WHO
WE ARE
LEADERSHIP TEAM.
The RI Freedom Collective is a grassroots organization founded by Mario Monteiro, Kyle Campbell, and Steven Parkhurst—three men whose powerful journeys from incarceration to advocacy embody resilience, redemption, and the fight for justice. Collectively, they served over 80 years behind bars, each sentenced to life under outdated and extreme sentencing laws. Through unwavering determination, they secured their freedom: Mario through the passage of “Mario’s Law” addressing sentencing reform, Kyle through post-conviction litigation, and Steven by challenging the constitutionality of his sentence in federal court. Now, they are dedicated to ensuring others still behind the walls have a voice and a path to justice.
Mario N. Monteiro
Co-Founder and
Director of Legislative Affairs
As the Director of Legislative Affairs, Mario serves as the primary point of contact between the organization and government entities. His role is centered on advocating for policies that align with our mission by building relationships with lawmakers, tracking legislative developments, and ensuring our interests are represented in the legislative process. His advocacy includes lobbying efforts, policy analysis, and coalition building to influence policy decisions that promote justice reform.
STEVEN
PARKHURST
Co-Founder and
Director of Operations
As Director of Operations, Steven ensures that our advocacy efforts are strategically aligned and well-supported. He manages operational logistics, coordinates between advocacy teams, tracks campaign progress, and oversees resource allocation. His leadership in organizational infrastructure and project management enables our advocacy team to focus on legislative engagement, ultimately strengthening the impact of our movement.
KYLE CAMPBELL
Co-Founder and
Director of Community Organizing
As Director of Community Organizing, Kyle plays a vital role in mobilizing and empowering community members to engage in advocacy efforts. His responsibilities include grassroots mobilization, public education on legislative issues, coalition building, and organizing direct advocacy initiatives such as rallies, petitions, and legislative meetings. By activating the community, Kyle ensures that the voices of impacted individuals are heard and contribute to meaningful policy changes.
CORE
TEAM.
Lucy
Kirshenbaum
Programs Manager
As Program Manager, Lucy primarily oversees the coordination and distribution of Welcome Back Freedom Packs for individuals returning home from incarceration, helping ensure they have immediate access to phones, hygiene supplies, transportation, community support, etc. She manages program logistics, inventory organization, outreach coordination, volunteer support, and communication with community partners and service providers throughout Rhode Island. Through her work, Lucy helps strengthen reentry support efforts by creating pathways to connection, stability, dignity, and successful reintegration for directly impacted community members.
Heather
Gaydos
Strategy & Research Coordinator
Heather has spent more than twenty-five years working with youth, young adults, families, and community-based organizations in Rhode Island and, for the past decade, has helped advance health equity for individuals impacted by RI’s criminal legal system. Her work focuses on the intersection of incarceration and health and human services, and she specializes in statewide criminal justice planning, reentry best practices, and economic justice for people with criminal records. She served as a Commissioner and Co-Chair of the RI Commission for Health Advocacy and Equity from 2018 to 2024, and is an alumni of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2018-2021 Culture of Health Leaders Program.
Abby
Wright
Communications Manager
Abby Wright is a Cranston-based multidisciplinary artist working in photography, painting, and mixed media. Her work explores identity, personal experience, and creative community engagement. As Communications Manager she helps to create connections for members of "The Collective" to tell their stories, their way, creatively. She helps to document and display the work of the Collective on social media.