Nineteen years ago, living in public housing with my young daughter, my neighbors and I faced mass eviction. After winning a historic fight making the property Tenant Owned, I dedicated my life to community organizing. Working on Housing, Education, Economic Justice and Social Change, my expertise spans local, national, political and grassroots strategies to win for the most vulnerable people. 

Initially I invested in local campaigns to build power in my community. As a parent organizer, I drove campaigns against School Push-Out, fought for Community Schools, affordable Early Childhood Education and ending suspensions for our youngest learners. In 2010, as part of a coalition of labor, community, faith-based and environmental organizations, I worked to pass the city’s Prevailing Wage for Service Workers and Clean Water laws. This work led me to see the urgent need to elect justice-oriented candidates demanding change to the status quo. 

As a Campaign Manager and consultant, I built movements at both the local and national levels, resulting in winning races at every level from School Board to State Rep. I envision, and strategically work toward, a beautiful, well-resourced world for Black children. Dedicated to state-wide and national coalitions to make change, I co – authored multiple policies that work towards ending the school-to-prison pipeline. 

My journey led me to become a political strategist, developing Black leadership in local systems of power. Currently I serve as Executive Director with  412 JUSTICE, a multiracial, intergenerational, and multi-issue organization that focuses our efforts around economic, environmental, and education justice.

Noel Webb is a skilled and talented operations expert with a strong background in finance. Working in corporate, education and sports organizations, Noel brings a dynamic and broad ecosystem of knowledge to 412Justice.

Mrs. Paulette Foster, aka Ms. Paulette, is a guardian still on a mission. Ms Paulette born and raised in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania learned her call at an early age when she saw the need to protect her oldest sister who was diagnosed with intellectual disability. Her passion to advocate for students with exceptionalities has drawn her to work tirelessly for their educational rights.  She has traveled to Washington DC, Harrisburg and Reading, PA to speak on behalf of students with exceptionalities. She has also participated in several conferences and workshops which focused on restorative practices and racial disparity among black and brown students. Ms. Paulette has served as co-chairs of The Pittsburgh Local Task Force on the Right to Education, she is a Co-founder of Education Rights Network, a parent member-led organization that builds power and takes action to achieve equity and inclusion for all students in Pennsylvania schools. Ms. Paulette was a 2011 participant of PEAL certificate program, (PEACE) Parents Engaged in Advocating for Change in Education; she has a deep desire that parents/ guardians are well-informed and know their rights in order to navigate through the difficult pathways of the Special Education roadmaps.

In 2018, Nickole Nesby became the first female and Black person to head the City of Duquesne, Pennsylvania.  Before serving as Duquesne’s mayor, Ms. Nesby was a dedicated civil servant with over 25 years in federal legislative and executive government.  She was employed with the United States Department of the Treasury as a Frontline Manager.  She also served as a Field Representative and District Caseworker for the United States House of Representative, Office of Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-18).

As a first-term, Ms. Nesby was dedicated to improving the quality of life for Duquesne’s population of 5,481. Plagued by systemic poverty, illiteracy and incarceration, 80% percent of its residents are welfare recipients and of that number, half have criminal records.  Deemed the worst performing school system in Pennsylvania, Duquesne was forced to close its high school in 2007.

Ms. Nesby’s signature priorities included quality education, affordable housing, better transportation, healthcare, and neighborhood parks. “These are the things that all people deserve, and they can be real by working together.”  Operating within the city’s fiscal constraints, Ms. Nesby had expertly managed significant budget deficits challenges.  She led Duquesne’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. In response to national unrest, she called for improving the community and police relations by creating a Citizen Police Review Board.

Ms Nesby negotiated the final plans for the Mon Fayette Expressway project in Duquesne.  She worked with community organizations like Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT), Take Action Mon Valley (TAMV), Just Harvest and community members to provide access and restore bus services to under-served areas of the city.   By partnering with local stakeholders, Grow Pittsburgh, Grounded Strategies, and Jefferson Regional Hospital Foundation, she leveraged resources to create Community Gardens and plans of action to address abandoned space.

 She increased participation in the Youth employment program to provide job opportunities for young people each year. She worked to improve neighborhood parks and expand the city’s technology and innovation footprint.  

As the chief executive, Mayor Nesby brought a performance-driven approach to the job, while shoring up Duquesne’s financial future. She lobbied for direct funding for local government. Thanks to her leadership, the city had a $915,000.00 surplus upon her exit.

As a nationally recognized leader, Ms. Nesby was a member of Climate Mayors of the C40, African American Mayors Association,  Mayors Innovation Project, Resilient Cities Network, Water Now Alliance, and National League of Cities.  Ms. Nesby accepted invitations to speak before the United States Chamber of Commerce on aging infrastructure in the Mon Valley and United States Environmental Protection Agency roundtable on lead in drinking water. 

She was the recipient of the Phyllis Wheatley Literary Society Milestone Award, Talk Minority Action Group, Minority Achievers Award, Homewood Concerned Citizen Award,  and Classic Events, Tribute to Women in Politics Award,Council. Numerous publications and news have featured Ms. Nesby for her leadership and accomplishments.

Ms, Nesby is an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Lay-D Noise Makers Social Club, Allegheny County Black Caucus, National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU), Local 34, One Pennsylvania, Duquesne Partnership, Blacks In Government (BIG), Coalition of Black Trade Unionist (CBTU), Pennsylvania State Democratic Black Caucus,  Allegheny County Democratic Committee, Board member of PPT and TAMV.

As a life-long resident of the City of Duquesne, Nickole is passionate about her city and continues to live where she grew up. She is a graduate of NorthCentral University and earned a Masters of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership and Baccalaureate in General Business; Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Thiel College, and Associates of Science and Certificate in Accounting from Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC). Ms. Nesby is dedicated to making the city more equitable and prosperous.

Originally from middle-of-nowhere Michigan, Valerie moved to Pennsylvania after an enlistment in the Army. Valerie’s introduction to the justice movement was in fighting against the closure of her son’s school. With the support of other education justice warriors, the school was able to be saved and STEAM education was added to the Pittsburgh Public School district. During that fight, she discovered a passion for education, disability, environmental, and economic justice that has only grown over the years. With two wonderful school aged children, education & disability justice is close to her heart but understands that education justice, environmental justice, economic justice and more are all interconnected. In her capacity as an Executive Assistant, she is able to continue the fight by helping to support everyone’s work at 412 JUSTICE. She continues to learn, build and grow with the organization and the community.

In movement work for more than 20 years. Experianced in Prison Abolition, Foster Care Advocacy, LGBTQ+ Rights and police acountablity. Focused on story telling, visual learning, community curiculum and stratigic collective power.