Why would you put a baby behind bars? | Soledad O'Brien | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
One in 10 women are entering prison while pregnant. Scores of others have children left behind. What happens when a child is serving a sentence for a crime they didn’t commit? Soledad explores solutions to America’s broken prison families, including a program at Washington Corrections Center for Women that keeps mothers and babies together while they both grow — in their separate ways. Could this be the answer to the problem of broken families? Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning journalist who founded the Starfish Media Group in 2013. SMG is a multi-platform media production and distribution company, dedicated to human stories that sometimes tackle divisive social issues. O’Brien was previously an anchor for CNN, where she hosted two shows, numerous specials, covered breaking news around the globe, and created the documentary series In America. O’Brien and SMG continue to produce Black in America for CNN. She also reports and produces documentaries and segments for Al Jazeera America, HBO Real Sports, National Geographic and others.
Everybody includes you | Starr Lake | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
Starr identifies giving as way to touch a life and lend a hand, no matter where you are in the world. Just imagine! Starr is actively working toward her associate degree through the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound. She works in the Braille Program and is involved in many other activities. To Starr, life is about living the best life you can and being the best you can possibly be regardless of where you are and what the circumstances. Life is not just about you, but about the connections you make with others.
Undefinable relationship | Michelle Gunderson + Sheila Pessinguia | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
Life is a journey that constantly changes and can shift direction at any time. How we handle the changes along the way can significantly shape our future. I once heard a saying that defines a time in my life that really did take an unexpected shift in direction: “Stand up for what you believe in, even if you are standing alone.” It is something that I try and remember each and every time I am faced with challenges in life. Michelle Gunderson is 34 years old. She was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up loving the outdoors. Camping is one of her favorite pastimes. Michelle is competitive and finds great joy while playing sports. She is a nationally certified Braille transcriber. She is a leader, a problem solver, and a motivator. Michelle is a warrior. She has the ability to persevere through any circumstance. Sheila Pessinguia grew up in the Pacific Northwest, completed my bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of Arizona and my master’s degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. I am currently employed as a Juvenile Probation Supervisor.
Coming to a neighborhood near you | Marriam Oliver | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
Marriam points us to the essential qualities of a good neighbor, and challenges communities to reevaluate their preconceived notions. Marriam had an active childhood playing basketball, volleyball, and taekwondo. One of Marriam’s greatest achievements is receiving two AmeriCorps scholarships, and she’s currently working on her associate degree through the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound. Marriam also uses her incarceration to speak with teens about making positive choices. Marriam believes our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
Just sayin’ | Laurel Rayburn | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
My talk emerged out of my years of experience teaching college courses inside the prison. I address the assumption that so many hold about our students — that their status as “prisoners” is the most crucial aspect of their identities, arguing instead that we are misguided as long as we think of our students inside the prison as fundamentally different from our students on the outside. My vision for my students is that they be taken seriously as academics, that no one is to question them otherwise, and that their identities as students become a way for them to rupture the bounds of the selves they thought they knew. Laurel Rayburn received her doctorate in English from Brown University in 2012, where she completed a dissertation on 20th century American lyric poetry. She teaches academic writing for the Harvard Extension School and Freedom Education Project Puget Sound, a college program at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. She is also a dedicated yoga teacher and practitioner.
Power and destiny | Mary Yu | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
Justice Yu encourages us to identify our barriers and the stepping stones to overcome. She believes failure is not an end but a means to reach our destiny and that we all have the power to change and develop as full human beings. Mary I. Yu was appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court by Governor Jay Inslee on May 1, 2014, after serving 14 years as a trial court judge in King County Superior Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was the Deputy Chief of Staff to King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and the Director of the Peace and Social Justice Office for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Justice Yu earned a bachelor’s degree in Theology from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, a master’s degree in Religious Studies from Mundelein of Loyola University in Chicago and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame. A frequent speaker for legal education seminars, Justice Yu is also active in a variety of community and professional activities.
Wait a minute man, what you trippin’ for? | Ashly Eli | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
This speaker believes we can change our world by moving beyond our masks and talking about peaceful resolutions. Ashly acknowledges violence is never the answer. Born in Butte, Montana, I was a “Cinderella” child, caring for my siblings and household chores. At age 14 and 18, it was fun to be Mommy, but difficult to be a teenager. We did well and purchased our first home, yet I ran from my problems. My life motto was optimism. I live spiritually and morally, working hard. My goal is to persevere in helping all.
Everybody out of the box | C. Carroll | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
This speaker talks about transcending the traditional gender boxes, which are a foundational portion of the consensus reality map of Western culture. I am an idealist. I believe people are basically good and do the best they can with what they know. I have worked as a manager, a therapist, a consultant, a trainer and a coach. I found people had the same basic needs to love and be loved and have purpose in their lives, with similar experiences of sadness, loss and joy. I am also a philosopher. I believe that we see the world that we believe in, and our mind map of reality is created by our early life experiences and our society.
What’s the difference? | Chris Hubert | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
Chris Hubert talks about his professional experiences and acknowledges the differences in working with male and female offenders. He promotes a shift in thinking. In a little over 27 years of public service, I have seen many shifts in philosophy, training, and implementation. I’m excited to see the Washington State Department of Corrections continuing to innovate in the area of gender responsiveness by embracing the best research and practices so that our department remains a recognized leader in evidence-based corrections. I was born in Texas almost 57 years ago. I have traveled a lot, mostly in America. My experiences range from a fairly well-off upbringing to being homeless, more than once, to being rich now. I consider myself rich because I have a family I love and who loves me as well as a home and career I really like and take pride in. I love my pets and enjoy hobbies such as reading and woodworking with reclaimed lumber. Having had times in my life when I had almost nothing, I am all the more appreciative of what I have now.
Summon your courage! | Cathryn Cummings | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
I am telling a bit about my story: being one of the first woman ministers and the obstacles that presented; also being defrocked by the church for being gay, and how I responded to that challenge. I am asking the audience to summon their own courage to be all they are meant to be! Cathryn’s favorite pastime is eating popcorn while sharing deeply with someone. She lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, with her life partner. She graduated from Whitworth University and Princeton Seminary. Her two grown kids are amazing and live in Washington, D.C. and California. She loves life.
The hard stuff | Felice Davis | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
Felice Davis proposes that being authentic and talking about who we truly are, without fear of our secrets, assists in creating a trusting world. She suggests we can help victims become survivors by providing a place where it feels safe to share our secrets. Felice has worked for the Washington State Department of Corrections in a wide range of roles and is currently the Associate Superintendent of Programs at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. Davis has worked in both sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy and has a well established rapport with stakeholders in the Pierce County area. This includes nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, other government agencies and private businesses. Her drive to help at-risk populations extends to her volunteer activities as well. Davis is an active community volunteer who has dedicated time to serving people experiencing homelessness. Davis has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the University of Washington, which provided her with a thorough understanding of the social issues that may cause incarceration and the impact of recidivism on local communities.
Are you thinking about justice reform? | Dan Satterberg | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
Dan Satterberg asks us to think about the by products of mass incarceration and whether we will continue to build and fill prisons or seek solution strategies for reform. He suggests that the criminal justice system, judges, legislators, prosecutors, and citizens step back and look more broadly at the collateral consequences of incarceration and investigate alternatives for each. Dan Satterberg was elected King County Prosecuting Attorney in Washington state in November 2007. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office employs more than 225 attorneys, 240 staff, and has a budget of nearly $68 million. Before 1990, Dan was a trial attorney in the Criminal Division, where he spent rotations in the Special Assault Unit, Drug Unit, and served as the office’s first gang prosecutor in 1988. Dan was born and raised in South King County and attended Highline High School. He graduated from the University of Washington Law School, where he met his wife Linda, a corporate lawyer.
Judging societies by women’s prisons | Emily Salisbury | TEDxWashingtonCorrectionsCenterforWomen 2015
Dr. Salisbury asks people to consider the positive social impacts that can occur by adopting policies and procedures in prisons that start with women in mind. Given that women inmates are oftentimes dismissed or ignored among prisons systems, Salisbury illustrates the social and legal consequences of placing policies on women inmates that were originally designed for men. Fortunately, gender-responsive strategies exist to help agencies adopt more effective policies, creating a safer society for all of us. Emily J. Salisbury is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Salisbury’s primary research interests include correctional assessment and treatment intervention strategies, with a particular focus on female offenders and gender-responsive policy. She was the project director of two research sites that developed and validated the Women’s Risk/Needs Assessment instruments, which is a series of correctional assessments specifically designed to treat the needs of justice-involved women.
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