Public Administrative Citations Implementation Working Group

Zeus Andrade-Martinez
(he/his/him)

Zeus Andrade-Martinez is a student activist, political organizer, and emerging civic leader from Saint Paul, Minnesota. Born in Chicago and raised in Saint Paul, Zeus is a first-generation U.S. citizen whose organizing is grounded in a deep commitment to community, equity, and expanding opportunities for people who have historically been underrepresented and underserved.

A recent graduate of Twin Cities Academy High School and current student activist at Saint Paul College, Zeus has been engaged in youth organizing, civic participation, and political advocacy. As a local organizer in Minnesota Senate District 67, he works to build community power and encourage greater participation in the political process, particularly among young people and communities whose voices are too often overlooked.

Zeus has organized and participated in student-led rallies and civic actions, including events at the Minnesota State Capitol. He has also served as a political delegate and participated in the Minnesota DFL State Convention, building relationships with community organizers, elected officials, and civic leaders across the Twin Cities and Minnesota.

A political idealist with a strong commitment to the underprivileged, Zeus believes government and civic institutions should work for everyone—not only those with power and privilege. His leadership is rooted in the belief that young people can be powerful agents of change and that lasting transformation begins when communities organize, participate, and advocate for themselves.

David Conover III 
(he/his/him)

John W. Johnston III
(he/his/him)

John W. Johnston III serves as Equity Coordinator for the City of Saint Paul’s Public Works Department, where he chairs the Public Works Equity and Inclusion Change Team and serves as a senior member of the Citywide Equity Core Team. In these roles, he provides strategic equity advising and consulting across Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and the Office of Financial Services.

An alumnus of the Transformative Justice Infrastructure Fellowship, Certified Mediator, and Restorative Justice Practitioner, John brings extensive experience in systems change, intercultural organizational development, conflict transformation, and compliance-informed equity frameworks. His work focuses on translating equity principles into organizational policies, operational practices, and systems that are accountable, accessible, and responsive to community needs.

John’s service on the Public Administrative Citations Implementation Working Group draws on his expertise in operational equity, restorative processes, mediation, and administrative problem-solving. He brings a practical, systems-oriented perspective to the development and implementation of municipal enforcement and citation processes, with an emphasis on transparency, accessibility, procedural justice, and equitable outcomes for Saint Paul residents.

Rebecca Nelson
(she/her/hers)

Rebecca Nelson is the owner of Eastside Senior Services, LLC and Board Chair of the Payne-Phalen Community Council. She is a dedicated community leader with extensive experience in governance, elder services, community engagement, and the practical implementation of programs that respond to the needs of local residents.

Rebecca coordinates elder programs with The Sanneh Foundation and serves as a Community Health Worker (CHW) with Wisdom Wellness, where she provides culturally responsive health education, wellness support, and care navigation for Elders. Her work is grounded in building trust, strengthening connections, and helping community members access the resources and services they need.

In addition to her leadership with the Payne-Phalen Community Council, Rebecca serves on the boards of the East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC), Elders Lodge, and the Payne Arcade Business Association (PABA). Through these roles, she brings a broad perspective on neighborhood development, community well-being, elder advocacy, and local business engagement.

Rebecca brings to the Public Administrative Citations Working Group a valuable combination of community-based leadership, governance experience, and firsthand knowledge of how public policies and administrative systems affect residents and neighborhoods.

Marika Pfefferkorn
(she/her/hers)

Marika Pfefferkorn is Co-founder and Solutions and Sustainability Officer of the Twin Cities Innovation Alliance and Executive Director of the Midwest Center for School Transformation.

An interdisciplinary and cross-sector thought leader, community advocate, and systems change agent, Marika works at the intersection of education, technology, civic leadership, and entrepreneurship to transform systems and scale community-driven solutions. Her work moves across the continuum from community wisdom and theory to practice, integrating collective cultural knowledge and applying a restorative and liberatory lens to reimagine education and challenge punitive systems and conditions.

Marika has successfully co-led campaigns to end discriminatory suspension practices in Minnesota schools, remove police presence from Minneapolis and St. Paul schools, and increase investment in Indigenous restorative practices across education and community settings. She has also supported efforts to advance educational equity and continuity for justice-involved youth, including work with Inequality to help education and criminal justice systems ensure meaningful access to quality education.

Throughout her career, Marika has served on the boards of local and national organizations, as well as Minnesota Department of Education task forces and design teams. Her leadership centers community voice, cross-sector collaboration, and the development of systems that expand opportunity, agency, and belonging.

Recognized as a leading community advocate and policy strategist working to end the criminalization of youth and families in education, Marika leads campaigns, coalitions, and communities of practice across the Twin Cities and nationally. Her current work focuses on advancing technological agency and data justice—ensuring that communities are not simply subjects of technology and data systems, but active leaders in shaping how those systems are designed, governed, and used.

Dr. Sharhonda York Chea
(she/her/hers)

Dr. Sharhonda York Chea is a community corrections professional, researcher, and scholar whose work focuses on family structure, social bonds, and recidivism. With more than a decade of experience in community corrections, she serves as an Intensive Supervised Release parole agent in Ramsey County, Minnesota, where she supervises individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community. Her professional experience has provided her with extensive knowledge of evidence-based supervision practices, reentry challenges, and the factors that contribute to successful community reintegration.

Dr. York Chea earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from Iowa State University. Her doctoral research examined the relationship between family structure, social support systems, and recidivism among individuals on parole. Grounded in Social Control Theory, her work combines rigorous quantitative research with practical experience from the field to better understand how family relationships and social bonds influence successful reentry outcomes.

Beyond her work in community corrections, Dr. York Chea is actively involved in research and community engagement. She serves as a domestic violence group facilitator and as a Research Manager Assistant with the Minnesota Justice Research Center. She has also co facilitated family centered programming through Rebound Inc. and previously served as a Youth Advisory Board Coordinator, supporting youth and families through mentorship and community-based initiatives.

Dr. York Chea is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of OurFathersOurSons LLC, a research and consulting organization committed to strengthening justice involved individuals, families, and communities. Through program evaluation, research, training, technical assistance, and curriculum development, the organization equips agencies with evidence-based strategies that bridge the gap between research and practice while promoting family engagement and successful reentry.

An accomplished speaker, trainer, and educator, Dr. York Chea is dedicated to advancing policies and practices that strengthen families and reduce recidivism. She is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, where she serves in state level leadership, and she continues to expand her impact through teaching, public speaking, research, and consulting.