Watch The Access Point
The Access Point is an impactful video series that connects students with experts in various fields. The down-to Earth production gives students an opportunity to learn the pivotal moments that shaped careers and the access points that catapulted their careers to the next level.
Host and Access Point Collective Founder, Alannah Lockitt, explores the upbringing and foundations that prepared the experts for success in their respective industries.
The Access Point can be viewed on multiple platforms, including Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram and Youtube.
Our Guest Speakers
11/21
Tamera Michael, Esq.
Tamara Michael is the current President of the California Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), where she spearheads membership initiatives, forges strategic partnerships, and contributes to legislative advocacy and continuing legal education programs for lawyers, judges, and Law Students across the state.
Professionally, Tamara serves as Corporate Counsel for Penguin Solutions Inc., an end-to-end technology company. She focuses on data privacy, information security, and complex commercial contracts, while also providing guidance on labor and employment issues.
A proud wife, mom, and self-proclaimed honorary Oaklander, Tamara is known as the "on-the-go-COO," committed to empowering local businesses and individuals to innovate and achieve growth through strategic partnerships.
11/21
Judge Birdie Jamison (ret)
The Honorable Birdie Hairston Jamison became the first woman judge in the General District Court in the City of Richmond (Virginia) in 1991. During her 24 year tenure on the Bench, she was elected by her colleagues to serve as the first woman Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District and she was elected to the Statewide District Court Executive Committee. Judge Jamison was also appointed by the Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court to numerous leadership committees and she helped to research, write and present the nationally acclaimed "Hardcore Drunk Driving" Judicial Education Manual to judges all over the country.
Prior to Judge Jamison being elected to the Bench by the Virginia General Assembly, she had received numerous honors and awards and she was recognized throughout the state as a trailblazer in the legal profession. She was the first African -American woman to serve as an assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Roanoke, Virginia and she also was the first woman to serve as the Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Richmond. Additionally, she served as an assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the Criminal Litigation Division, arguing appellate cases in State and Federal Courts.
Judge Jamison has always been a dedicated community service volunteer and in her retirement, she continues to mentor hundreds of students and young lawyers. She is a proud graduate of the College of William and Mary, BBA (1979) and JD (1982).Her favorite motto is "Unto whom much is given, much is expected.”
11/21
Alisha Burgin, Esq.
Alisha Burgin handles high-stakes commercial litigation in state and federal courts as well as in arbitration. Her practice spans all phases of complex commercial disputes, unfair competition and consumer protection, and trade secret litigation. She has won dispositive rulings (including summary judgment) for numerous clients.
Alisha's clients cover a range of industries, including technology and internet services, media and entertainment, real estate, consumer products, and manufacturing. She has extensive experience in California's trial and appellate courts and has mastered the complexities of California civil procedure.
Deeply committed to pro bono work, Alisha has assisted a Texas death-row inmate in federal post-conviction proceedings and helped an elderly pro bono client successfully appeal an adverse determination by the Social Security Administration. She is also on the board of Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a prominent legal aid provider in Los Angeles.
Dedicated to supporting and increasing diversity in the profession, Alisha has served for the past eight years as the co-chair of Perkins Coie's Women of Color resource group. She also serves on the National Alumni Advisory Committee of the National Black Law Students Association and is an active member of the board for Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc.
11/21
Jermon Green
Jermon Green is the Founder and President of Momensity LLC and the brand Value Me Journeys Platforms.
Jermon’s expertise in creating immersive educational platforms is grounded in over 18 years of experience in computer science and software architecture. His leadership at Momensity reflects a commitment to leveraging technology for impactful education. With a deep understanding of software development, machine learning, and system design, Jermon leads his team towards creating transformative educational experiences.
Before founding Value Me Journeys Platforms, Jermon Green had already marked his territory in the tech landscape as a visionary. His journey, enriched by his experience as a Navy veteran and a self-taught software engineer, laid a robust foundation for his innovative endeavors.
Green’s start-up expertise is evident in his 25+ years of experience, creating software engineering department infrastructures, managing technical staff, and interfacing with executive teams. He has developed software architecture and design documentation, managed overseas staff, and utilized a wide range of software development tools and methodologies.
In his portfolio of personal projects, Green has worked on AI-centric middleware security tools and e-commerce solutions. His work extends to developing backend support for Android and iOS apps, demonstrating his versatility and innovative approach to technology and business.
Prior to his entrepreneurial leap, Jermon honed his skills and absorbed invaluable lessons from his military service and early career explorations, embodying the ethos of trial-by-fire learning. This approach not only shaped his professional trajectory but also became the bedrock of Value Me Journeys Platforms.
Jermon’s life mirrors the core principles of the platforms he created: defining vision, adopting transformative habits, and immersing oneself fully in the pursuit of that vision. His journey is a testament to the power of living the very principles he advocates through his work.
11/14
Troi Madison Newman, MPS, JD
Troi Madison Newman (she/her), a Black-Indigenous enrolled member of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe of Maryland, is a recent Juris Doctor graduate of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law with a certificate in Indigenous Peoples & Policy Law Program (IPLP).
Troi earned her B.S. from Frostburg State University and her M.P.S. from George Washington University. She is also a 2022 graduate of the Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) at the American Indian Law Center (AILC).
Troi has a passion and calling for public speaking and advocacy. Troi has taken on a prominent role of focusing on the representation and sovereignty of her tribe and ancestral homelands of the modern-day “DMV.” She has delivered powerful speeches at various institutions including: John Hopkins University, Smithsonian American Indian Museum, Maryland Library Systems, and more. Troi has long-term aspirations to serve in the United States Congress and notably contributed as a Content Creator to the 2024 Harris-Walz Campaign.
Troi served as the Western Regional Chair of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) and as the Area 5 Representative for the National Native American Law Students Association (NNALSA) for the 2024-2025 term.
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11/14
Lei Chala Wilson, Esq.
Lei-Chala I. Wilson received her Economics degree from SDSU in 1985 and Juris Doctor from U.C.
Davis, King Hall, School of Law where she was the1989. Western Regional Champion of the National
Trial Competition. Wilson was a deputy public defender with the Law Offices of the San Diego Public Defender for over 24 years. Wilson handled and argued over 200 motions and preliminary hearings. Wilson tried over 120 jury trials involving misdemeanors, serious/violent felonies, three strike cases, sex offenses, and homicides.
Wilson is now in private practice primarily focused on criminal defense and has also been retained on personal injury, labor and employment, and consumer cases. Wilson is an arbitrator with FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and a Hearing Officer for the County of San Diego on civil appeals.
In 2025 Wilson was inducted into the CABL Hall of Fame in April, a nominee for the NBA Women
Lawyers Division Hidden Figures in July and received the CLA (California Lawyers Association) Best of the Best Community Service Award in September 2025.
Wilson is a past president of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association (EBGBA) in 1998, 2006, and 2007 and
presented with the President’s Award in 1993, 2002, 2008, 2009, the Distinguished Service Award in 1996, 2003 and 2005 and the Thurgood Marshall Award for Legal Excellence in 2001.
11/14
Bernice Stafford-Turner, Esq.
Bernice Stafford Turner is a trailblazing entrepreneur, attorney, and advocate whose journey from street-corner vendor to accomplished litigator has inspired generations. Featured in the 1990 Richmond Times-Dispatch article “Flower Lady Turns Lawyer: From Street Corner to Courtroom,” Bernice first made her mark as the owner of Stafford’s Florist and Greenhouses, a full-service floral business in Richmond, Virginia. Known throughout the city as “The Famous Flower Lady,” she built a thriving enterprise through determination, creativity, and community connection.
A pivotal encounter with local law enforcement sparked her desire to understand and challenge the legal system. At 40 years old, and as a single mother of three, Bernice made the courageous decision to pursue legal education with a focus on Constitutional Law. After graduating from law school, she entered the courtroom as a litigator and attorney practicing in criminal, civil, bankruptcy, personal injury, and divorce law.
Bernice’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and unwavering belief in the power of education and advocacy. From flowers to the courtroom, she has dedicated her life to serving her community, defending the vulnerable, and proving that it is never too late to rewrite your future.
11/14
Dr. Tanya Wiley-Brown
Dr. Tanya Wiley-Brown is a nationally recognized legal business strategist and PR expert who represents the nation’s top attorneys in the areas of case/trial strategy, jury selection, and public relations. She currently owns and operates a business strategy firm, a technology consulting company, a real estate and property management firm, and the WCP Speakers Bureau. Dr. Tanya has served as Senior Strategist for several historically black colleges and universities in the area of Institutional Advancement.