Jamala Taylor has successfully overcome a challenging past marked by a lengthy incarceration. He was initially sentenced to a daunting 99-year-to-life term and spent 15 years in solitary confinement at Pelican Bay State Prison/S.H.U. Over his 31-year incarceration in various maximum-security facilities across California, Jamala’s journey took a significant turn when he was granted release on December 30, 2020.

Since his release, Jamala has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from CSU-Fullerton and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in nonprofit management/Public Policy from the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Jamala is also a certified life coach, having completed the rigorous 9-month Coaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation certification program (CHJL). His coaching approach is deeply rooted in the broader social movement, emphasizing organizational and leadership development. Recently, he launched a Coaching and consulting firm called “Amandla.” Jamala consults with various companies around the country on Reentry and Incarceration related training and issues.

In addition to his coaching work, he is an IGP Alumnus and currently serves as the Senior Reentry Manager for Land Together (formerly The Insight Garden program). He is deeply committed to advocacy on behalf of the current and formerly incarcerated , with a particular focus on the unique reentry needs of women of color, solitary confinement, and ending slave labor in prison. His advocacy also highlights the transformative power of nature and education in the lives of those affected by the criminal justice system.

An experienced public speaker and facilitator, Jamala has presented at numerous Universities (including USC, UCLA, UVA, and DOJ) and institutions. His topics range from reentry and the power of education to incarceration, uplifting the needs of women in reentry, and sharing his personal story.