FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JACKSON, Miss - The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi is excited to announce the addition of three very gifted women to our team. They come onboard during an extraordinary period of time in our state and country. ACLU Mississippi is fortunate to have their talents and skills at our affiliate.
Alicia Netterville will serve as Deputy Director and Policy Counsel as she leads our advocacy efforts in the state.
Prior to joining ACLU Mississippi, Alicia practiced law with a regional firm where she represented corporate clients in labor and employment, privacy and cybersecurity, consumer protection, and Section 1983 matters. In addition to corporate clients, Alicia also represented numerous pro bono clients in a range of areas including employment discrimination, land dispute and adoption matters.
Before joining the firm, Alicia served as law clerk to the Honorable Carlton W. Reeves; worked with the Mississippi Center for Justice, where she advocated for statewide predatory lending reform; and helped develop Mississippi’s welfare reform state plan while working at the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
"I am very excited to join the ACLU Mississippi as Deputy Director in its work to defend the inherent rights of equality, liberty and justice for all Mississippians,” said Netterville. “We live in a world where rights are not always valued as inherent. But we also live in a world where people are dedicated to the work necessary to ensure justice without respect for person. I believe that our laws and policies should reflect the reality that rights are indeed inherent.”
Alicia obtained her law degree Magna Cum Laude from University of Mississippi School of Law where she was a member of the Black Law Students Association and the Public Interest Law Foundation. She also obtained a master’s degree with honors in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Candace Coleman will oversee our community engagement efforts as ACLU Mississippi’s Director of Communications.
Candace joined the ACLU of Mississippi staff as Director of Communications in October 2020. She is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. Prior to working with ACLU, she was a television news anchor. Candace spent six years as a journalist, telling stories most important to Mississippians. She noticed the work done by organizations like the ACLU isn't recognized by much of the public. So, she is delighted to amplify the mission and move people to join the efforts of the organization in her new role.
“I have long admired the selfless work of the ACLU of Mississippi,” said Coleman. “When the civil rights and liberties of one community member are protected, we are all better protected. I'm honored to amplify the mission and move people to join the efforts of the organization in my new role.”
Candace is an alumna of the University of Mississippi. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Communication from Mississippi College. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Much of her volunteer efforts are with Circle of Color Book Club, where she promotes literacy and education throughout the Jackson Metro. She is also passionate about uplifting young black girls with limited home resources.
Delana Tavakol joined the ACLU of Mississippi in May 2020 as a Legal Intern before and was recently elevated to the affiliate’s Immigrants' Rights Advocate.
In this role, she focuses on implementing a campaign to limit state and local cooperation with ICE through grassroots organizing and policy advocacy.
Prior to joining the ACLU, Delana advocated for immigrant and refugee rights with organizations in the United States and abroad including the United African Organization and the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights in Chicago, the International Refugee Assistance Project in New York, and the Khora Community Centre in Greece. Before settling in Mississippi, she also served as a law clerk with the Orleans Public Defenders in Louisiana.
“I’m thrilled to join this team of advocates and defend civil liberties in Mississippi for immigrants and for all,” said Tavakol.
Delana obtained her B.A. from the University of Chicago in 2017 and will graduate this December with her J.D. and B.C.L. from McGill University Faculty of Law, where she has been a Managing Editor with the McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law and a regular volunteer with legal clinics and community centers around the city.
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