Marsha Jean-Charles is an alumna of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol and currently both the Lead Organizer and a co-Facilitator of the Liberation Program. Marsha earned her BA in African American Studies from Wesleyan University, her MA in African American Studies from Columbia University and is pursuing a Ph.D in Africana Studies from Cornell University. While pursuing her Ph. D., Marsha taught Introduction to Africana Studies at SUNY Binghamton and African Literature at CUNY City College. https://brotherhood-sistersol.org/

Wendy McClinton is the President and CEO of Black Veterans for Social Justice, a non-profit community-based organization serving men and women veterans, their families and members of the NY community. She is joined by two of her colleagues from BSVJ to talk about the experiences and challenges facing black veterans. As a "one-stop-shop" for those transitioning from active duty to civilian life, they provide services in the areas of social readjustment, housing, employment, disability, medical treatment, and many others. http://www.bvsj.org/

Alejo Rodriguez works for the Exodus Transitional Community in New York and serves as the Mentor and Alumni Coordinator of John Jay College Prisoner Reentry Institute. Prior to joining the PRI community, Alejo's previous criminal justice experience culminated into an extensive background of peer educating, organizing and mentoring. He was also a founding teaching artist member of Tribeca Film Institute's Community Screening Series for incarcerated men. He enjoys the opportunity of Mentor Alumni Coordinator to support the success of formerly incarcerated college students and looking for creative ways to engage students in community building relationships. Alejo received his Masters of Professional Studies degree from New York Theological Seminary and a Bachelors of Liberal Arts degree from Syracuse University. http://www.etcny.org/ https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/prisoner-reentry-institute

Gina and Dr. Seward discuss their experiences helping people who were or are involved in the criminal justice system. Gina's book "In Chains, But Free" explores her relationship with her husband who was incarcerated for many of the years that they were married. It looks at the pain experienced, the growth, the bondages and the ultimate freedom from the world's thinking. Christ's death, burial and resurrection paid for our healing and it paid for us to be free. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. https://www.amazon.com/Chains-but-Free-none/dp/1986007871

Daniel Tolbert is the Clinic Director at Counseling Service of Eastern District New York (CSEDNY), a not-for-profit organization that was founded 30 years ago as one of the first federally-funded treatment alternatives to incarceration. Many of our clients are still referred by federal and state probation and parole, as well as the court systems. In the past decade, CSEDNY has expanded its mission to serve individuals from all walks of life who need effective addiction treatment. Today, CSEDNY treats over 3,000 individuals annually. http://www.csedny.org

Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prisonprovides college education, life skills and re-entry support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women to help them make a positive impact on their own lives, their families and communities, resulting in lower rates of recidivism, incarceration and poverty. Sean Pica is the Executive Director. http://www.hudsonlink.org

Today we visit the National Action Network to talk with mothers who were formerly incarcerated. We discussed societal expectations of women and the stigma they have to deal with after prison, how it affects their relationships with their children, the loss of parental rights, and issues with prison life for women.

Jen Lackard has spent the last decade working with justice-involved populations and empowering communities to organize around social justice issues impacting returning citizens. She is the founder of RegisterNY, Race for Re-Entry, and a New York-based Re-Entry Meetup. Check her out at www.jenlackard.com and www.registerny.org/

Keston is a doctoral student at Yeshiva University researching the impact of father involvement in families of color. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for the Advancement and Rehabilitation of the Marginalized as well as the Fatherhood Program Director at SCO Family of Services. He was recently honored by Citizens Against Recidivism. Learn more at https://www.thefarmny.org and https://sco.org/ or follow Keston on social media @KestonJones

Families, Fathers & Children provides supportive and direct services to children of inmates and their families and assists in re-establishing and strengthening the father-child relationship. Ellen Edelman is the Executive Director.