Kissy Coakley is the Founder of Kissy’s Stay Put Services. She holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Metropolitan State University. Throughout her career, Kissy has consistently advocated for positive reforms to the criminal justice system that rehabilitate people and empower them to lead productive lives instead of keeping them trapped in a costly cycle of perpetual punishment and incarceration.
Kissy has worked as a Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate and a Re-entry Case Manager for several nonprofits over the past 14 years. Kissy’s passion for understanding clients’ unique circumstances helped her quickly realize the disparities women face, as well as the injustices in the criminal justice system. Women are the fastest growing population who are being criminalized by our justice system, while trying to keep themselves safe from their abusers. In 2020, Kissy decided she would use her extensive knowledge gained by advocating for criminal justice reform and safe communities to create Kissy’s Stay Put Services, a nonprofit that addresses these critical issues.
In addition to her professional experience, Kissy is politically active. She was elected to the Minnetonka City Council in 2019, and is the first African-American woman to serve on the Council. Kissy has worked on criminal justice policy reform through her involvement with the Second Chance Coalition and as a leader in TakeAction MN’s Justice 4 All Campaign, where she helped champion a national movement that worked with Target Corporation to change hiring policies and make criminal background checks fairer. Kissy has also worked on legislation in the State of Minnesota for several criminal justice reform initiatives.
The NAACP and TakeAction Minnesota accused Target Corp. of unfair hiring practices in 10 formal complaints filed Wednesday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The NAACP and the community group allege the retailer’s hiring practices discriminate against applicants with criminal records. In a news conference Wednesday in Minneapolis, the groups accused Target of denying people with criminal records job interviews, even when the alleged crime was old, expunged or irrelevant to the prospective job. NAACP and TakeAction members filed 10 formal complaints with the EEOC and referenced an additional 150 cases documented over eight months….read more
More than 60 counties, cities, and states—and some corporations—are reducing discrimination against former offenders by removing one small box from job applications
Kissy Mason understands the importance of second chances. As she grew up in Minneapolis in the ’80s and ’90s, she watched her family members move in and out of prison and saw the discrimination they faced as a result.
“People in my family were being locked up, and then they were locked out of a right to live, a right to employment,” she said.
Unemployment is a huge barrier to the success of ex-offenders outside prison walls…read more
IT’S OUR TIME: KISSY COAKLEY MAKES HISTORY ON MINNETONKA CITY COUNCIL
When Kissy Coakley was denied a job at Target Corporation after a criminal background check, she didn’t give up. Instead, she decided to take on the massive corporation and fight for equitable policies.
She worked to Ban the Box at Target Corporation in 2012, becoming an active leader in TakeAction Minnesota’s Justice 4 All program. Together, we won that campaign.
It was that same determination and organizing that Kissy brought to the campaign trail when she decided to run for Minnetonka City Council. We knew Kissy had the grassroots game needed to mobilize Minnetonka voters, one door at a time. And that’s exactly what she did…read more
Having completed her MA in Counseling and Psychological Services at Saint Mary’s University in 2017, Michelle is a therapist in the metro area. She has a passion for social justice and has worked with victims of domestic abuse for more than 20 years; during that time, her primary function was in the area of economic empowerment for those she served. Michelle facilitated financial literacy groups, worked individually with clients to increase their financial resources, coordinated a transitional housing program and rental assistance as well as served on Hennepin County’s Heading Home Hennepin’s housing for singles’ workgroup. Additionally, she facilitated psycho-educational groups with men who batter, and she developed and facilitated an anger management group for men and women. Her work in domestic violence has also given Michelle the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients including those living with mental illness and chemical dependency, those experiencing generational poverty, and individuals from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Shawanna Rodriguez received a Bachelor’s in Social Work Degree (BSW) in 2017, from Metropolitan State University and is currently in college for a Master’s in Non-Profit and Public Administration (MNPA) at Metropolitan State University. Shawanna is a former teen mother and generational domestic violence survivor. Shawanna has 20 years of experience working in public service; she has zeal for women experiencing domestic & sexual violence and advocates for women’s rights and transformations within the justice system. Shawanna’s strive to support and advocate for women endorses the efforts of Kissy Stay Put Services.
Katie Fitzpatrick is a communications and fundraising professional with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has worked on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to workforce development and education. Katie has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris, and previously served on the board of the St. Paul Vocal Forum and currently serves as the treasurer of the Upper Northside Business Association.
Jerisha is a valued and motivated self-starter with vital leadership and organization skills. She has worked in the community as a Healthcare provider and revolutionary activist. She is a self-sufficient and diligent individual who is dedicated to achieve restorative strength based approaches. Her focus is on networking partnerships to help break barriers of privation and to reduce life cycled disparities. Areas of professional expertise includes human services, health and wellness engagement, and Spanish.
Fatu Magassouba is a political advisor and consultant for local candidates in the state of Minnesota. As an organizer with TakeAction Minnesota, Fatu created the first African Voting Bloc in the State to channel Africans more intentionally into the political arena. She is currently exploring ways to expand her expertise in Liberia and other African countries.
Fatu holds a master’s degree in International Relations with a Humanitarian Issues focus from Webster University and studied at Southwest Minnesota State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and Minor in Marketing. She has worked as a domestic and sexual assault advocate at Cornerstone Advocacy Service and continues to advocate for survivors within the African community in Minnesota. Fatu is an alum of the Wilder Foundation’s Community Equity Pipeline (CEP) public policy program and is an alum of the Nexus Leadership Institute’s Boards and commissions Leadership Institute which serves as a continuation of Fatu’s mission and goal to create spaces and opportunities for the African community to have their voices and issues heard at a local and global level.
Famata received a Bachelors in Criminal Justice (BS) from Metropolitan State University in 2007. She worked over 15 years in social service where she helped clients advocate for themselves in finding resources they needed to meet their personal well-being . In addition Famata has worked in housing, MFIP, and the Criminal Justice System. Famata enjoyed meeting client where they were at while showing them the possibilities of where they can be. She is currently a Doula supporting women in different birthing outcomes.
