Bahia E. Wilson
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
During Ms. Wilson's term on the Orange County Grand Jury (1993-1994) as an Officer of the Court in Santa Ana, California, an enlightening experience that provided insight into the workings of our judicial system, Ms. Wilson discovered an urgent need for an alternative to incarceration for non-violent, employed persons to fulfill their legal obligations in a dignified way, while continuing to be useful members of society without jeopardizing their livelihood or personal relationships in the process.
After several years of collaborating with companies that provided this important service, Ms. Wilson decided to continue this fundamental mission by making the service more accessible to criminal defense attorneys through various marketing channels, so they would have the knowledge that this alternative to incarceration for their non-violent, employed clients was available to present to judges on behalf of their clients.
Ms. Wilson has been active in community causes for many years which included two terms as a Community Services Commissioner for the City of Fullerton, California from 1995-2001.
Having the opportunity to listen to the concerns of the residents of Fullerton, through consensus with other Commissioners and the support of the Fullerton City Council, many achievements were made due to the passionate voices of the citizenry for the betterment of the community.
She became a cable access television producer after her public service on the Orange County Grand Jury when she realized that the citizens of the county did not know their judicial/civic leaders if they were staring them in the face and decided to create the community-based, 30-minute program called “Perspective 2000,” which aired on Orange County, California public access cable outlets. This program placed community activists with members of the judicial community in the same forum, which included judges, police chiefs, the district attorney, and the sheriff in a roundtable setting to discuss the issues impacting citizens.
Ms. Wilson is the proud recipient of the Government Award from 100 Black Men of Orange County, an accolade shared with the honorable Michael Brenner, the presiding Judge of the 1993-1994 Orange County Grand Jury, for efforts made to increase the diversity of members on the jury which would include younger persons and minorities through marketing, public speaking to community groups and direct mail campaigns. These efforts lead to the next Grand Jury (1994-1995) being the most diverse in the history of Orange County, California.
She has also been awarded the Evelyn Bryant Journalism Award, the Latin American Civic Association Brotherhood Award and numerous service awards as a result of her contributions as a Community Services Commissioner for the City of Fullerton.
Ms. Wilson believes in second chances for individuals that are aware of their use of bad judgment in committing a non-violent offense and are remorseful and want to make amends.
Ms. Wilson is a champion for change, whose relentless efforts have made it possible for many individuals who have committed non-violent offenses to pay their debt to society discreetly without possible damage to their careers or personal lives.
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