Yesterday I had a long conversation with a gentleman who served 17 years in prison. He has been home for nine months, and he is working as a street sweeper. I didn’t tell him, but I was so proud of him because he made the decision to become a productive member of society, even though it meant starting with a low wage, blue-collar job. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: July 2014
Building Alliances After Prison and the Desire for Normalcy
I was speaking recently with a former inmate who expressed to me that up until recently he had trouble being around people. I had a moment of gratitude because for me being around people came easily when I was released. Maybe it’s because I have always been a people person. Continue reading
Tired of Being on Parole Supervision after Incarceration
I am so grateful to be home that I rarely find space to complain about little mundane facts about life. For me, every day that I wake up on this side of society is a good day. That brings to mind that old saying, “Your worst day in society is better than your best in prison.” Still, I have moments when I wish I were not on parole. Continue reading
Women Involved in Reentry Efforts on Sirius XM Radio – Station 141
Renee Nash, Director of Information and Public Affairs for WHUR has invited 3 women of The W.I.R.E. – Women Involved in Reentry Efforts (Lashonia Etheridge-Bey, Trina Robinson, and Stephanie M. Johnson) to be featured on Sirius XM Radio: Station 141. The Show entitled “The Sighlent Storm” is a broadcasted nationally. Tomorrow the women of the W.I.R.E. will be on the air at 10:00 until 11:00 tomorrow Saturday, July 19th. We will be discussing aspects of domestic violence and how it contributes to the incarceration rate among women.
The show can also be heard online at www.whurworld.com
Resiliency after Incarceration – I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me!
I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. Man, I’ve been through some things in life. Hasn’t everyone? They say that most of the women in prison are victims of sexual, mental and physical abuse… traumatized. So many women fit that profile. Continue reading
Friendships from Around the World in Prison
When I became incarcerated I had limited involvement with people outside of my race. I had such a narrow perspective of the world that it never crossed my mind that there were communities beyond the limits of my environment. I never had the opportunity to travel, visit other states, or see the world. Continue reading
Free Her Rally – June 21, 2014
Last weekend I was charged with being the M.C. of the Free Her rally. This rally was organized by Andrea James of Boston Massachusetts in an effort to raise awareness around women and the criminal justice system. Continue reading
Doing Prison Outreach Work After Being Incarceration is Challenging to Say the Least
Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting the women currently incarcerated in SFF Hazelton. A team of individuals representing Community Based organizations accompanied the staff from my office on the trip that was six hours round-trip. Continue reading