Monique Lee-Coleman is a native New Orleanian and U.S. Army Veteran who is the sister of Ryan Matthews, the 115th exoneree from death row. Monique relocated to Denton, Texas following Hurricane Katrina to support and facilitate her brother Ryan's reintegration. Monique's decision to remain in Texas is a direct result of recognizing the hardships, harassment, and discrimination her brother would face following his exoneration. Inspired by her family's trauma, in 2014, Monique earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice. Later she would earn a Masters of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington under the mentorship of Dr. Cecile Guin, the social worker who advocated on her brother’s behalf. Monique returned to Texas Woman's University and earned her PhD in Family Studies in 2024. Her doctoral research focused on the resilience of the family unit during wrongful incarcerations and the reintegration process. Currently, Monique serves on the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
The YJLC Summit brings together those who work tirelessly in this undervalued sector, and celebrates our community and collective work. Our speakers are leading experts from across the globe and have shared their ideas and tools for ensuring the better treatment and representation of children in the criminal legal system. Come together to share knowledge, circulate innovation, and develop best practice.