We are delighted to welcome our newest board members and grateful for the expertise, perspective, and commitment they bring to our organization. We look forward to working together and are excited about all we can accomplish in the year ahead.

Alana Brown

Alana C. Brown, Esq. is the Founder and CEO of She Makes Impact, a nonprofit governance and capacity-building consulting firm dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations and leaders build sustainable impact through legal governance, strategic roadmaps, healing-centered leadership, and culturally responsive program development.

As the nonprofit founder and former Executive Director of the DC-based nonprofit, The Safe Sisters Circle, a nonprofit that provides culturally specific, trauma-informed, and holistic services for Black women and girl survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8.   Alana has successfully scaled and led The Safe Sisters Circle—by building community-centered direct legal services, a mental health clinic, and client advocacy programs rooted in equity, wellness, and transformational leadership.

Alana brings extensive experience designing and facilitating retreats, leadership trainings, workshops, and strategic planning sessions for nonprofit leaders, grassroots organizations, and social justice changemakers. Her facilitation approach centers reflection, authenticity, restorative practice, relationship-building, and participant engagement — creating spaces where leaders feel seen, supported, and renewed.

Her professional training includes the Stewarding the Work: A People First, Purpose Always Facilitator Intensive through the TooRel Institute for Social Change (2026), the Fair Chance Capacity Building Program (2023), and the VALOR LEAP capacity building program for women of color leaders in the gender-based violence movement (2023).

Through She Makes Impact, Alana specializes in nonprofit governance, organizational development, strategic planning, leadership sustainability, and culturally grounded support for Black women leaders and communities of color. Her work is informed by both professional expertise and lived experience, allowing her to guide transformative conversations with empathy, clarity, and intention.

Ira Coats, Jr.

Ira F. Coats, Jr. is a Staff Attorney with Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE) in Washington, D.C., where he represents older adults in housing and public benefits matters, with a particular focus on preserving safe and stable housing. Prior to joining LCE, Ira served as an Assistant Public Defender in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, representing both children and adults in criminal proceedings. His experience advocating for vulnerable clients and navigating complex legal systems informs his current work helping low-income seniors address legal challenges that threaten their housing and independence.

Outside of his legal practice, Ira enjoys giving back to the local arts community as a performer and can often be found acting and singing in productions throughout the DMV area.

Ira is honored to serve on the Washington Council of Lawyers Board and support its mission of promoting access to justice throughout the District of Columbia. He is passionate about expanding access to justice and ensuring that underserved communities have a meaningful opportunity to navigate the legal system, protect their rights, and improve their quality of life.

Dana Foster

Dana Foster is a partner at White & Case LLP. He has over 23 years of trial and appellate litigation experience, advising domestic and foreign clients in all aspects of complex civil and criminal matters, both at the federal and the state level. Dana has done pro bono work his entire legal career. He manages cases involving, among other things, family law, immigration, record-sealing, housing, post-conviction relief in several states and DC, criminal appeals, clemency, and federal civil rights.

Andrea Mangones

Andrea Mangones is Director of Professional Skills Support at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. Prior to transitioning to academia, Andrea was Director of Legal Training at Kids in Need of Defense, Inc. (KIND). Andrea has over fifteen years of experience providing client-centered legal services to vulnerable populations seeking humanitarian immigration relief through positions at the Tahirih Justice Center, in private practice, and at KIND.

Prior to joining KIND, Andrea was a Litigation and Trial Associate at Latham & Watkins, LLP. Andrea received her J.D., summa cum laude from American University’s Washington College of Law and her master’s degree in International Policy from the School of International Service. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Duke University. Andrea is currently serving on the D.C. Bar Board of Governors and D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Board of Directors.

Jennifer Mellott

Jenn Mellott is the office managing partner of the DC office of Freshfields. With a dual  base in Brussels, Jenn partners with clients to solve challenges across the entire spectrum of competition law. She specializes in merger control, antitrust compliance counselling, antitrust litigation and behavioral investigations, helping clients develop robust defense strategies that reduce financial and reputational risk.

Jenn’s works spans a range of industries, including pharmaceutical and life sciences, telecommunications, technology, industrials, and financial institutions. She is known for providing tailored advice that aligns not only with sector-specific dynamics but with the strategic objectives of her clients.  Prior to joining Freshfields, she was an associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

Millicent Newhouse

Millicent is an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) with the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings. She was previously a Program Counsel with the Legal Services Corporation. Before that, Millicent worked in law school administration and teaching, and was a long-time legal services Attorney, and served as a Statewide Legal Advocacy Coordinator, and Director of Program Administration with two legal aid programs. Millicent also worked as an ALJ with the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings.

Millicent began her legal career with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) handling child abuse and neglect and licensing cases, worked in the Education division representing colleges and universities, and oversaw statewide recruitment and hiring for the AGO.

You can meet our new board members at the 2026 Fall Kickoff on Tuesday, September 22, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Goodwin Procter.