Jacob, Erik, and Imani sit down with Azzie to hear about her experience growing up around crime and ultimately serving two separate prison sentences before finally turning her life around. She shares insight into the unique challenges faced today by incarcerated women, the fastest-growing segment of the US prison population. Azzie is a proud mother who is now thriving as a Creative Designer at Rebel Nell (http://rebelnell.com), a Detroit-based company that helps disadvantaged women transition into self-sustained living by turning fallen chips of graffiti paint into beautiful jewelry.

Find links for all mentioned programs at http://thereturningcitizen.org

Jacob and Imani connect with Phil Telfeyan, Executive Director for Equal Justice Under Law, a national civil rights organization based in Washington, DC. Phil explains how they recently filed a class action lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson for suspending driver's licenses of people who are too poor to pay the debts they owe the state for traffic violations or court costs. The two named plaintiffs are both residents of Detroit.

More details of the case can be found here: http://equaljusticeunderlaw.org/wp/current-cases/protecting-rights-drivers-poor/

Find links for all mentioned programs at http://thereturningcitizen.org

Jacob, Erik, and Imani chat with members of the Prison Creative Arts Project, a Michigan-based program that "brings those impacted by the justice system and the University of Michigan community into artistic collaboration for mutual learning and growth."

GUESTS:

- Janie Paul (Senior Curator & Co-Founder, PCAP's Art Exhibition)

- Michael Vander Horst (Artist, PCAP Member)

- Larnell E. Johnson (Artist, PCAP Member)

PROGRAMS MENTIONED:

- The Returning Citizen - http://thereturningcitizen.org

- Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) - http://prisonarts.org

- The Linkage Project - http://lsa.umich.edu/pcap/family-and-reentry/linkage-project.html

CONTACT US:

- [email protected]

Jacob and Erik welcome home James “Jamo” Thomas, recently released after a 30-year prison term. Despite being sentenced to life without parole at age 15 in 1987, Jamo managed to help start a variety of programs while incarcerated, including The Teddy Bear Project and Writer's Block (links below). As a recently freed man, he's committed to positively impacting his community through mentorship, art, and activism.

GUESTS:

- Anna Kohn (Nonprofit Director, Recovery Park) - [email protected]

- James “Jamo” Thomas (Writer, Activist, returning citizen)

PROGRAMS MENTIONED:

- The Returning Citizen - http://thereturningcitizen.org

- Recovery Park - http://recoverypark.org

- Writer's Block - http://hamtramckfreeschool.org/incarcerated-archive/

- The New Yorker video on Writer's Block- https://vimeo.com/152024519

- Hamtramck Free School - http://hamtramckfreeschool.org/

- FAMM (Families against Mandatory Minimums)- http://famm.org/

- Chance for Life - http://chanceforlifeonline.org/

- Returning Citizen's Task Force - http://detroitmi.gov/Government/City-Council/Jane-eacute-L-Ayers/Returning-Citizens-Task-Force

- Chance for Life - http://chanceforlifeonline.org

- Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) - http://prisonarts.org

- Ciao Line (Anna Kohn's curated list of job opportunities for returning citizens in the Detroit area) - http://facebook.com/groups/ciaoline

CONTACT US:

- [email protected]

Jacob and guest host Brandon sit down with Detroit's own Anna Kohn to discuss how RecoveryPark Farms is putting returning citizens to work growing produce in Detroit!

GUESTS:

- Anna Kohn ([email protected])

- Brandon Christopher ([email protected])

LINKS:

- The Returning Citizen (http://thereturningcitizen.org)

- Recovery Park (http://recoverypark.org)

- Ciao Line (http://facebook.com/groups/ciaoline)

- Returning Citizen's Task Force (http://detroitmi.gov/Government/City-Council/Jane-eacute-L-Ayers/Returning-Citizens-Task-Force)

- Office of Workforce Development (http://descmiworks.com/returningcitizensproject)

- Citizens Alliance on Prisons & Public Spending (CAPPS) - (http://2015capps.capps-mi.org)

- LUCK, Inc (http://luckincsolutions.org)

- Chance for Life (http://chanceforlifeonline.org)

- CANVASxDetroit (http://facebook.com/canvasxdetroit)

- Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) - (http://prisonarts.org)

- Alex Lockhart is the author of "Black Bananas"

CONTACT US:

- [email protected]

Jacob, Erik, and Imani introduce The Returning Citizen. Erik reflects on why he got life without parole for a nonviolent drug crime, how he got out after 18 years, and what he's been up to since.

CONTACT US:

- [email protected]