Executive Committee Officers

President – Luis Torres

Since joining Metro Justice in 2009, Luis has served as President, Vice-President, Chair of the Social Action Committee and Treasurer. He looks forward to continuing supporting Metro Justice great work through supporting its members. His experience includes being a labor organizer for workers in hospitality, agriculture, and healthcare. He was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. One way he is growing the movement is by having four kids: Maya, Mateo, Noah and Phoebe.

Vice President - Maggie Rex
Maggie has been a Metro Justice member for many years, and has in that time served as an intern working on educational equity, housing, and gender justice, as well as a past council member. Maggie is a sociology Professor at MCC, and has also taught at UB and SUNY Geneseo. She is also the Southern Tier Field Coordinator for the Rochester-Genesee Valley Labor Council, focused on rural union organizing and labor-community solidarity. Maggie has previously worked as the Executive Director of Girls Rock! Rochester, and is a long-time GR! Board member. Born, raised, and educated in Rochester, NY, Maggie is deeply rooted in the community and committed to making it a more just place.

Secretary - Crescenzo Scipione
Crescenzo Scipione is a lifelong Metro Justice member who got started in the antiwar student movement, was active on the MJ Housing Committee, salted for the Fight for $15, and served on the RED Steering committee for several years. He’s held various staff positions with Metro Justice over the years, and previously served 3 terms as Council Secretary.

Treasurer - Colin O’Malley
Colin is an Organizer with Teamsters Local 118. He served for 5 years as the Chief of Staff for the Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation and was the lead organizer at Metro Justice from 2011-2018. In his time at Metro Justice and since he has helped raise nearly $450,000 from unions to support our work.

At Large Members

Jillian Evans
Jillian Evans is the organizing chair of her Union, the Federation of Social Workers. She has not been a member or part of Metro Justice in the past, but was recommended by her Union President to be on the Metro Justice Council. Jillian is a social worker with Monroe County Department of Human Services, and has worked for Child Protective Services for 19 years. Jillian has a passion for being a voice for people in our community and wants more of an active role with an organization that wants to support and be a voice in our community.

Kinra Johnson
Kinra Johnson is a dedicated member of Metro Justice committed to building a more equitable and just Rochester for all. I first got involved because I believed in the power of people coming together to fight for real, lasting systemic, change in our city. I’m grateful for the chance to continue to support this work and stand alongside others who want to build a more just Rochester.

Graham Hughes
Graham Hughes has been a member of Metro Justice for several years. He is an active, longtime member of the Rochester Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, with whom he has worked on eviction defense, tenant organizing, and political education.

Graham works for the Climate Solutions Accelerator and loves camping, fishing, playing soccer, and spending time with his cats.

Ashley Messer
A Regional Organizer at NYSUT. Full bio to come.

Kelly Cheatle
Kelly Cheatle (she/they) has been a long time member of Metro Justice and enjoys every opportunity to highlight that Bob Duffy makes over $240,000/year to sit on the board of Avangrid. As an artist and community advocate, Kelly uses their visual communication and marketing skills to make complex issues clear and accessible to the public. They were a lead organizer in the fight against a Business Improvement District that would have privatized the heart of downtown and helped build a coalition of more than 30 organizations to stop it...for now. Both lighthearted and lionhearted, Kelly believes democracy works best when everyone knows how to use it, and she’s dedicated to making that knowledge accessible to all.

Gabriel Marcano
Gabriel has dedicated over 10 years to amplifying the voices and championing the rights of marginalized communities. From advocating for migrants and low-income workers to supporting survivors of Human Trafficking, Gabriel has extensive experience working at the intersection of social justice and human rights. Gabriel currently works as the coordinator of the Worker Justice Center’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program.

Ryan Corrigan
A former vested member of OPCMIA Local 633, Ryan is currently a steering member with Metro Justice's RED campaign and an active participant in NY Renews. These experiences have cemented his belief that real, systemic change is built by organized communities.

Past President:

LaWanda Shipman - Vice President of the Federation of Social Workers (IUE-CWA 81381), LaWanda served as Metro Justice president for much of 2025. She remains a Metro Justice member and continues to be involved in much of our organizing work.