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Many people play bigger by working to better the lives of those who may have been forgotten by society. The most transformative work often happens in places most of us will never visit — but its effects ripple far beyond their walls.

This episode of Shift Out Loud features 2018 CNN Hero of the Year finalist Ellen Stackable. Ellen is the Executive Director and co-founder of Poetic Justice, a non-profit organization that has helped over 4000 people incarcerated in women’s detention centers the opportunity to process trauma, rewrite personal narratives, and heal through restorative writing and creative arts. 

Our thoughtful conversation digs into unconscious biases, racial justice, isolation, code-switching, and the power of storytelling and community to change lives. Tune in as we discuss how Ellen became interested in the carceral system, the role that hip-hop played in her first programs, and the importance of trauma-informed practice.

Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover:

• What Ellen experienced as a member of the Mercy Farm cult and how she healed after breaking free
• How the AIDS epidemic profoundly shifted her perspective and her path
• How Poetic Justice adapts their programs for different groups and institutions

Guest bio: Ellen Stackable is the Executive Director and co-founder of Poetic Justice, which offers restorative writing and creative arts programs to individuals incarcerated in women’s prisons and jails in Oklahoma, California, Oregon, and Tijuana, Mexico. In 2018, she was one of 10 finalists for CNN Hero of the Year. In 2019, she received the Courage Award given by the University of Oklahoma. In 2024, she was a recipient of the Newsmaker Award from the Tulsa American Women in Communication.

Timestamps:

01:41  Intro
03:01  Meet Ellen Stackable
06:19  Joining & leaving a cult
10:03  The AIDS crisis
14:03  Returning to Tulsa
17:50  Mercy Farm reunion
21:36  Carceral system & the Tulsa Race Riot
24:37  Healing through writing
27:03  Building curriculum
32:45  Code-switching & distance learning
36:28  Creating shifts for others
40:46  Shift to Poetic Justice
44:57  CNN Hero
49:28  What’s next

Links:

Ellen Stackable

poeticjustice.org

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ellen-stackable-11480684

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