Becoming a man | Craig Waleed | TEDxSingSing 2020
For Dr. Craig Waleed, masculinity was something he was taught at an early age, but as he grew older and wiser, he started to notice some of the more toxic aspects of the masculinity he learned. He believes that toxicity played an integral role in his eventual incarceration. Now, as a professor at SUNY Brockport, Dr. Waleed wants to help his students and other young people re-define masculinity, devoid of the parts that make it toxic in the hopes of inspiring young people and helping them improve their lives and self-images. Dr. Craig Waleed is from Rochester, NY. At the age of 19, he was sentenced to 4-to-12 years in the New York State Department of Corrections for committing a violent assault against another person. During his incarceration, he became immersed in the transformative processes of knowledge-of-self and academics. Dr. Waleed earned an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts while incarcerated and began envisioning greater possibilities for the future. In 2010, he earned a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the College at Brockport SUNY, and in 2017, completed a doctorate degree from Saint John Fisher College in Executive Leadership. Dr. Waleed wants to share with people who are currently entangled or at risk of becoming caught-up in the criminal legal system, his story of how he found a way to stay out of prison for good.
Invisible victims | Bruce Bryant | TEDxSingSing 2020
Incarceration doesn’t just affect those incarcerated; in fact, it has been shown to have a profound effect on children and young adults whose parents have been separated from them. In this illuminating talk, Bruce Bryant takes a realistic look at the unintended price that children with incarcerated parents or family members too often pay for situations that were fully out of their control. Bruce is a self-reflective, happy, and driven man who believes that, “where you are doesn’t define who you are.” Bruce has lived this truth by becoming a published author during his incarceration, writing Closeness is Not Measured by Distance: A Dynamic Journal for Children of Incarcerated Parents. He believes that life is about meaningful relationships and the potential power of the combined efforts of people who care.
Love doesn’t like everything it sees | Joseph Wilson | TEDxSingSing 2020
When Joseph Wilson’s younger sister accidentally came out to him during a visit, he will admit, his reaction was less than perfect. One conversation threw a normally close sibling relationship into a rocky period as both Joseph and his sister struggled to resolve this divide. What Joseph could never have predicted is that their shared love for music would be the one thing that could bring these siblings back together and closer than ever. In this emotionally-charged TEDx talk, Joseph lays bare the flaws in his initial reaction to his sister’s confession as well as how he was inspired by his love of music to grow and mend the hurt he caused. Joseph Wilson is "a composer who happens to be incarcerated at Sing Sing,” according to acclaimed mezzo-soprano Joyce Didonato. Joseph utilizes music to examine and expose the effects of socialization of poverty, violence, and xenophobia on him and society as a whole. Wilson is in the process of writing The Libretto and composing an opera titled Tabula Rasa. His works were featured on NBC Today and in Carnegie Hall’s Sing Sing Musical Connection Program’s “The Somewhere Project” and “A Time Like This: Music for Change.”
From STEM to STEAM | James Torres | TEDxSingSing 2020
For years, the importance of arts programs in public education has been the subject of debate, but James Torres thinks he’s solved the problem once and for all. In his impassioned presentation, James describes how being exposed to music while incarcerated gave him a new purpose, a new passion, and a new career path. He advocates that the all-important STEM programs that we know and value should be edited just slightly to include art and be forever known as STEAM programs. James Torres participates in Sing Sing’s Carnegie Hall music program. James taught himself music, which he used as a form of therapy to get through hard times. Today, his compositions have been played at Carnegie Hall, and his writings have been published on the online publishing platform The Medium, and the online magazine The Margins. He is currently working with the Jeptha Group, a not-for-profit organization that uses music therapy to help inmate populations that struggle with mental illness.
I see me | Christopher O'Neill | TEDxSingSing 2020
Self-reflection is often the most challenging thing someone can undertake, but in this emotional poem, Christopher O’Neill takes us on a journey of self-discovery and reflection. Starting from his life at a young age and following up through his incarceration, Chris reflects on his younger self and the ways in which he has grown and changed. Christopher O'Neill is a Hudson Link Alumnus; He earned a Bachelor of Behavioral Science in 2011 and a Masters of Professional Studies in 2012 from New York Theological Seminary. For nearly a decade, Chris has assisted hundreds of men earn their degrees, who have become their own success stories. He embraces and understands the transformative power of higher education. Recently, Chris became a primary member of Voices from Within, an initiative dedicated to changing the prison culture and setting healthy examples for children with incarcerated parents.
The power of relationships to redefine the reentry experience | Michael Shane Hale | TEDxSingSing 2020
Michael Shane Hale is a peer facilitator at Sing Sing Correctional Facility working to help his fellow incarcerated men prepare for their reentry back into their communities. But it might surprise you to know that despite teaching these courses for many years, Michael is not going home any time soon. In reflecting on his experience in this field, Michael wants to talk about the importance and the value of interpersonal relationships even in the darkest places. Michael Shane Hale is a facilitator for the Corrections Transitional Services Programs, and spends thousands of hours assisting people in a group setting on re-entry into the community. Currently, Shane is pursuing a graduate degree in Professional Studies at Sing Sing’s New York Theological Seminary. He hopes to eventually pursue a Doctorate in Neuroscience and Computer Programming, to apply the insights he has gained from providing social work inside the prison.
Five minutes to fix our broken healthcare system | Eva Lana Minkoff | TEDxSingSing 2020
Fixing the United States healthcare system in just 5 minutes sounds like the stuff of myth and legends but Eva Lana Minkoff thinks she might just have a solution. Imagine a world where you leave the doctor’s office actually feeling heard, validated, and confident in the care you received. Eva thinks that could be our reality with just a few minor adjustments. With her researched system of doctor-patient feedback and communication, Eva’s insights on how to talk to your doctor might just turn your life around. Eva Minkoff’s career experience in healthcare and lifetime of chronic patient experience has motivated her to pursue health system reform through championing effective patient-practitioner relationships. Eva is the host of the HumanCare Podcast, which supports her mission to improve global health through self-reflection and human connection.
Finding the right priority when starting a business | Steve Forbes | TEDxSingSing 2020
This speaker’s name speaks for him. When you hear the name Forbes, you know it’s attached to someone with an incredible amount of experience and firsthand knowledge of the business world. Well in this incredible talk, Steve Forbes wants to share some of that knowledge with you! This talk is full of insight and wisdom about what it really takes to start a business and how we might need to re-define our perception of entrepreneurship. Steve Forbes is the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media. Steve writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of “Fact and Comment.” A widely respected economic prognosticator, he is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times. In both 1996 and 2000, Steve campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency.Steve’s newest project is the podcast “What’s Ahead,” where he engages the world’s top newsmakers, politicians and pioneers in business and economics in honest conversations meant to challenge traditional conventions as well as featuring Steve’s signature views on the intersection of society, economic and policy.
Building stone upon stone - power of community in entrepreneurship | Goldie Harrison | TEDxSingSing 2020
Many of us think we know what entrepreneurship looks like, but how could it be improved? That’s exactly the question that Goldie Harrison is tackling in this presentation. With her first-hand experience organizing community events in Brooklyn, New York, and growing up with self-made parents, Goldie has a unique perspective on the world of creatives and innovators. If you fancy yourself an innovator or a changemaker, this might just be the talk for you. Whether it’s behind the lens or curating the vibes, Goldie Harrison is a creative force to be reckoned with. The wunderkind has tapped into a lane uniquely her own through her precision in media and events. As a self-proclaimed “dot connecter,” Goldie’s affinity for the arts has evolved into the founding of her own digital agency and studio – 24:OURS – where culture and community verge. 24:OURS has garnered the attention of The Black Enterprise, News12, Spectrum News and Essence Magazine. Through 24:OURS, Goldie has launched opened 24:OURS Creative Studios, an innovation hub tailored for black and brown creatives and launched 2 live music series, #NoiseCtrl and TheLoftSessions a live music platform giving indie artists a chance to be heard on an authentic level.
The C.H.O.I.C.E.S connection | Jon-Adrian Velazquez | TEDxSingSing 2020
Every day, we are faced with difficult decisions. We make constant choices about how to respond to problems, confrontation, celebration, and news. How impactful are those mundane, everyday choices? Jon-Adrian thinks they have the power to change our entire lives. Jon-Adrian Velasquez is the co-founder of the C.H.O.I.C.E.S program, which helps the children of incarcerated men at Sing Sing learn to think critically about situations, calm their emotions, and make healthy choices. This program has changed the lives of so many and in this incredible talk, Jon-Adrian wants to help you use it to change yours. Jon-Adrian led a 22-year crusade against his wrongful conviction while helping other innocent men obtain exoneration. Featured on NBC’s Dateline and the Wrongful Conviction Podcast with Jason Flom, Jon-Adrian opened up about his innocence in the case. Jon-Adrian splits his time between his work as a Program Assistant at Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison and Co-Founder and Chairman of Voices from Within. Jon Adrian’s unique personal experiences fuel his passion for uplifting communities through his collaboration and work with prison administrators, elected officials, and community leaders.
A matter of time | Jermaine Archer | TEDxSingSing 2020
How many times have you sat down to do something, lost track of time, and looked up to find hours have passed you by? Why is it so easy for us to lose track of, forget about, or even waste our own time? In this powerful talk, Jermaine Archer speaks about how being sentenced to prison to serve time, helped him learn to stop wasting the most precious resource we have: time. Jermaine Archer is a writer, author, actor, musician, and paralegal. But most importantly a son, father and husband. Jermaine has been incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. Jermaine redefined what mattered most to him: his time and today's youth. He is passionate about making an impact on youth and sharing his story with community youth through the Sing Sing Youth Assistance Program. As an adviser to the Osborne Association's New York Initiative for Children with Incarcerated Parents, Jermaine brainstorms with family court judges and policy makers to protect the rights of children with incarcerated parents. In 2012 he co-founded Voices From Within, a group of men redefining what it means to repay a debt to society.
Quiet people will change the world | Sara Dahan | TEDxSingSing 2020
Sara Dahan has always been a quiet person so she knows that when looking for authority figures, we tend to overlook quieter, more reserved people. But what if she told you that being quiet doesn’t mean you can’t lead effectively, speak publicly, or impact change? If you are an introvert looking for some motivation and some inspiration, look no further! In this challenging talk, Sara takes a close look at what it means to be a quiet leader, and what perspective they can bring to the table. A community builder of 12 years, Sara Dahan runs Catalyst, a community strategy agency that helps businesses build authentic, thriving communities around their brand. Catalyst leverages the resources of the private sector to transform society into a more empathetic and connected place while also building strong, organic brand loyalty that fuels companies growth. Sara earned her Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience at MIT and her Master's in Epidemiology from NYU, and has always been fascinated by what drives human behavior and the ways we gather. In her talk, "Quiet People Will Change The World", Sara questions what it means to have a voice and discusses strategies we can learn from quiet people to become authentic and empathetic leaders.
This is for the others | Alexander Aguilar | TEDxSingSing 2020
Alexander Aguilar is a young man with a deep commitment to helping and inspiring at-risk youth. When he was a young man himself, Alexander was involved in the gang lifestyle and the juvenile justice system. Now, as an incarcerated man at Sing Sing, he dedicates himself to having tough conversations about what justice looks like for those under 18. In this evocative presentation, he shares his personal story and talks about how we make sure more children grow up and don’t share his path or his circumstances. Alexander Aguilar grew up in gangs and juvenile halls. Determined to overcome the struggles he has faced, Alexander has set a new path that focuses on improving himself and building tighter ties to his family. He is committed to giving back, stating, “If my experience can help keep a child from making the same mistake that I did, then I’m happy with that.”
The power of language to redefine what matters | Javier Miranda | TEDxSingSing 2020
What does it mean to be “rehabilitated”? What if the person in question was never taught how to live and stay on the healthy path in the first place? Javier Miranda wants us to think about what it feels like to be someone in need of rehabilitation, specifically those incarcerated in American prisons. In this powerful talk, Javier discusses the power of language to impact someone’s recovery as well as the ways in which we can rehabilitate ourselves. Javier Miranda believes in the power education has to transform lives, communities, and societies. At the time of his arrest in 1994, he could not speak English; today, he holds a Masters Degree and is the author of Out of the Wilderness: A New Approach to Personal Development and Rehabilitation. For over 26 years as a peer counselor, Javier has been involved with many organizations combating AIDS, substance abuse, and epidemics of violence inside prisons. Currently, he is one of the coordinators for the New York Theological Seminary's Master Degree Program at Sing Sing.
One last cry | Joseph Norman | TEDxSingSing 2020
We don’t often think about a prison as being the birthplace of art, but Joseph Norman is here to say otherwise. As a currently incarcerated poet, Joseph channels his energy into creating and sharing stories, poems, and songs about his life and his lived experiences. In “One Last Cry,” Joseph speaks about friendship, brotherhood, and fatherhood behind prison walls. Growing up in North Carolina, Joseph was made fun of and called names. He channeled his hurt from being picked on through writing poetry. Recently, Joseph completed five phases of the Alternative to Violence Project Workshop. He also completed nine months of Alcohol Substance Abuse Treatment and currently volunteers his free time to the program telling his story and assisting others with their sobriety. Joseph continues to write poetry focusing it on addiction, love, and fatherhood.
Reflections | William Walsh | TEDxSingSing 2020
What does it mean to redefine something? As we grow and progress in life, we often find ourselves having to re-invent or re-create different parts of ourselves. In this poignant talk, William Walsh speaks to the impact that our circumstances have on the way we process ourselves and our surroundings and how he learned to redefine what matters. William is a man of faith. As a leader of the Our Lady of Hope Catholic chapel community, William organizes and facilitates the events and programs that the chapel offers. He is continuously looking for new ways to challenge himself on his path to self- realization.