The face of reentry | Najmuddeen Salaam | TEDxMarionCorrrectional 2013

Najmuddeen "Naj" Salaam is the curator of H.O.P.E. (Helping Ourselves Pursue Excellence) a communal mentoring program. He designed and wrote this program while incarcerated at Marion Correctional Institution. H.O.P.E. has been helping to provide cognitive change and direction in the lives of young incarcerated men of M.C.I. since 2007. He is a communicator and self-taught speaker of Spanish and was successful in organizing Hispanic Heritage Month for Hispanic inmates while incarcerated at M.C.I. He is currently a Program Coordinator for WinWin, Inc's. Institute for Response-Able Reentry. Through this organization he became a certified mediator, facilitator and continues to help incarcerated and restored citizens. His story is one of resilience and helping others. He prides himself on helping people grow and especially on being a father. He is currently completing a bachelors of Science in Management and Leadership. After TEDxMarionCorrectional Naj's goal is to complete an autobiography of his life and reentry experiences.

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Why laugh? | Meg Scott | TEDxMarionCorrectional 2013

Meg Scott's background and passion is teaching. Meg trained with Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga in 2007 to become a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher. In 2009, she took Steve Wilson's World Laughter Tour Laughter Leader training. Meg has trained over 160 Laughter Yoga Leaders in Florida and Ohio since 2008. She wrote and illustrated "Happy Hour Without the Hangover: A Guide to Leading a Successful Laughter Club." During the winter months she leads a free laughter club on Fort Myers Beach, Florida, and has offered laughter presentations to people of all ages. She has been featured and quoted in magazines and newspapers, including U.S. News and World Report. She is co-founder of What Wise Women Want Workshops and offers a variety of classes. After TEDxMarionCorrectional she will continue to spread the word that laughter is the best medicine...beneficial for the mind, body and spirit. www.laughteryogawithmegscott.com

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Befriending your enemy | Juan Martinez | TEDxMarionCorrectional 2013

Juan M. Martinez Jr. is grateful to be a Texican hailing from San Benito, Texas. He works with digital audio every day so believes his recommendation to listen to absolutely anything by The Smiths should carry weight. He is overly committed to his worst habit... procrastination, except for early in the morning when he can't wait for a hot shower to start the day. Juan can't wait to spend the day with his children on a golf course, or anywhere as long as he is around his kids. He believes anything worth doing is worth doing twice... or three times; and his hobby is finding obsessive compulsive behavior in others. He is taking the stage to show what is possible to others in prison. After TEDxMarionCorrectional he will continue to focus on developing a closer relationship with his children.

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Higher consciousness | Jamson Evolving | TEDxMarionCorrectional 2013

The band Jamson Evolving was started outside of prison by Nick Lombardi and in its present form includes bassist Chris Williams and drummer Lee Andrews. Guitarist/singer-songwriter Nick Lombardi has been playing music for 20 years. He considers his musical style to be in the jam-band genre (Grateful Dead, Phish, etc.) He's also pursuing a career in 3D animation and hopes to apply that to music; similar to the work of Disney, Looney Tunes, & Pink Floyd's The Wall Tour. Lee Andrews has been a musician for 20 years. He plays drums in heavy metal/rock bands. He is also a gifted and up-and-coming singer/song-writer as well as guitarist in country music. Chris Williams has been playing music for 35 years. He is an exceptionally talented guitar player and also plays bass. He likes to focus on rock music. Check out Jamson Evolving on Facebook.

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One cik cypher | Deryk Bankston | TEDxMarionCorrectional 2013

Deryk Charles Bankston is an animator, but not in the way you think. He considers himself...a big deal and enjoys being the center of attention if only to show how to turn the little struggles we face each day into little triumphs we accomplish each day. When he wakes up in the morning, he makes sure it's after 10 AM or hits the snooze button, or just throws the clock across the room. Deryk's smile is his secret weapon, warding off unhappiness wherever he goes. Sometimes, on those sleepless nights, he ponders how they get the tootsie roll inside the tootsie pop. He is taking the stage to Razzle Moth$%^&*ken' Dazzle 'em. After TEDxMarionCorrectional he will be taking his dancing to the H.N.L.-you know, a "Whole 'Nutha Level" and ride his wave of rock star until the people stop doing the stadium wave everywhere he goes.The Conglomeration includes b-boys Kayin"Sketch" Glover and Jason "Tokoyo" Jennings.

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Fade away | Money City Entertainment |TEDxMarionCorrectional 2013

Money City Entertainment is a record label created by Tavaris "T.V." Cummings in 2011. M.C.E.'s music is focused on delivering a positive message to our youth in a way that they can relate. The members are T.V., who is passionate about becoming a voice for awareness and reason all through God; and Jeremiah "Jai-Luva" Hall, who is an advocate for change. After waking up with his latest music creation on his mind, T.V. can't wait to get into the studio. He hopes his music can alleviate some of the loneliness in the world. Jai-Luva, a young Christian, uses his music as an audio journal to shed light on some of life's cloudy situations. M.C.E. spreads the message of dignity, courage to be different, positive reinforcement, and a spiritual connection with the God of your understanding. After TEDxMarionCorrectional, they are going to prepare for future performances and continue seeking growth.

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