For the season five finale I'm joined by Pastor Carl Day of Culture Changing Christians. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Pastor Carl has his own personal connection to this second chance model he's molded with Beat the Block.

His influence has trickled out beyond his neighborhood and now he can say he's been to the White House, challenged Donald Trump on his "make America great again" statement as it relates to Black Americans and advocated for true community safety and healing particularly for Philadelphians.

To stay connected with Pastor Day you can follow him on Instagram or Twitter. You can also support the work he's doing with Beat the Block as well as his church's ministry work.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

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In honor of Women and Girls Empowerment Day, which falls later this month, I'm excited to bring to you a conversation I had with Founder and Director of the nonprofit Silent Cry, Shawanna Vaughn. This episode comes at the most opportune time because today is the day that Shawanna's nonprofit will host their Women and Girls Empowerment Day in NYC!

At a time where the state of women's rights are in precarious position, Shawanna felt it necessary to bring women together to grant them respite from the realities that lie ahead. At this gathering women and girls will get a chance to indulge in a number of self care activities from crafting their own jewelry to creating vision boards and even receiving access to legal and housing resources. Shawanna imagined this as an opportunity for women and girls alike to relax, enjoy the company of one another and come away feeling more empowered after having shown up.

In today's episode, Shawanna and I discuss today's event, her story and vision for the future of justice work. From the policy she crafted called the Post Traumatic Prison Disorder to her adamant advocacy for us all to stand behind VP Harris in this upcoming election.

To support Shawanna and her work, you can visit her website here and either donate to support the passing of the legislation she crafted or to support the immediate needs of women by purchasing items from her Amazon wishlist. You can also stay up-to-date with her by following her on Instagram. For anyone interested in stopping by the Women and Girls Empowerment Day, it will be taking place at 147 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10026 from 3pm-6pm. All are welcome!

Psalm 126:5

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 

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In January of this year, The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Institute for Human Rights Blog released this statement: "Indigenous people are incarcerated in federal and state prisons at over four times the rate of white people". Like many groups of color, Native people are vastly overrepresented in criminal legal system.

In today's episode you'll meet Henry Frank, an Indigenous artist belonging to the Yurok and Pomo Nations. Henry shares his redemptive story that involves a pen, prison and the power of community during his darkest hour. It was through this community and his reengagement with the arts that allowed him to envision a world outside of those prison walls he was once told he would die behind - a vision that ultimately came true.

To learn more about Henry you can visit his website or follow him on Instagram. To support an organization serving systems-impacted Indigenous people, check out Indigenous Justice. Finally, looking for a book to learn more about the plight of Natives in the penal system, purchase Dr. Luana Ross' book here.

Numbers 12:6

He said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.

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In our continued effort to explore creative ways to influence policy change we are fortunate to have this time to hear from abolitionist and disability rights activist, Dara Baldwin. In anticipation of her book release, To Be a Problem: A Black Woman's Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement Dara and I spoke about her work and how it influenced the writing of her book. You can get your copy of To Be a Problem: A Black Woman's Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement on Tuesday, July 9th (**revision** out now!) in stores and online!

Interested in learning more about the disabled community in prison, read this article here. To support Dara and the Center for Disability click here.

John 9:2-3

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

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What would you say to your local officials to convince them to invest more in the arts for the sake of safer more healed communities? One of today's guests said, "I survived by myself in prison. I heal in community." It was the art that allowed Carlos to build community and it is one of the ways that today's guests want to encourage our officials to carefully consider the power of art in policy change. 

In today's episode I'm joined by Editor-in-Chief of Lucky Jefferson 501 (c)(3) nonprofit publishing company on a mission to reimagine a world where social change is impacted by the creative arts. The award-winning publishing company "reforms books and arts education by creating interactive and collaborative community experiences for writers and artists." Today, we discuss one of those most recent interactive community experiences that centers the work talented artists in the city of Chicago. The project is called Beyond the Frame and today you'll hear from not only NaBeela Washington, Editor-in-Chief; you'll also hear from participating artists!

Join in hearing from Marketta Sims, Paxton Murphy and Pablo Mendoza as they everything from their personal journey as artists, the necessity in finding safe space like what was built with Beyond the Frame and how art has the power to transform the lives of those coming home after years of incarceration.

Ezekiel 11:19

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh."

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We're continuing to demystify what it means to be an activist engaged in policy reform with this incredibly insightful interview with Khalil Cumberbatch. Khalil is a nationally recognized advocate for criminal justice and deportation policy reform who serves as the Director of Engagement and Partnerships for the Council on Criminal Justice.

Khalil shares not just his story but the ways in which his past informs the way he advocates for those who are not always in a position to do so for themselves. And while he shares his testimony, he leaves behind a pathway for each of us, especially those who once felt powerless to advocate on their behalf, to see in what ways they can show up in rooms and serve as an informed advocate for themselves and their community.

To learn more about the Council on Criminal Justice, click the link here. Also you can follow the CCJ on Instagram as well as Khalil on Twitter. Be sure to also check out and support the work of Freer Records whose music was featured in today's episode!

To listen to full clips shared in today's episode, you can access it below:

(In order)

The Skin Deep

A&E | Redeemed | Episode 6

Bridge Church | Soul Cafe Series

NACDL | Lessons Learned - Combatting Misinformation Around Bail Reform

Proverbs 11:9

With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

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Today's episode wraps our mental health series with an interview from a talented poet and artist based in Philadelphia, PA.

About 27 years ago, Eddie Ramirez was wrongfully convicted of a crime and it was while he was incarcerated that he began to explore art as a professional. During his time at SCI Phoenix he worked with Mural Arts Philadelphia on a number of projects. Then in November of 2023, Eddie was finally exonerated and has continued to work with the organization that brought him the artistic outlet he needed while inside.

To follow Eddie and his journey you can check him out on instagram here. To learn more about The View from Here click here.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

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Today in prisons all across the country incarcerated journalists are faced with a myriad of challenges when it comes to reporting on and publishing stories. In today's conversation I speak with freelance criminal justice reporter, Khawla Nakua on these barriers and others while also shedding light on organizations and publications that are stepping up to bridge the gap where those barriers present themselves.

To learn more about Khawla and her work, click the link here. If you would like a copy of the book that inspired today's title, Inside This Place, Not of It, purchase your copy by clicking the link here. Finally for those wanting to support press in prisons you can donate from either of the three listed: Scalawag, Empowerment Avenue, and Prison Journalism Project.

Philippians 3:20-21

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

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In today's episode we're taking wellness to the mat, the pilates mat that is. Join me and Lisa Coffee-Smith, Owner and Director of Instructor Training at Total Pilates Studio located in Tulsa Oklahoma. According to the Sentencing Project, as of 2021 Oklahoma had the 3rd largest female incarceration rate in the country. However, at the time that Lisa connected with Resonance, a local nonprofit working with women and families tied up in the penal system, Oklahoma had the highest rate of female incarceration.

In an effort to meet the needs of women impacted by the system in a way that felt authentic to her, Lisa reached out to Resonance and offered her services teaching women coming home the art of pilates. Lisa spent four years prior to the pandemic working with women of all different skill level, creating a safe space for them to heal and feel encouraged to stay committed to something that would make them stronger (physically and mentally). In today's episode Lisa recounts her time instructing women over those four years and how that's shaped her practice even today.

If you would like to stay connected with Lisa you can visit her studio's website at Total Pilates Studio or visit and follow them on Instagram. For anyone interested in supporting Resonance, you can donate to the nonprofit by clicking the link here.

Luke 5:31

Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."

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It’s May which means it’s officially mental health awareness month. In honor of that I bring you a very tranquil episode featuring the founder of a company who spends most of her time out on the water.

Meet Brannon Johnson, Founder and Head Coach of BLJ Community Rowing - the first and only black rowing company in the country. This gem of an organization is making its mark right in Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River where it is not only breaking racial barriers in the sport of rowing but it is also creating space for those that are systems impacted to find their place in the sport without fear of having to seen through the lens of their previous convictions.

Learn about how Brannon prioritizes the health and wellness of the community she serves through this elite sport. Today's episode will feature voices from two of her high school students and author and rower, Arshay Cooper.

To learn more about BLJ Community Rowing you can visit their website or follow them on Instagram. To get a copy of Arshay's book you can find it on Amazon.

Amos 5:24

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

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