.
“To sustain and expand our work, we recognize the essential role community leaders play in connecting us with local audiences and amplifying our journalism’s reach,” said Phil Trexler, editor-in-chief of The Marshall Project - Cleveland. “The Advisory Committee brings invaluable expertise and leadership to ensure our reporting continues driving real change in Northeast Ohio.”
Since its launch in 2022, The Marshall Project - Cleveland has exposed systemic failures in the criminal justice system and sparked policy changes in Northeast Ohio. From helping thousands regain their driver’s licenses to revealing the need for enhanced reentry services in Cuyahoga County, the journalism produced by The Marshall Project - Cleveland has made a tangible difference in people’s lives.
“The criminal justice system affects entire communities, not just those directly involved,” said Cummings, who is also the president and founder of Elizabeth Park Capital Management. “When it fails to function fairly and effectively, the consequences ripple outward — destabilizing families, weakening neighborhoods and limiting economic opportunity as individuals face barriers to employment, housing and education. A fairer, more humane system strengthens social cohesion, drives economic growth and ensures all Clevelanders have the opportunity to thrive.”
Advisory Committee Members
The Advisory Committee includes prominent leaders across Cleveland’s legal, civic, academic and business sectors:
- Jim Crutchfield, Co-chair, founding editor-in-chief, The Marshall Project - Cleveland
- Fred Cummings, Co-chair, president and founder, Elizabeth Park Capital Management; founding board member, The Marshall Project
- Melanie Biché, Civic leader, League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland
- Conor Coakley, Partner, Cushman & Wakefield / CRESCO Real Estate; board member, LAND Studio
- Shakorie Davis, President and owner, Next Generation Construction
- Lee Fisher, Dean and Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law, Cleveland State University College of Law
- James Levin, Founder and lead attorney, LegalWorks; founding director, Cleveland Public Theatre and Ingenuity Cleveland
- Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek, Founder and former executive director, Near West Theatre
- Kayla Pincus, Founder, Convergent Strategies
- Jill Rizika, President and CEO, Towards Employment
- Jan Roller, Trial lawyer, Perez Morris; civic leader with over 35 years of experience
- Andrew Zelman, Former publisher, Cleveland Scene Magazine
- Ann Zoller, Senior adviser, Strategy Design Partners; former director, LAND Studio and ParkWorks
About The Marshall Project - Cleveland
Launched in 2022 as The Marshall Project’s first local newsroom, The Marshall Project - Cleveland is dedicated to exposing systemic failures and inequities in Northeast Ohio’s criminal justice system. Through investigative reporting and community engagement, the newsroom drives accountability, reform and justice for all.
About The Marshall Project
The Marshall Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system. We have an impact on the system through journalism, rendering it more fair, effective, transparent and humane. For more information, visit The Marshall Project - Cleveland or contact Chavon Carroll at ccarroll@themarshallproject.org.
