Onward Blog

Tiawana Brown shares her story of going from poverty to Charlotte City Council

By JLUSA

July 18, 2024

Tiawana Brown (Leading with Conviction™ 2020) spoke at the 2024 Wild Goose Festival in Harmony, NC, on a panel about ending mass incarceration.

Kerry Washington’s sitcom UnPrisoned season two available now on streaming

By JLUSA

July 17, 2024

Kerry Washington‘s sitcom UnPrisoned returns on Hulu with all eight episodes of season 2 dropping today!

JLUSA leaders celebrate victory in campaign against new $2 billion Atlanta jail project

By JLUSA

July 16, 2024

“Our communities need resources, not more jails.”

Sing Sing’s Clarence Maclin inspired the film and plays himself in “starmaking” role

By JLUSA

July 12, 2024

Sing Sing opens in limited release on July 12 and an expansion will follow in August.

JustLeadershipUSA Celebrates the Passage of the Federal Prison Oversight Act and Urges President Biden to Sign It Into Law

By JLUSA

July 11, 2024

This week, Congress announced the full passage of the Federal Prison Oversight Act.

Keeda Haynes featured in new short documentary film on second chances

By JLUSA

July 8, 2024

Keeda Haynes (Leading with Conviction™ 2022) featured in documentary film highlighting Shelby County reentry initiatives.

Mark Rice says it’s time to close prisons in Wisconsin and reinvest funds to build communities

By JLUSA

July 5, 2024

Leading with Conviction™ 2017 graduate Mark Rice speaks about closing prisons and reinvesting resources to build people and communities.

4 Non Blondes singer Linda Perry on leading karaoke inside women’s prisons

By JLUSA

Linda Perry, the former lead singer of the band 4 Non Blondes, spoke recently about how she would go into women’s prisons and lead karaoke. Watch!

Chivas Watson joins protest at the Supreme Court in D.C. to oppose the death penalty

By JLUSA

July 3, 2024

For his second year in a row, Chivas Watson (Leading with Conviction™ 2023) joined an anti-death penalty protest at the Supreme Court. Watch!

Marcus Kelley joins calls for criminal justice reform in Michigan

By JLUSA

July 1, 2024

Marcus Kelley (Leading with Conviction™ 2024 participant) spoke recently at a Rally for Reform event in Michigan.

JustLeadershipUSA Speaks Out Against Grants Pass Decision for Persons Who are Unhoused

By JLUSA

June 28, 2024

Today, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that will have dire consequences for the basic notion that housing is a human right.

DeAnna Hoskins speaks to NPR’s “All Things Considered” about women in prisons and jails

By JLUSA

DeAnna Hoskins spoke recently with NPR’s All Things Considered about the disparate impact on women in prisons and jails. Listen now.