Forgiveness, a path to redemption | Yusef Salaam | TEDxSingSing 2014
This talk focuses on using forgiveness as a path to redemption, rebuilding relationships and community. The fifth suspect in the Central Park Jogger case, at 15 years old Yusef Salaam was wrongly accused and convicted of assaulting a female jogger in Central Park. He spent 7 years of a 10-year sentence incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. In 2002, based on a confession and DNA evidence, the Central Park Five convictions were vacated. Today, he is committed to advocating and educating people on the issues of false confessions, human rights violations and criminal justice.
The power of a parent’s voice | Lawrence Bartley | TEDxSingSing
Inmates, officers and doctors come together to help a father share his healing voice with his prematurely born son. Lawrence Bartley values integrity and respect for others. A lifelong learner, he considers himself to be flexible and open. He believes there is value in earning your way and having balance in your physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual life. He is also a husband and father of 3 beautiful children. His aspires to earn an MBA, PhD.
Connecting through art | Kenyatta Hughes | TEDxSingSing 2014
Kenyatta Hughes is a gifted composer, lyricist, actor and activist. He holds a Master's degree in Professional Studies from New York Theological Seminary. He is active in various programs including Musical Connections with Carnegie Hall, Rehabilitation Through the Arts, and Voices From Within - a comprehensive multimedia and education initiative that uniquely addresses the epidemic of gun violence directly through the voices of inmates living with the consequences of their choices. His talk, "Connecting Through Art", focuses on music and its ability to transcend superficiality and allowing people to connect at the purest level.
Composing community | Carnegie Hall at Sing Sing | TEDxSingSing 2014
“Music has definitely been the main discipline for me now. I wouldn’t be anywhere without music.” - Carnegie Hall workshop participant at Sing Sing. Five years ago, Carnegie Hall started a music program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. A workshop group of talented and highly committed men have collaborated with many different Carnegie Hall artists to create their own musical compositions and perform concerts for the prison population and staff. Together, they have shaped a community of learners and creative thinkers that come together with the aim of making great music. This performance communicates what the human and musical connections formed mean to prison participants, as well to the professional musicians involved, and features Sing Sing musician Pedro Collazo (composer) with Sing Sing collaborators from the workshop, alongside Carnegie Hall musicians, Emily Eagen (voice), Brad Balliett (bassoon), Meena Bhasin (viola), Claire Bryant (cello), Paul Won Jin Cho (clarinet), Anna Elashvili (violin), Kris Saebo (upright bass), and Laura Weiner (horn).
HomeTOWN security | Majora Carter | TEDxSingSing
An exploration of how to build healthy and sustainable communities. Majora Carter is an urban revitalization strategy consultant, real estate developer, and Peabody Award winning broadcaster. She is responsible for the creation & successful implementation of numerous green-infrastructure projects, policies, and job training & placement systems. After establishing Sustainable South Bronx and Green For All (among other organizations) to carry on that work, she built on this foundation with innovative ventures and insights into urban economic developments designed to help move Americans out of poverty. Her 2006 TED talk was one of the first 6 videos to launch their groundbreaking website. Majora is a Board Member of the US Green Building Council, and the Andrew Goodman Foundation. Majora has continually set new standards of excellence with projects in her South Bronx community, while expanding her reach through philanthropic pursuits and business interests that have all pointed toward greater self-esteem and economic potential for low-income people everywhere.
Life is beautiful | Simeon Duggins | TEDxSingSing 2014
This poem connected to Building 1412 in Brooklyn, a public housing development, highlights the realities of urban life, particularly in Building 1412, yet his premise is to make the world understand that Life is What You Make It. Simeon Duggins brings a lot of energy into the room as he enters with his outgoing personality. He is a progressive thinker, and a remarkable entertainer who strives to inspire others around him. His aspirations are to become a fitness trainer and a counselor for youth, but once you hear his poetry, we believe you’ll agree his place is on the stage.
Life after lockdown | Bryonn Bain | TEDxSingSing 2014
Multi-media exploration of the possibilities for life beyond incarceration. Prison activist, spoken word poet, hip hop artist, actor, author and educator. After launching the “Lyrics on Lockdown” national prison tour/campaign, Bryonn Bain created the university course by the same name to link students at Riker’s Island prison to NYU, the New School, and Columbia, and has performed the hip hop theater/spoken word production “Lyrics from Lockdown” for sold-out theaters on three continents worldwide. www.lyricsfromlockdown.com
Finding your identity | Gina Belafonte | TEDxSingSing 2014
An exploration of the ways in which the arts can break down barriers, help people connect, define social relationships and create healthy interactions. Born and raised in New York City, Gina Belafonte has spent most of her life surrounded by entertainment and activism. Today, her professional work encompasses these two arenas. As the youngest child of Julie and Harry Belafonte, whose life’s work reflects some of the best-known entertainment and most progressive social activism, Gina’s passions should come as no surprise. Most recently, Gina played a leading role in producing the documentary SING YOUR SONG, a film focused on the personal history and extraordinary events of Harry Belafonte’s life and legacy.
Making noise can save the world | Ivan Caloff | TEDxSingSing 2014
A new way to facilitate, enhance and improve the way we communicate with each other through Sounding Off. The power of sounding off helps to create a deep sense of friendship. Ivan Calaff is recognized as a humble, easy going person with an intuitive mind. In short, he is a people person, always aiming to please, with an exceptional skill for problem solving. He has earned his G.E.D., Certificate of Completion in Breaking Barriers, and a facility parenting course. In addition, he is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science to fulfill his aspirations of seeking higher education, and re-entering society as a man willing to give back to the community without reservations.
Transcending mental bars | Hill Harper | TEDxSingSing 2014
This talk focuses on the deep seated beliefs, both individual and cultural, that hold people back from achieving their true potential, and ways to move past them. Hill Harper is an American film, television and stage actor, and an author. He is best known for his portrayal of coroner-turned-crime scene investigator Dr. Sheldon Hawkes in the CBS television show CSI: NY. He is also the author of several books including Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny; Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny; The Conversation: How (Black) Men and Women Can Building Loving, Trusting Relationships; and Letters to an Incarcerated Brother: Encouragement, Hope and Healing for Inmates and Their Loves Ones. He is a member of the Obama for America National Finance Committee. Harper graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from Harvard with a J.D. and Masters in Public Administration. He is a full-time member of Boston’s Black Folk’s Theater Company. Harper’s Bazaar wrote, “You might expect Hill Harper to be the next actor vying for the presidency... but he has other things on his agenda”. One of those things was the creation of the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation www.mydf.org, a youth serving organization whose mission is to provide underserved youth a path to empowerment and educational excellence through mentoring, academic enrichment programming, college access skills obtainment and the facilitation of psychosocial and physical development strategies.
A good role model of what not to do | Wilfredo Laracuente | TEDxSingSing 2014
This talk imparts the significance of “manning up,” and encourage others to expose our youth to a brighter future…but the question is…how? Wilfredo Laracuente is a funny, outgoing, and charismatic individual who seems to remain motivated toward personal improvement. He constantly seeks challenges that will enhance his success until it becomes second nature. Enthused by the opportunity of possibly making a difference in people’s lives, he began developing a passion to impart the significance of fatherhood to anyone willing to listen. His aspirations consist of completing his degree, and using the knowledge obtained to ensure that he is eligible for further progression upon his release.
Gangdemic: coming to a neighborhood near you | Herbert Morales | TEDxSingSing 2014
Gangdemic has become a reality in communities and in prisons. Membership is climbing as well as violence and drugs associated with gangs. Elimination of gangs may not be feasible but behavioral and philosophical conversion to become an uplifting economic and political power within communities may be possible. Herbert Morales entered prison as an angry 18-year-old, uneducated, irresponsible, teenager. After 31 years’ incarceration he has not just survived, but has strived to become an educated, compassionate, disciplined, and open-minded individual. His love for God has shown him that anything is possible as long as he has faith. He has had a positive impact in the lives of over a dozen inmates by educating himself in the field of criminal law.
A tear from the phoenix | Jason Calkins | TEDxSingSing 2014
A perspective of one man’s path to redemption using the Phoenix as a symbolic figure to show how new life can be born out of self-destruction. Jason Calkins is a highly energetic person, one who is continuously searching for ways to improve himself. His yearning and passion for interaction with people is only rivaled by his desire to be both an example and answer of what it is to be a good friend. In the last 10 years, education has been Jason’s focus. He has received an associate’s degree from Mercy College, graduating in 2013 Magna Cum Laude. He is now working on his bachelor’s degree. At Auburn, Jason helped to create a support group for inmates who are affected by HIV/AIDS and he is now a facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence program and works with the Youth Assistance Program. He aspires to become a mentor to at-risk youth.
The ambient existence of music | Shredick Blackwell | TEDxSingSing 2014
The power of music to evoke memories of events and people. This nostalgic talk makes us think about how we connect with people through the personal soundtrack of our lives. Shedrick Blackwell is an outgoing, optimistic, and caring person. He has received a Certificate in Ministry from Rising Hope, Inc., and has become involved with the Carnegie Hall Program. He hopes to earn a college degree in the near future.
Transformation through education | Michael Tineo | TEDxSingSing 2014
Prison rehabilitation leads to healthy communities on the outside when men are released. Rehabilitation prevents crime. Let’s rebrand Sing Sing as the Healthy Community Maker. Michael Tineo is a patient and loving father, who is mindful of his actions. He tries his best to be of some benefit to others he encounters. He has big dreams, plays hard, and is deliberate in implementing the steps necessary to achieve his goals. Michael is proud of the relationship he has developed with his daughter, despite the hurdles created by his incarceration. This relationship has been a source of growth and fulfillment for himself and his daughter. He aspires to be a tremendous benefit to the world through influential and philanthropic efforts.
Creating a WE nation | Lucinda Cross | TEDxSingSing 2014
This talk shares the analogy of the tree and how our beliefs, attitudes and actions mold us and the community that is connected to us. There is no single leaf whose actions do not affect the whole tree. Sharing the importance of balancing the Fab Five in order to rebuild, restore and reinvent ourselves and communities we serve include: Faith, Family, Friends, Finance and Fitness. Lucinda Cross is a creative life activator, Life Coach and Small Business Consultant. Her work is about helping women live a life of fire, fun and freedom. Lucinda Cross is the best-selling author of “The Road to Redemption” and “Corporate Mom Drop Outs.” She is an internationally known speaker, contributing writer for Black Enterprise and The Huffington Post. Lucinda Cross is the person women call when they are ready to leverage and monetize their expertise and message all while creating products, programs and a signature a platform. Over the past decade, she has discovered surprising trends about why certain people and businesses succeed. Today, Lucinda teaches how to communicate and captivate in a noisy world with a short attention span and the tendency to procrastinate.
Echoes of an urban desert | Markey Coleman | TEDxSingSing 2014
Creating community gardens as a tool to bring generations and communities together for a common goal. Markey Coleman is an intuitive, loving and caring person with an embedded yearning to assist his community once released. He is motivated by love and the challenge of developing concepts and possible solutions to social ills.
Surviving on the inside | Ice-T | TEDxSingSing 2014
Ice-T gives advice to those on the inside fitting with the theme of community. Through his music, his books and his lecture tours at colleges including Harvard, Princeton and Stanford, Ice-T has become a cultural icon recognized the world over. Born in New Jersey, Ice-T quickly learned the art of survival. As an only child whose parents died when he was very young, Ice-T became involved in Los Angeles gangs before spending four years in the army. His first break came when the producers of the film “Breakin’” asked him to rap in the movie. He went on to become rap music’s original gangster, writing songs like “Six in the Mornin’” and “New Jack Hustler.” Ice-T formed Rhyme Syndicate Records in 1989 and released a string of groundbreaking West Coast rap records. He subsequently formed the thrash metal band Body Count with close high school friend and guitarist Ernie C. Body Count’s 1991 self-titled debut contained the controversial single “Cop Killer.” Body Count was the most critically acclaimed act on the highly successful 1991 Lollapalooza tour and continued to tour worldwide. Ice-T received a Grammy Award and was voted Best Male Rapper in Rolling Stone’s 1992 Readers Poll. Ice-T parleyed his music career to acting roles in “New Jack City,” “Ricochet,” “Trespass” and “Johnny Mnemonic,” all while building a flourishing television career. Since 2000, he has portrayed NYPD Detective Odafin Tutuola on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He has numerous independent and documentary film roles to his credit and most recently starred in the popular E! reality series “Ice Loves Coco.” He has also branched out into producing, directing and writing.
Shaping the future from the inside | Michael Capra | TEDxSingSing 2014
As Superintendent, Mr. Capra evaluates and develops policies and procedures that enhance public safety by ensuring that offenders have opportunities to improve their skills and to receive individual treatment services based on ability and willingness to participate so they can return to society as productive members. Michael Capra has over 32 years of experience in the field of Correctional Management and Law Enforcement. He is known as a seasoned leader, manager and mentor. Mr. Capra started his career in 1981 as a Corrections Officer and today, he is the Superintendent of Sing Sing Correctional Facility, one of the largest maximum security correctional facilities in the state. Superintendent Capra oversees a staff of 825 security and non-custodial staff and 1,825 offenders. As Superintendent, Mr. Capra evaluates and develops policies and procedures that enhance public safety by ensuring that offenders have opportunities to improve their skills and to receive individual treatment services based on ability and willingness to participate so they can return to society as productive members. Mr. Capra co-developed “Voices from Within” a program that enhances the potential of inmates as well as impacts the minds of our youth.
Voices from within | Dan Slepian | TEDxSingSing 2014
Dan Slepian, renowned TV producer, discusses his volunteer work at Sing Sing, helping to create the “Voices From Within” project, a video and education initiative that uniquely addresses the epidemic of gun violence directly through the voices of inmates living with the consequences of their deadly choices. Dan Slepian is an award-winning investigative producer and an 18 year veteran of NBC’s venerable newsmagazine, Dateline -- where he has developed and produced dozens of episodes, complex hidden camera investigations, and breaking news segments. Referred to as “A TV News Gumshoe” by The New York Times, Slepian’s investigations have helped solve cold cases, assisted in exonerating wrongfully convicted inmates, uncovered corruption, sparked changes in laws, and led to the shutting down of illicit businesses. He also conceived and developed three separate recurring hour-long series: “Vegas Homicide,” “Vegas Undercover” and “Wild, Wild Web.” The work he’s done at NBC has appeared on the Discovery Channel, History Channel, National Geographic, CNBC, Court TV, MSNBC and Netflix. Slepian graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he currently serves on the Journalism School’s professional advisory board.