Waltz of desperation | Joey Cook | TEDxPerryvilleCorrectional 2018

The song “Waltz of Desperation” is an original piece written by Joey Cook, and is featured her first album “Hey, I Love You!”, a record that she recorded using only her ukulele and an iPhone in 2012. The song is about uncovering your true colors beneath our calloused exterior, about remembering our past mistakes and experiences and learning from them instead of letting them control our lives. Joey Cook initially rose to fame on Season 14 of American Idol in 2015. Since then she has toured and recorded with the internationally known jazz ensemble, “Postmodern Jukebox”, as well as released her first studio album “Welcome To The Variety Show”. Her much anticipated new record is due to be released in 2018.

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In plain sight: sex trafficking next door | Dominique Roe-Sepowitz | TEDxPerryvilleCorrectiona 2018

As the Director of the Arizona State University Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research and an associate professor in the School of Social Work at ASU, Dominique is all too familiar with the abuse and trauma women and men face when exiting prostitution rings. In addition to teaching, Dominique provides clinical intervention groups for women and men and focuses her research on women and violence with a focus on prostitution and the therapeutic needs for exiting. “It can happen anywhere. There are some things you should be on the lookout for. First of all, if your gut instinct tells you this is not a good person, listen to your body, listen to yourself.”Dominique Roe-Sepowitz is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University and she is the Director of the ASU Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research. Dominique has her Master’s degree and PhD in social work and is a researcher, professor and a forensic social work practitioner. Dominique's research focus is on women and violence with a focus on prostitution and the therapeutic needs for exiting. Her expertise includes sex trafficker profiles, establishing a prevalence of sex buyers, and sex trafficking victim prevention and intervention design. Dominique works very closely with community groups including the Phoenix Police Department, the Phoenix Prosecutor's Office and Catholic Charities DIGNITY programs.

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Living breathing ROI | Valerie Ochoa | TEDxPerryvilleCorrectional 2018

Valerie Ochoa entered Perryville with no prior business acumen and zero experience in the sales and marketing industry. She never imagined the future ahead of her included being a successful sales leader from behind bars. Valerie found solace in Televerde, a company partnered with the Arizona Department of Corrections, which offers employment and skill building to incarcerated women. It was at Televerde that she discovered her natural ability to sell. Valerie describes the pros of utilizing a correctional workforce and the potential she recognized in herself because of this opportunity. “Not only do I believe in myself, but I know that anything is possible and there are no limits on what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it.”

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Journeys of change | Karen Hellman | TEDxPerryvilleCorrectional 2018

As the Division Director for Inmate Programs and Re-Entry for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Karen is familiar with change. Growing up, she never thought she’d work in prison, but LOVES her job, mostly because of the change she gets to witness – and help create. She is all too familiar with the sentiment that if nothing changes, nothing changes and knows the in order for change to happen, you must have, not only the mindset but also the skillset. This goes both for inmates and the Arizona Department of Corrections. “Change is like lightening in a bottle when it happens. I see it happen and see it happen often. In order to create positive change, you need to provide opportunities to both change the mindset and the skillset. Mindset plus skillset equals change a true second chance.” Karen is the Division Director for Inmate Programs and Reentry at the Arizona Department of Corrections. In this capacity, she oversees Education, Counseling and Treatment Services, Religious Services, Arizona Correctional Industries, and Community Corrections. In 1996 she graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with Masters in Forensic Psychology and began working at the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. Karen also worked in the ALPHA Program at the Maricopa County Sherriff’s Department. She joined ADC in 2004 and has held a variety of positions related to addiction treatment before moving into the role she now occupies.

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Not me, anymore | Erica Munoz | TEDxPerryvilleCorrectional 2018

Co-dependent from a young age, Erica Munoz stumbled into a life of abuse, promiscuity and hardship. Seeking the love she never had in her parents, she yearned for a relationship to heal her broken past. A mother of three beautiful boys, she fought to succeed and keep her head above water in a world against her. Suffering through a lifetime of abuse - sexual, physical and emotional - Erica felt isolated from society, living a life she dreamed to escape. With no one willing to listen, to truly understand, she stayed. The abuse, a constant dark cloud, consumed her life until it became a storm that she could no longer run from. In the end she failed herself, her children and went down a dark path leading to her incarceration. Driven to leave Perryville as the best version of herself, she leaned on her faith and changed her life. “I’m not broken anymore. I’m stronger, wiser and more beautiful than ever because God took my broken pieces and made me whole again. I refuse to stay silent. I know my worth and will never go back to what broke me.” She has a strong voice and through the TEDxPerryvilleCorrectional stage, Erica lets others know the importance of believing and listening to survivors of abuse.

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Removing labels | Dominique Goodmond | TEDxPerryvilleCorrectional 2018

Prior to Dominique’s incarceration people would label her as smart, talented and determined. Driven and ambitious, she moved to Arizona to obtain another degree that would enable her to accomplish her goal of becoming a professor at HBCU College. After an accident that derailed her path, she ended up incarcerated. The labels others placed on her became liar, manipulator, and criminal. Dominique tried to tell the world that she was so much more but no one could see beyond her orange outfit. She understood why others felt this way, having carried with her the same preconceived notions when entering Perryville. Having gone through this experience she’s now enlightened with the education, talent and worth of the women within Perryville's walls. “We are educated, talented and amazing women. We are also determined to expose our greatness to the world so they can witness the beauty that is being covered by our orange veil. We will leave prison and accomplish every goal, knock down every barrier that stands in our way while proving to ourselves that we are capable of doing anything!” Through Dominique’s talk, she removes the labels society places on felons, challenging you to do the same.

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Heroin: through the eyes of a younger brother | Tommy Sablan | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2018

Growing up in the 70's and 80's, Tommy was the younger brother of two heroin addicts. Tommy takes you through the different stages of his life as his brothers were going through their addiction. “I am amazed that there's a heroin epidemic that is happening in our schools and community today. I have been given the wisdom to speak to young students and families that are struggling because of the fact I grew up with two brothers that were heroin addicts. I do not preach to not do drugs. People already know that but what I can tell is my family's story and maybe it will help others make better choices in life.” Tommy is a radio and television producer, but most importantly, he is a father of two.

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The value of golden memories | Frank Beltran | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2018

What is the value of a moment? The things we take for granted on a daily basis are the things we desperately search our memories for when they’re gone. When all else is lost, what memories become the most valuable possessions one retains? “Some people view me as a strong extrovert type that they see busy on the prison yard throughout the day. I consider myself just a nerdy introvert who likes philosophy and such. When I am not busy mentoring my self-help groups I attend regularly, I appreciate listening to music to take my mind to places where I can create ideas for drawing. There is currently a backlog of those ideas that just might make my head explode.”

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Why not me? | Carie Covel | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2018

In life, everyone goes through hard times, obstacles and adversity. If we can recognize that our power lies in the response or reaction to that adversity, we can turn bad to good. Carie Covel learned to not wallow in asking why bad things happened to her, but instead to challenge herself to ask “Why not me,” and to focus on how she was going to turn the adversity into opportunity. It is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary. "Of all the hats I wear, my mom hat is my favorite. I have come to accept that bad things happen all the time to good people; how we react to them is what can change the world. I believe we all share a common humanity and am committed to doing what it takes to honor that. My personal perspective is we – all of us – build the culture we live in, so let’s make it the culture we want, not the one that 'has always been.'" Carie has also worked long and hard to get to her Associate Warden position with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and takes pride in the fact that she has an opportunity and obligation to help people, do and be better.

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Second chance parenting | David Pride | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2018

How many of you have the book on how to be a good parent? By taking us on a journey from his childhood to adulthood to parenthood from prison, David confronts the importance of parenting based on children’s personal identities and talents. David also addresses how promising children fall into crime and how at-risk children rise above.“Despite my circumstances, I am an extremely positive, happy-go-lucky and a kind-hearted person. An overly-involved father and loving husband, family is always at the center of my life. I’ve often said that prison has actually saved my life and has given me the blessed opportunity to see things with a clear and sober mind. Today, I can finally focus on a new beginning and turn a dark world into a world of light.”

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Raise my hands | Rheanna Downey | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2018

Rheanna wrote this song in a place of surrender, the kind of surrender in which one knows she is accounted for and taken care of, and she finds herself strengthened through it. Sometimes letting go of having to control every aspect of our lives and simply trusting there are greater forces at work can provide open doors and greater perspective. “I am a mother of two beautiful boys, a wife to my best friend and a musician by passion and trade. I am a deeply introspective human, a dreamer and visionary. I have the privilege of building bridges with my creativity and my heart is to “bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim freedom for the captives.” Creating and playing music allows me to share my life and my story with others so we can inspire one another to be greater humans.” Rheanna is a songwriter and recording artist pursuing many creative ways to share her gift.

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From gangster to grace | Steve Miller | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2018

Bound by the cold concrete and oppressive steel of prison walls, this human cocoon has produced a transformational process from criminal to Christian, achieving self-acceptance and hope. "I describe myself as different in almost every way. I strive to be a student of life and a Man of God, always learning from the things around me. Seeing the good in others and the happiness inside them inspires me to be good-hearted, and always letting my sense of humor shine through. TEDx is a minister of new ideas for change and that’s exactly where I’m at in my own life today."

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Interpreting others’ realities | Jennifer Duffy | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2018

As a 911 dispatcher, Jen faces the everyday trials and tribulations of the different realities people face in their daily lives, whether it is in crisis or otherwise. While connecting on a human level, her job requires her to interpret others’ realities to make an impact and change lives. "I take great joy in spreading great ideas, but it’s even more rewarding to receive them. Being part of a “first responder” team is the perfect job for me, as I’m really nosy and I like to talk a lot. I like to think I’m pretty open-minded and open-hearted, believing that people are generally good. Sometimes we only see the bad around us, but it’s important to be mindful. Take a moment to see all of the beauty and wonder around you."

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Finding the man within | Azeez Momoh | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2018

A vulnerable child, misled by the streets, transforms through self-analysis and reflection, becoming a man redeemed. "I am of the philosophy of love and consideration. I believe that I am seen as rational and fair and my overall aim in this life is to administer compassion to this world abroad by any means necessary. Being on this stage at TEDxDonovanCorrectional is fulfilling a dream of mine to share my personal story with the world with the hope that it reaches someone in a way they have not felt before."

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Butterfly | Eric Genuis | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2017

"Butterfly" is a piece Eric composed for a friend whose only child died in a tragic car accident. He was broken. Eric's desire was to compose music that gave hope in the midst of intense sorrow; that gave comfort to the unconsolable. "The world is a better place when people have hope. Within every person, young or old, rich or poor, is a need for beauty, which makes us human and allows hope to flourish. I create music to touch the heart and soul. I perform my works from concert halls to prisons in order to inspire and awaken hope in everyone."

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Here I am | Eric Genuis | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2017

"Here I Am" is a song of love to Eric's youngest daughter. Anastasia was born with Down's Syndrome and a major defect in her heart. This precious little girl has an unlimited capacity to express affection and give love. This tribute highlights Eric's devotion to this remarkable child."The world is a better place when people have hope. Within every person, young or old, rich or poor, is a need for beauty, which makes us human and allows hope to flourish. I create music to touch the heart and soul. I perform my works from concert halls to prisons in order to inspire and awaken hope in everyone."

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Mercy | Eric Genuis | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2017

While performing concerts in prisons and rehab centers, I have observed that mercy is often a forgotten attribute in our culture. People, particularly the downtrodden, are often marginalized and disregarded. Mercy can be the magnificent spark that ignites the process of restoration and reconciliation. This background informed Eric's composition 'Mercy'. "The world is a better place when people have hope. Within every person, young or old, rich or poor, is a need for beauty, which makes us human and allows hope to flourish. I create music to touch the heart and soul. I perform my works from concert halls to prisons in order to inspire and awaken hope in everyone."

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Dancing instead of crashing | Marcia Hale | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2017

Are there alternatives to crashing into each other through our conflicts? Can we change not only our personal relationships, but our society as a whole by approaching conflict in different ways? Marcia Hale explores these questions as she suggests a way to dance through conflict. "I am an explorer living for moments when my heart opens in new ways – unknown depths most often found with people in conflict, theirs or our own. Harsh edges and razor blades can have a way of pounding or slicing out humanity. I instinctively fear these places, but am intuitively called back to their teaching grounds. My explorer loves new dimensions of understanding, and my soul is enlivened by the authenticity that is revealed."

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Art can save your life | Mario Torero | TEDxDonovanCorrectional 2017

As an “artivist,” Mario Torero is most known over the last forty-five years for an extensive body of socially conscious mural work produced in different cities throughout the United States and around the world. In his talk, Mario explores the local history of Chicano Park and the importance of reclaiming personal power through the creative, healing act of story-telling through art. "I call myself an 'artivist,' passionately devoted to bringing color and socially conscious messages to the walls of communities, especially marginalized neighborhoods that are in dire need of self-expression. Through muralism, I see myself in service of the People, striving in bringing unity and healing through color, art and meaning."

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