How do we care for people trapped in a broken system and still take care of ourselves? This is the question Alida poses to Jennifer Soble, a former public defender, lawyer, and the founder of the Illinois Prison Project. Jennifer’s organization is striving to update the outdated and oppressive laws that govern the U.S. prison system, helping prisoners serving long-term sentences who deserve freedom. 

Jennifer shares how care work for a hidden population can affect the self and the system as a whole:

• Questioning the factors that have kept our laws archaic
• Assisting prisoners for whom legal council has been largely inaccessible
• Addressing the secondary trauma in helping people who have experienced violence
• Challenging the strategic design of a system built to keep people in, not help them leave

Important resources from this episode:

• Illinois Prison Project website - https://www.illinoisprisonproject.org/ 
• Learn about and support IPP’s projects -https://www.ippaction.org/  
• Illinois Prison Project on Twitter - https://twitter.com/ILPrisonProject   
• Illinois Prison Project on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ilprisonproject/ 
• Illinois Prison Project on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ILPrisonProject
• Illinois Prison Project on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ilprisonproject/ 
• Dr. Levin’s Study: Secondary Trauma and Burnout in Attorneys: Effects of Work with Clients Who are Victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse - https://www.mnlcl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Secondary_Trauma_and_Burnout_in_Attorneys_-_Effects_of_Work_with_Clients_Who_are_Victims_of_Domestic_Violence_and_Abuse_Levin_2007.pdf 

Connect with Jennifer: 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jsoble1

Connect With Alida:

• Share your feedback on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alidamw
• Order Alida’s book “Cultures of Belonging: Building Inclusive Organizations That Last” and gain exclusive access to bonus content! - https://bookshop.org/p/books/cultures-of-belonging-building-inclusive-organizations-that-last-alida-miranda-wolff/17372555?ean=9781400229253
• Learn more about Alida Miranda-Wolff - https://alidamirandawolff.com/

Advocate for underrepresented and underserved groups in organizations with Ethos - https://www.ethostalent.com/