NRNRC Black Table Talk

Meet two of the newest members of the NRNRC team, Diamond Ransome and Leandra Jackson. In this episode of Black Table Talk, they share what brought them to the organization, how their own experiences have shaped the way they think about reentry, and what they hope to contribute through their new roles. The conversation also touches on community, second chances, the challenges of rebuilding after incarceration, and the importance of seeing people for who they are—not just their past.

After a decade of incarceration, Leandra Jackson returned home to a world that had changed—and began the process of rebuilding her life. In this episode of Black Table Talk, Leandra shares her reentry journey, from adjusting to technology and reconnecting with others to setting boundaries, finding support, and learning why sometimes moving forward means putting yourself first.

What does it really take to prepare returning citizens for meaningful employment—and what happens when they’re ready but opportunities remain out of reach? In this episode of Black Table Talk, Ready4Work facilitator Thandor Miller discusses workforce preparation, the barriers returning citizens face, and how employers and communities can help create pathways to lasting employment.

Join us for a discussion on multifaceted topics surrounding returning citizens. Our interns dive in on stigma, representation, and what drives initial views on returning citizen, and their experience with running our social media.

Listen in for a conversation between Mr. Sellers, our program coordinator, and Simone Taylor, a client of ours, for her personal stories about her experiences. This emotional and intriguing dialogue is not one to miss, so make sure to give it a listen!

Join us for a discussion on multifaceted topics surrounding returning citizens. Our interns dive in on stigma, representation, and what drives initial views on returning citizen, and their experience with running our social media.

In this episode, our interns dive into a conversation around our Community-Led Preventive Model and book club. The dialogue naturally builds, segueing into interesting topics like being incarcerated during your 20s, addiction, valuable lessons they have learned at this internship, and an interaction they had on H Street. Tune in to hear more!

Coming from Florida, Cassidy, David, and Maryam are stepping into a whole new political landscape in DC. Today’s episode is a dive into our intern’s experience at the DC Council, where they sat in on the hearing for the final budget vote. Tune in for an insightful discussion!

In this insightful conversation, our Policy Director, Zachary Ragone, and our interns discuss their experience visiting the DC Jail. Tune in for an engaging dialogue discussing the realities of the DC Jail and their personal thoughts.

In this episode, we had our Summer 2026 interns; Cassidy, David, and Maryam, introduce themselves, and discuss overarching themes about the prison system. Listen in for an interesting dialogue from a younger generation on topics such as media, their reasons for applying to intern at the NRNRC, their future plans, and more. Moderated by our own, Mr. Ragone.