After working with Care, Not Control for several years, Autumn Talley began serving as the coalition’s Director in 2024. She is passionate about ending carceral systems and addressing their harms. Her academic research as a PhD student in Criminal Justice focuses on how the policies and practices of the U.S. criminal punishment system affect families and communities. Autumn also holds a master’s degree in Social Work from NYU. During her master’s program, she studied clinical practice and drug policy and spent a semester abroad at NYU Buenos Aires. While at NYU, Autumn also organized for statewide legislative change in New York drug laws. She then spent several years practicing as a social worker in settings including a family shelter and two community behavioral health clinics. More recently, she was involved in Pennsylvania’s first graduate worker strike, which won better wages and conditions for all Temple University graduate workers. Autumn intends to use her direct practice skills, academic and firsthand knowledge, and organizing experience to grow Care, Not Control’s power and win liberation for Pennsylvania’s youth.