JustUs Ideas Week wraps up in Philadelphia—JLUSA leaders showed up and showed out

The inaugural JustUs Ideas Week is wrapping up today in Philadelphia, with more than 3,000 people registered, 100+ speakers, and dozens of partner organizations, including JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA). This historic gathering reimagined justice convenings by centering people with lived experience of the criminal justice system in this country.

Here are just some of the highlights:

• JLUSA President and CEO DeAnna Hoskins (Leading with Conviction™ 2016) kicked off the week with her opening keynote on Monday morning.



 

• Celia Colón (LwC 2018) and Lauren Johnson (LwC 2016) spoke on a women’s reentry panel, hosted by Angie Martinez.

 

• Dieter Cantu (LwC 2020) spoke on a panel about entrepreneurship.

 

• Kemba Smith (LwC 2019) and JLUSA board member Kwame Kilpatrick spoke on a panel about pardons and redemption.

 

• Nicholas Buckingham (LwC 2017) and former JLUSA team member Erin George spoke on a panel about bail reform.

 

• Reuben Jones (LwC 2017) spoke on a panel about reforming probation and parole.

 

• Washington state Rep. Tarra Simmons (LwC 2018); Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown (LwC 2020); Kentucky State Sen. Keturah Herron (LwC 2019); and Rhode Island state Rep. Cherie Cruz (LwC 2020) all participated in a Tuesday evening “Democracy Forum” on politics uncharted.

 

• JLUSA Policy Analyst Zach Ruppel (LwC 2021) spoke on a panel about “The Price of Justice” regarding the financial barriers for formerly incarcerated people, including excessive fines and fees.

 

• Louis L. Reed (LwC 2017) moderated a panel discussion on “Reframing Justice – Storytelling and Creativity to Transform Narratives on Justice and Reform” that included former JLUSA advisory board member Piper Kerman (author of Orange Is the New Black) and actor Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing).

 

• And finally, JLUSA Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Ronald Simpson-Bey (LwC 2015) moderated a panel discussion on “Unlikely Allies,” featuring Renée Williams (National Center for Victims of Crime) and Andy Potter (One Voice United).

Learn more about how we are elevating issues impacting the 70+ million Americans with lived experience at the Federal level through the JustUS Coordinating Council (JCC) at justuscc.org.

 

(Pictured above, left to right: MIT professor and panel moderator Ceasar L. McDowell; Washington state Rep. Tarra Simmons (Leading with Conviction™ 2018); Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown (LwC 2020); Allegheny County Councilperson, At-Large, Bethany Hallam; Kentucky State Sen. Keturah Herron (LwC 2019); Rhode Island state Rep. Cherie Cruz (LwC 2020); and former Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams)