About Emmy’s Place
About
Emmy’s Place
Our Mission…to create systemic change for the most vulnerable by increasing awareness, being a collective voice and providing supportive services.
We seek…to enable all to be heard when basic rights are at stake and to decrease the number of homeless women and children who lack services.
Our desire…to break the cycle of hopelessness by promoting access to justice within a healing community and through a voice of compassion.
How Do We Improve Access to Justice?
Emmy’s Place addresses the issues of the most vulnerable in our communities, often women and children, by increasing community awareness of the obstacles they face. We advocate for change through practical and spiritually oriented steps, while working with other community organizations. Our long term goal is to create a full-service, faith-based justice center to provide emotional support and advocacy.
Meet Our Team
Marci Patera
Founder
Background
Marci earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on finance and legal studies from U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Life experiences led her to focus on holistic healing for those impacted by domestic abuse, and its disabling effects, with an emphasis on the spiritual. She advocates to improve protections for those who are most vulnerable and to raise awareness and recognition of the impact emotional and financial abuse have on many women and their children. Marci has also advocated for stronger legislation against payday lending practices that disproportionately impact minorities and single mothers and the strengthening of legislation to protect those experiencing financial and emotional abuse.
Justice & Advocacy Work
Marci volunteered with Administer Justice and served as volunteer Director of Advocacy for Gospel Justice Initiative. She collaborated with The Center For Responsible Lending’s Faith Based Division in their work with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on payday lending legislation and through that advocacy was invited to meet with President Obama’s executive staff.
Marci advocates for the use of electronic recording in all California civil and family law hearings, free access to transcripts for all indigent litigants, and is petitioning to close a loophole in the California Family Code that allows judicial discretion on removing Social Security disability benefits used for the support of minor children from the disabled parent.
Marci is a member of the Global Network of Evangelists (a Luis Palau Association), was the Justice Convener for The Table Coalition’s Love 2020 Justice Affinity Group, and is a member of Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). Emmy’s Place partners with Christian Legal Aid. Marci completed mandated training as a domestic violence counselor and specific training in Trauma Informed Care. She is trained as a Safe Family, a Children’s Grief Support Lead and as a Stephens Minister.
Family & Inspiration
Marci has three children who have been the inspiration for Emmy’s Place. Marci’s youngest son designed the logo.
Michelle Woodyard
Director
Michelle is honored to be a part of this important organization. She helped a close friend escape an abusive relationship several years ago and that experience helped her realize abuse can happen to anybody. Additionally, she has had her own experiences with emotional abuse and has a strong heart for those suffering the effects and wounds abuse causes.
Michelle has her MBA from University of Redlands and has an extensive background in administration, marketing and web design. She is currently a Marketing Specialist in the Automotive Industry. Michelle resides in Seymour, Tennessee with her fur-babies, Nella and Howie.
Ligia Maria Hallstrom Ed.,D.
Director
Ligia Maria Hallstrom, Ed.,D. brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership, administration, and student advocacy to the board. With a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy from Pepperdine University, alongside a Master’s in Legal Studies from Trinity Law School, Ligia has dedicated over two decades to shaping educational programs and policies that support student success.
Currently serving as the Administrator of Instructional Programs at the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program (NOCROP), Ligia provides leadership in curriculum development, teacher mentoring, and the supervision of both certificated and classified staff. Her focus on Career Technical Education (CTE) ensures alignment with state guidelines and labor market needs, benefiting both high school and adult education programs. Prior to this role, she served as the Chief Operations Officer for Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County, where she established strategic partnerships with school districts and community agencies to enhance youth services.
Ligia’s extensive background includes positions as an elementary and high school principal, K-12 Coordinator for English Language Learners, and adjunct professor in Concordia University’s Master of Education Counseling Program. Her career has been marked by a deep commitment to restorative justice, positive behavioral interventions, and promoting equity in education. She has also been recognized for her leadership, receiving awards such as the “Leaders of Oral Health” and “Middle School Principal of the Year.”
With her strong leadership skills, comprehensive understanding of educational policies, and passion for student empowerment, Ligia is well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to any board dedicated to improving educational community outcomes, children and families.
Jarvis Ward - Pastor / Chief Executive Officer PEARSON Foundation, Inc.
Director
Jarvis Ward has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the PEARSON Foundation, Inc., based in Pearl, Mississippi since April of 2014. He served nearly 17 years as the National Facilitator of City & Community Ministries with the Mission America Coalition/United States Lausanne Committee and continues to cultivate strategic partnerships locally and nationally.
Jarvis served nearly 15 years as the National Prayer-Care-Share Trainer/Instructor for the Church of Christ (Holiness) USA denomination headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. He is an associate pastor at Sweet Rest Church in Pearl, Mississippi and former pastor of Second Temple Church in Jackson, Mississippi. He is founder of Christ for the Cities and Co-founder of the National City Impact Roundtable (NCIR).
Jarvis served as the first Executive Director of Mission Mississippi, a nationally recognized Christian racial reconciliation organization. He served many years as a Volunteer Chaplain for the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. Jarvis also served two terms as a Member, Mississippi Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He is a member of America’s National Prayer Committee and serves as a National Conference and Seminar Speaker and Consultant and Coach for Christian leaders in the USA and globally. He is a graduate of the Evangelical Institute of Greenville, S.C.; the University of Memphis.
Jarvis and his wife (of 34 years), Brendalyn, reside in Pearl, Mississippi; they have five children. He has made a life commitment to labor and sacrifice to see young and old come to know, love, worship and serve Jesus Christ.
Daniel Serna
Director
Daniel has had the opportunity to serve the City of Santa Ana as a Police Officer since 2008. His passion for helping others began in high school where he found mentors who gave of their time and helped mold him into the person he is today.
As a Police Officer, Daniel had the opportunity to work alongside a domestic violence advocate, responding to domestic violence calls and providing information and services involving domestic violence issues to the community.
Daniel started attending Mariners Church in Irvine, CA in January 2020 and began walking with God in January 2021. He currently serves with Mariners Church as a safety volunteer. Daniel lives in Santa Ana with his three children.
Partners & Affiliations
working together to create access to justice
The following organizations support our work or are professional affiliations:
