Spring 2025 DME, Inc. Interns

Tashawn Reagon, M.A

DME Graduate Program Fellow

Jaelah Brown

DME Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Tashawn Reagon is an activist, doctoral student, and legal professional who is committed to upending systemic injustice and advocating for its abolition. Tashawn graduated with honors from Skidmore College in 2016, earning a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Intergroup Relations. She completed her M.A. in Sociology at Howard University in 2022 and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the

University of Maryland, College Park. Her master's thesis, titled “Why Do So Few Black Lawyers Practice Public Criminal Defense? An Analysis of Self-reports and Lived Experiences,” was accepted in May 2024. Her current research interests encompass the intersection of race with courts, sentencing, and criminal defense.

Her professional experience includes work at Civil Rights Corps and the Innocence Project, where she supported litigation challenging systemic injustices in the criminal legal system. Her work focused on issues such as money bail, policing practices, wrongful convictions, and the use of unvalidated forensic science. She has also worked as a paralegal in corporate law firms and legal non-profits.

Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Tashawn seeks to examine, implement, and support equitable solutions for vulnerable and marginalized communities impacted by the social, legal, and economical applications of justice in the U.S. Outside of her professional pursuits; she enjoys reading, baking, dancing, and watching anything on Bravo.

Armani McAllister is a senior at Howard University, pursuing a double major in Criminology and Sociology with a minor in Human Development. Her academic journey has been marked by her unwavering passion for addressing the injustices within the juvenile justice system, focusing on developing effective rehabilitation strategies for at-risk youth.

In the spring of 2024, Armani expanded her global perspective by studying abroad in London, England, where she worked with the Mwache Shuleni Foundation as an international legislative intern. This role offered her valuable hands-on experience in advocacy, allowing her to champion youth justice reform through impactful projects. Additionally, she mentored young mothers, empowering them with tools for personal and career development—her first steps as an activist on an international stage.

Armani continues to apply her skills and insights closer to home, mentoring youth in Washington, D.C., and providing them with positive alternatives, and she is now our teaching assistant. Her work emphasizes the importance of addressing core issues, such as education, alternative disciplinary options, personal development, and mentorship, as preventative measures against incarceration.

Armani is a driven young professional aspiring to become a Juvenile Justice Judge. She envisions a justice system where rehabilitation and development take precedence over punitive measures. She aims to implement evidence-based alternatives to incarceration, contributing to a significant reduction in mass incarceration and dismantling the school-to- prison pipeline. Armani is committed to creating a system that nurtures potential and offers second chances, paving the way for a brighter future for America’s youth.

Armani McAllister

DME Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Miss Jaelah Brown is A current Howard University Student With a Honors double major in English and African Studies. Miss Jaelah Brown served as a Youth Ambassador for the Project Iron Kids Initiative, which works to empower Black youth of incarcerated parents with empowerment afterschool sessions for owning their narratives and telling their stories. As Youth Ambassador, Jealah used media to highlight the lived experiences among cartoon characters of parental incarceration. Much of what she presents to middle and elementary school students has been filmed at edited by herself

Jaelah was accepted with a full scholarship into the Black Girl Film School 2022. She is an emerging young film producer. She records, edits, color grades, directs and producing all he creative works. In addition, she has worked extremely hard to create a YouTube channel that highlights her adventures in the world alongside her younger sister. She wanted to share her story of sisterhood and Black girl magic, through the lens of young Black pride, joy, and liberation.

Jaelah has growing knowledge of Black history and stories from her attendance in the Howard University Freedom Schools and Howard University Summer Writing Camp. In addition, she was awarded as a Conscious Kids Most Valuable Player (MVP) through the Howard University Social Justice Tutors program.

Miss Jaelah Brown has worked alongside her family to educate and empower children of incarcerated parents around the world. This includes working and educating Black children of incarcerated parents in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States of America.

Jaleah McDonald is a first-year sophomore criminology and political science double major from Miami, Florida, and attends Howard University. She works for the Dr. Muhammad Experience as an undergraduate research assistant. She is in charge of assisting staff in various non-administrative tasks, which may include preparing resources, equipment, and materials for the research; documenting results; etc., in support of the research activities. Jaleah McDonald is amazing at working in Microsoft Office. Within her position as a research assistant, a huge part of her responsibilities requires working within Microsoft Office and writing up research materials for her team. She is a great negotiator; she is compassionate about any task that she works on, and she is a hard worker with excellent communication skills. Although she is a first-year sophomore in college, she has completed a plethora of community service within the D.C. community at places such as the Women’s March, Martha's Table, Thrive D.C., and N-Street Village. Community service is of vital importance in her life and working with those incarcerated.

Jaleah McDonald

DME Undergraduate Research Assistant