Walter Ball, TEDx Attica Emcee, Comes Home
Walter and Delia at his homecoming party.
Last month, we celebrated a major milestone: the release of longtime PfJ collaborator Walter Ball, who served 24 ½ years and was tthe unforgettable emcee of our 2019 TEDx Attica event, A Healthy Life. Walter brings heart, humor, and vision to everything he does, both on stage and off. Welcome home, Walter!
Walter shared with us how TEDx Attica transformed his outlook. While incarcerated, he started a nonprofit. Now that he’s home, he’s continuing his mission to uplift young people.
What was your TEDx Attica experience like, and what kind of impact did it have on your life?
My experience doing TEDx Attica was life-changing, to say the least. Knowing all the hours and hard work that went into preparing for the event, seeing the final product was unbelievable. Being the host allowed me to see the event through a completely different lens. I interacted with all the speakers and the guests who were in attendance.
That event expanded my thinking, realizing not only the potential in me but also I can achieve unimaginable things! Who would have ever thought coming from my background and current/past circumstances of being incarcerated this was possible? That event sparked an "I can do anything" mindset, which propelled me to start a nonprofit organization while still incarcerated.
What are your future plans?
The plans I have now that I am released are big. I served a 25-to-life sentence, so I have had lots of time to plan and prepare. While incarcerated, I found my passion, which is helping our youth. Through my nonprofit, I will continue to hold events for young men and women, providing them with the harsh truth about street life and the consequences of it. Also, I will provide them with exposure to new and different experiences like field trips to businesses so they can see how that business or company functions. I believe exposing them to new things besides their own neighborhood can spark something they didn't know was in them. And motivate them to focus on achieving that goal.
What do you want people to know about people who are incarcerated?
I want people to know that people incarcerated aren't the worst thing they've done, or what brought them to prison. There are men and women who have made a bad decision and are bettering themselves through education, introspection, and or therapeutic programing. Over 90% of those incarcerated will be released one day. How they grow and their transformation is important because they could potentially be your neighbor. Having necessary tools for reentry is vital to someone returning home’s success. Shelter is paramount, in some instances you can not be released without a residence be it shelter or otherwise. Being able to access clothing, open a bank account, all necessities to establish a solid foundation. And of course, being able to obtain employment.
How can people best support those returning home from prison?
The best way people can support those returning home from prison is seeing them as assets instead of liabilities. When society begins to change how they view those incarcerated – that's when the true support can begin.