COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Judge Nicastro has been working with community leaders since June 2020 to develop the Garfield Heights Community Advisory Committee. The Committee was officially created by Court Order on May 13, 2021.
The mission of the Committee is to act as a bridge between the community and the court by ensuring equitable access to justice, strengthening the voice of our citizens and advocating for fair and positive change.
In pursuit of this mission, the Committee is focusing on creating a survey for court users, including attorneys, which will be emailed at the end of the case to all persons appearing before Judge Nicastro. The survey will be based on sources recommended by the Center for Court Innovation.
Feedback
Email advisory@ghmc.org to submit feedback to the Committee. The Committee cannot address requests for legal assistance, requests for judicial action on any case, and cannot intervene in any case. The Committee will collect your information and submit a report to Judge Nicastro on all feedback and comments.
Millette King M.Ed., L.S.W., C-CHW- Chair of the Advisory Committee and Garfield Heights Resident
Millette has been a resident of Garfield Hts. for eight years. She is a proud mom of two Garfield Hts. High School graduates. Millette currently works at Cuyahoga Community College. She serves as Vice President of the Garfield Ht. City School District Board of Education and on the national Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee for Pi Beta Phi Sorority. In her spare time, she is working on her Doctorate in Education.
Arlene D. James-Advisory Committee Secretary and Maple Heights Resident
Arlene D. James joined Cuyahoga Community College in March 2013 in which she supported the Provost & Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs (currently known as Access, Learning, and Success) at the District Office. In January 2015, Arlene joined Youth, Adult and Community Connections as Coordinator and worked collaboratively with the Access and Completion team.
Arlene has worked with Foster Youth at Cuyahoga Community College since 2015. She is a Fostering Success Coach Trainer and has her Mental Health First Aid Certification. In collaboration with the Ohio Department of Children and Family Services, Ms. James works with emancipated youth who have aged out of the Foster Care system. Ms. James graduated from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Development Program in June 2018.
In 2011, Arlene graduated from Ursuline College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and earned her Associate of Arts Degree from Tri-C simultaneously. She was employed with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority from December 1997 until February 2013.
Sheena Fryerson
Hello, my name is Sheena Fryerson and I have been a resident of Garfield Heights for five years. Born and raised in Cleveland, Oh, I moved back to the area after living in Washington DC for 11 years; blossoming from college student (B.S. Biology/MPH Epidemiology), to wife, to mother of three exceptional children. My time away contributed to the love and dedication I have for community advocacy; having been a part of organizations such as the NAACP that fought for racial inequality, health and wellness, and education to name a few. In addition, I have worn several hats career-wise, possessing a foundation of skills in epidemiology, data analysis and experience working at the local and federal government level in violence prevention and molecular biology/environmental surveillance, respectively. In my current position as a Food Systems Change Coordinator at Case Western Reserve University’s Mary Ann Swetland Center, I’ve eagerly supported Fellowship members and community researchers in the development of food systems ideas that transitioned into showcase pitches for resources to benefit under-resourced and redlined Cleveland communities.
I am eager to serve on the Garfield Heights Municipal Court Executive Committee and will bring my love for the community and diverse skill set in collaborative assembly to assist in any way that I can.
Ian F. Cox
I am Ian F. Cox, I am the current Pastor of Holy Grove MBC in Cleveland, Ohio. I am currently matriculating through Moody Bible Institute as a Senior in a Bachelors program for Ministry Leadership which will be completed by the end of 2022. I serve on active memberships that serve the community and other local Cleveland churches. Those organizations that I belong to are NOABM (Northeastern Association of Baptist Ministers), BCC (Buckeye Christian Collaborative), E. 130th Street Working Group. I am happy to be a part of the Court Advisory Board here in our community and I am looking forward to serving you.
Bill Gutermuth
Bill was born and raised in Garfield Heights and is now a resident of Independence. He has a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and currently works as a senior corporate attorney. Bill strongly believes that outreach and involvement is the lifeblood of a community and he is passionate about bringing his experience to the Community Advisory Committee.
Je’nine Nickerson
Je’nine serves as the Director of the Clerk's Office for the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. She previously served as a Magistrate and Court Administrator/Clerk for the Garfield Heights Municipal Court (2019 - 2021). She has also served as a delinquency Magistrate at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court (2013-2018). Prior to becoming a Magistrate and serving in her current capacity, Je’Nine served as a Prosecutor for the City of Garfield Heights and Cuyahoga County, served as a Guardian ad litem to children in need, and represented children and parents as defense counsel in cases filed in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts. Je’Nine obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters in Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Juris Doctorate from Cleveland Marshall College of Law.