Catherine Clark Perkins affectionately known as Ms. Cat (Catron Academy Learning Institute)  is a community activist/advocate working to end Mass Incarceration and gang/gun violence. She is the CEO and founder of Catron Academy Learning Institute. A member of the African American Advisory Board, Vice Chairman of DA George Gascon office, the CEO of Catron Academy Learning Institute, an Ordained Evangelist of the Church of the Living God.

Cat Clark-Perkins, BSHS (she/her/hers) is also the CEO of Cat Clark Consulting Services in South Los Angeles. A survivor of domestic violence and mother of two, with over thirty years of experience in public service in Los Angeles County/Courts/Sheriffs, Cat volunteers as a facilitator and holds positions on multiple boards.

During her teen years she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint. This was the beginning of her life battling trauma. Cat is a Certified Peer Reentry Specialist and experienced DV advocate trainer . She is also a Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice Los Angeles Chapter Coordinator. Cat is also an entrepreneur and Life Coach. Cat is a founding member of the Sister Circle which focuses on addressing issues that affect women living in low-socioeconomic communities. Cat is the treasurer for Cease Fire Committee and peace ambassador. Cat advocates and sits on the Board of Directors of Victim Services From The Inside Out with Porsche Taylor and facilitates the 10P Program in the Lancaster State Prison with Sam Brown.

Cat is a graduate (2018) of Initiate Justice founder Taina Vargas-Edmond and she fights the broken criminal justice system along with inside and outside organizers. She was the 1rst Cohort of Impacted Leaders. Now a member of Initiate Justice Action.

“I went all 12 weeks, never missed a night,” she begins. “I submitted an application to be a part of this to end mass incarceration. I trained to be an impacted leader.

Families need to know their rights and how to fight for our incarcerated loved ones. In addition to “Restoring Justice,” I will be sitting down with perpetrators, interviewing them and asking why and getting into their background. Working on helping change their minds and thinking from previous behaviors.”

Ms. Cat is no stranger to discrimination. In 2018 Cat fell victim to prejudiced law enforcement, and was discriminated against as an employee at the Sheriff’s department, who fired her in January once they got wind their clerk was married to a felon who was sentenced to life without parole in prison at the age of 22.“My husband is now 61, a lifer facing the second death penalty and he will never be eligible for parole. He and I were married in October 2016,” she shares.

Since 2018, Cat Perkins has worked hand in hand with The Reverence Project located in Watts as a victim survivor batterer advocate. She is also a Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice Leader. Now she is the LA Chapter Coordinator 2022.  At 55, years old, Ms. Cat continues to advocate for others and remains a voice for the voiceless with a message for the present and for the future.With tears in her eyes Cat stood on the steps of our states Capital holding up a banner of murdered victims. The depths of her pain and suffering   was something that could not be denied as she marched in Sacramento for change and a chance to be heard. I asked her how she felt that day, standing on those steps, surrounded by hundreds of other crime advocates who wanted their voices to be heard. 

“As a mother losing a son by gun violence who was shot by LAPD, and losing a son to sickness, I stood on those steps with many mothers, fathers, supporters, friends and survivors sharing their voices. It’s a big movement. You have a Right to Heal. Heal The Vote. #CSSJ

I couldn’t even express the words of the spirit and energy of our ancestors. Sharing the pain and the hurt of losing a loved one was going through my mind on that day. We have lost warriors who have carried the banners and walked with us through Los Angeles.”I am a mother who has also lost my son to homicide by police brutality, so I will keep advocating, for everyone and I fight the good fight with faith, along with other mothers who have lost their children.