How TEDx in prison changed lives--including mine

Anne Rice with organizers Mark Powell, Donald Coleman, and Founder Delia Cohen at TEDx Farmington Correctional Center.

I’m Anne, an Advisory Board Member and long-time supporter of Proximity for Justice. On Giving Tuesday, I’m reflecting on a year of volunteering and inviting you to join me in supporting this critical work.

My day job is as an Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Director of Women's and Gender Studies at Lehman College CUNY. I’ve also taught college in New York state prisons for over a decade.

But this past year, I took a sabbatical to work alongside residents, staff, and community members to organize the first-ever TEDx prison events in Virginia and Missouri.

For 10 months, we traveled back and forth, sometimes monthly, to work in partnership with a team of 15 incarcerated people and a staff liaison. Together, we spent entire days preparing for TEDx auditions, coaching speakers and performers, and building relationships in and around the community.

By the end, I saw how close-knit the organizing teams became. Members often shared that the experience made them feel human again. I witnessed countless moments of humanity shining through even the darkest circumstances:

Ensuring one resident returned from solitary confinement to a haircut, a shave, and clean clothes on the day of his professional headshot.

Sending notes to lift each other’s spirits.

Rallying around a speaker when he learned of his father’s passing.

These acts of care often go unseen and unheard, but I wanted to share them. They’re a profound reminder of how meaningful connection can counteract the loneliness and isolation of prison and lead to something truly transformative.

Proximity for Justice is not only about one day or one event. It’s about creating space for relationships that offer hope for the future and a sense of radical possibility.

Since the events, I’ve returned to work and woven this experience into my teaching. My students are now having regular video discussions with the residents at Farmington Correctional Center, exchanging thought-provoking ideas about gender, race, and systemic issues in prison.

Proximity undoubtedly sparks something extraordinary — greater awareness, empathy, and advocacy.

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, join me today in supporting Proximity for Justice. Thanks to a generous $20,000 matching gift from a private donor, every dollar you give will be doubled— creating twice the impact.

Your tax-deductible gift will help amplify participants’ voices and create even more opportunities for successful reentry.