Turning Experience Into Evidence. Turning Evidence Into Change.
Each circumstance, record request, and administrative agency filing contributes to a growing body of data, powering both individual victories and systemic reform. Our work doesn’t end at support; it starts the cycle of accountability.
Pillar of Justice
Equity in Administrative Systems
We guide individuals through complex government processes, including wage claims, disability accommodations, benefits disputes, and workplace retaliation, ensuring their rights are upheld even when the system fails them. Our non-attorney advocacy protects due process and enforces lawful treatment.
Pillar of Openness
Public Records & FOIA Requests
We leverage Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and public records laws to uncover delays, denials, and policy gaps in administrative systems. These records form the backbone of our investigations and public reports, enabling us to reveal patterns of bureaucratic misconduct and challenge official narratives.
Pillar of Education
Education and Public Outreach
Through research publications, community presentations, and in-person and digital outreach, we turn individual struggles into public knowledge. Our education work empowers people to self-advocate, scrutinize government actors, and organize around shared demands for systemic reform.
OUR TEAM
Craig Reynolds
Executive Director & Chairman of the Board
Craig Reynolds is a nationally respected digital strategist and former federal executive with over 20 years of experience building integrated, data-driven systems that power public-facing transformation. As Founder and Executive Director of the Monticello Institute for Advocacy, he brings a rare combination of technical acumen, civic dedication, and policy fluency to help low-income individuals and underserved communities navigate the opaque machinery of government.
A former Executive Staff Officer with the National Security Agency, Craig was a Classification Advisory Officer responsible for many Freedom of Information Act requests and successfully won an appeal against the Office of Special Counsel over Hatch Act guidance limiting the political activities of government employees. Craig also served as the NSOC’s designated OSHA compliance officer where he was responsible for ensuring workplace safety across a high-security federal facility. In this role, he conducted hazard assessments, coordinated emergency preparedness protocols, and ensured full adherence to federal occupational safety standards.
He has transitioned from federal service to lead complex marketing and data-integration efforts in the private sector, working at the intersection of marketing automation, customer analytics, and system interoperability. He has led digital transformation projects across national brands, designed AI-first search strategies, and built scalable data pipelines compliant with rigorous privacy frameworks (GDPR, CCPA, SOC 2).
At the Monticello Institute, Craig channels this operational precision and systems knowledge into a new model of citizen empowerment, providing non-attorney advocacy in administrative law forums, drafting model rules and petitions under the APA, and advancing pro-transparency reforms grounded in constitutional values and procedural integrity. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to restoring trust through informed participation, data access, and institutional accountability.
Craig holds a master’s degree in political science and undergraduate degrees in security management and criminal justice. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he remains an active contributor to legal reform, public records advocacy, and digital rights transparency efforts.
Alyssa Frampton
Deputy Executive Director & Secretary of the Board
Alyssa Frampton brings over a decade of frontline leadership experience in operations, customer service, and compliance to her role as Deputy Executive Director and Secretary of the Board at the Monticello Institute for Advocacy. With a professional background managing high-volume service teams in the automotive and collision-repair sectors, she offers a pragmatic, client-centered approach to institutional accountability and procedural reform.
As a former General Manager for a nationally franchised collision repair center, Alyssa oversaw every aspect of daily operations, from team recruitment and training to financial oversight and regulatory compliance. Her ability to build high-performance teams and exceed sales targets reflects a deep commitment to systems efficiency, hands-on leadership, and equitable client outcomes.
Alyssa possesses hands-on expertise in OSHA regulations and workplace safety compliance, gained through years of managing frontline teams in high-risk, regulated environments. As a former General Manager in the automotive repair industry, she implemented and enforced OSHA-aligned safety protocols, conducted regular compliance audits, and trained staff on hazard communication, PPE, and injury prevention. Her operational background makes her a strong advocate for workers’ rights, with a practical understanding of how safety standards intersect with fair labor practices and employer accountability.
At the Monticello Institute, Alyssa coordinates internal logistics, manages intake and case documentation, and ensures timely execution of public records, FOIA, and administrative filings. Her operational discipline and sharp eye for detail underpin the Institute’s ability to serve low-income individuals navigating complex agency processes. She also brings personal commitment to transparency, accessibility, and community empowerment, especially for working families and rural populations too often underserved by traditional legal channels.
Alyssa holds multiple service certifications and has been recognized for her consultative approach to problem-solving, her integrity in customer engagement, and her ability to implement sustainable process improvements.
Navigating Bureaucracy. Defending Rights. Empowering People.
The complexities of administrative systems shouldn’t silence those who need help most. At the Monticello Institute for Advocacy, we provide critical support for individuals confronting discrimination, retaliation, disability rights violations, and other bureaucratic harms. Whether you’re a worker, tenant, whistleblower, or simply someone who feels unjustly delayed, degraded, deferred, or denied by an agency or private entity (e.g., an HOA), our mission is to equip you with the tools to push back, and be heard.
We offer a range of low-cost (or no-cost in some circumstances) non-attorney services tailored to real-life needs, including research assistance, document preparation assistance, procedural coaching, and jurisdiction-specific insights. Our goal is not only to help you navigate red tape, but to do so with confidence, clarity, and a sense of control over your circumstances.
Key Services Include:
- Strategic non-attorney guidance on agency filings, appeal processes, and administrative pathways, where expressly permitted by law;
- State-specific and federal support for accommodations, benefit claims, and retaliation complaints, where expressly permitted by law; and/or
- Tailored non-attorney assistance for pro se advocacy, including research, documentation review, and documentation preparation, all where expressly permitted by law.
But we don’t stop at individual support. Our work is rooted in systemic impact, building a network of informed self-advocates, sharing knowledge through public education, and publishing findings from public records investigations to reveal patterns of failure and abuse in government systems. We believe that access to advocacy should never depend on income, connections, or legal status.
Our services are designed to be empowering and inclusive. We help you take control, not just of your circumstances, but of the broader systems that shape it.
Join us in our mission to dismantle bureaucratic barriers and advocate for your rights. Together, we can create a more just and equitable society for all individuals facing administrative challenges. Your voice matters, and we are here to amplify it.