Tarra Simmons is not your average lawmaker. She’s Washington state’s first formerly incarcerated legislator. Her path to the State House – including a traumatic childhood and struggles with substance abuse as an adult – guides her work today. Tarra fights to reduce incarceration and widen access to behavioral and mental health resources. Chris and our producer Moyo Adeolu speak with Tarra about breaking the “concrete ceiling” for the formerly incarcerated. Preview for next week: Coss and Chris sit down with journalist Jesse Vasquez, who found his passion for the written word while spending nearly 20 years behind bars.

Tarra Simmons is not your average lawmaker. She’s Washington state’s first formerly incarcerated legislator. Her path to the State House – including a traumatic childhood and struggles with substance abuse as an adult – guides her work today. Tarra fights to reduce incarceration and widen access to behavioral and mental health resources. Chris and our producer Moyo Adeolu speak with Tarra about breaking the “concrete ceiling” for the formerly incarcerated. Preview for next week: Coss and Chris sit down with journalist Jesse Vasquez, who found his passion for the written word while spending nearly 20 years behind bars.

Tarra Simmons is not your average lawmaker. She’s Washington state’s first formerly incarcerated legislator. Her path to the State House – including a traumatic childhood and struggles with substance abuse as an adult – guides her work today. Tarra fights to reduce incarceration and widen access to behavioral and mental health resources.&nbsp;Chris and our producer Moyo Adeolu speak with Tarra about breaking the “concrete ceiling” for the formerly incarcerated. Preview for next week: Coss and Chris sit down with journalist Jesse Vasquez, who found his passion for the written word while spending nearly 20 years behind bars.

Ep 3  | From Prison to Elected Office with Washington State Lawmaker Tarra Simmons

The Hardest Step is an original podcast from Lost Debate about the power and promise of second chances. Hosted by two brothers from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Chris and Coss Marte, the show’s first season explores the criminal justice system. We’ll talk with people who have had to ask for forgiveness and start again, including those who have committed crimes, been unfairly accused of crimes, and advocates for the incarcerated. 
The Marte brothers understand what it means to start all over again. Coss turned his life around after spending years in prison on drug trafficking charges and founded CONBODY, a fitness center that employs formerly incarcerated instructors. Chris weathered several political defeats before achieving his life-long dream of serving on the New York City Council. While their paths have diverged, they share a firm belief that starting over is the hardest step, and one worth celebrating.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

The Hardest Step is an original podcast from Lost Debate about the power and promise of second chances. Hosted by two brothers from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Chris and Coss Marte, the show’s first season explores the criminal justice system. We’ll talk with people who have had to ask for forgiveness and start again, including those who have committed crimes, been unfairly accused of crimes, and advocates for the incarcerated. The Marte brothers understand what it means to start all over again. Coss turned his life around after spending years in prison on drug trafficking charges and founded CONBODY, a fitness center that employs formerly incarcerated instructors. Chris weathered several political defeats before achieving his life-long dream of serving on the New York City Council. While their paths have diverged, they share a firm belief that starting over is the hardest step, and one worth celebrating.

The Hardest Step is an original podcast from Lost Debate about the power and promise of second chances. Hosted by two brothers from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Chris and Coss Marte, the show’s first season explores the criminal justice system. We’ll talk with people who have had to ask for forgiveness and start again, including those who have committed crimes, been unfairly accused of crimes, and advocates for the incarcerated.&nbsp;
The Marte brothers understand what it means to start all over again. Coss turned his life around after spending years in prison on drug trafficking charges and founded CONBODY, a fitness center that employs formerly incarcerated instructors. Chris weathered several political defeats before achieving his life-long dream of serving on the New York City Council. While their paths have diverged, they share a firm belief that starting over is the hardest step, and one worth celebrating.

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Ep 3 | From Prison to Elected Office with Washington State Lawmaker Tarra Simmons

Ep 3 | From Prison to Elected Office with Washington State Lawmaker Tarra Simmons

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