Let's Talk Reform

TW: Sexual Assault, Mental Health, Substance-Use Disorder

In this episode of Let's Talk Reform, Riya Dange and Nuha Naqvi talk with Kandia Milton and Amanda Hall, the Policy Director and Campaign Director for Dream Corps JUSTICE, about culture change in the criminal justice system. In candid conversation, they discuss Amanda and Kandia's personal experiences in the carceral system, health disparities and the EQUAL Act, and ways that individuals can get involved in the Federal Prison Closure Campaign. 

Learn more about Kandia's work here: https://www.thedreamcorps.org/bio/kandia-milton/

Learn more about Amanda's work here: https://www.thedreamcorps.org/bio/amanda-hall/

Can you handle the truth? In this episode of Let's Talk Reform, Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles delve into the world of investigative journalism with Nicole Lewis, a staff writer for The Marshall Project. Together, they explore the roles of writers and journalists in uncovering social injustices and holding power to account. Then they hone in specifically on the American incarceration system, covering felony disenfranchisement and the devastating impact of COVID-19 in prisons. 

To learn more about Nicole's work and the pervasive effects of COVID-19 in the American prison system, please visit: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/23/how-we-survived-covid-19-in-prison 

You can also read Nicole's most recent article on voting rights for incarcerated persons here: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/06/23/millions-of-people-with-felonies-can-now-vote-most-don-t-know-it

How far does the Hippocratic Oath extend? When incoming medical students swear to "do no harm or injustice" to their patients, are they shouldering a responsibility to speak out against social injustices as well as provide medical care? Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles tackle these crucial questions alongside Dr. Edjah Nduom, a Black neurosurgical oncologist and associate professor at the Emory School of Medicine. Together, they trace Dr. Nduom's journey from medical student to attending physician and how he came to found Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform, an organization that unites doctors across specialties to advocate against the health disparities created by the American incarceration system. Their conversation explores the complexities of pursuing a successful career in medicine as a member of an underrepresented minority group and the critical roles that health care professionals can play in dismantling social injustices.

To learn more about Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform, please visit: https://pfcjreform.org/

Welcome to another episode of Season 2 of Let's Talk Reform! In our second episode, Riya Dange and Jenna Kanner talk with Katherin Hervey, the director, writer, and producer of the documentary The Prison Within. Hervey's experience as a Los Angeles Public Defender and volunteer prison college instructor inspired her to look into the intricacies of the injustices in the prison system. In the film, viewers get to know a group of men convicted of murder and involved in the Victim-Offender Educational Group. Our conversation explores sociopolitical factors contributing to mass incarceration and the benefit of restorative justice programs. 

To watch the trailer of The Prison Within, please visit: https://vimeo.com/190048873

Welcome to Season 2 of Let's Talk Reform! In the first episode of our new season, Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles address the role police have played in harming vulnerable communities of color, a pattern which has garnered more global attention than ever in the past year. They speak with Lisa Broderick, Executive Director of Police2Peace. A business and technology CEO by training, Broderick was inspired by a “vision" at the beach to reimagine the role of police in communities. This conversation explores how police officers can lead social justice initiatives, how the relationships between police and vulnerable communities can be improved, and how police in America can make the shift from “police officers” to “peace officers.”

For more information on Police2Peace, please visit: https://police2peace.com/

After a mid-season hiatus, we are finally back! In Episode 6, Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles speak with lawyer and human rights activist Angelo Pinto. A founding member of Until Freedom and Justice League NYC, Pinto shares his advocacy work leading a criminal justice task force and engaging in last summer’s BLM protests on the front line. Their conversation explores the devastating impact of juveniles being sentenced as adults in the criminal justice system and ways that budding activists can engage with these issues effective immediately.

For more information on Justice League NYC, please visit: https://www.gatheringforjustice.org/justiceleaguenyc

In Episode 5, Nuha Naqvi and Jenna Kanner delve into the stark differences in educational opportunities and structure for children in affluent and impoverished neighborhoods, as well as the disparities that exist by race. They are joined by Dr. Jason Ottley, a race scholar and founder of The Bond Educational Group, which strives to promote greater inclusivity and representation through the American education system and entrepreneurship.

More information on The Bond Educational Group: https://thebond.org/

In Episode 4, Jenna Kanner and Nuha Naqvi discuss the need for diverse representation and equity in education with Dr. Daryl Howard, a public school educator and equity specialist in Montgomery County Public Schools as well as a leadership team member of the Building Our Network of Diversity (BOND) Project. The BOND Project is an affinity group focused on the recruitment, development, support, and retention of male educators of color at all grade levels through professional enrichment, mentoring, scholarship, and fellowship activities.

Dr. Howard shares his expertise on social emotional learning and the study of race & gender equity in education. His book "Complex People: Insights at the Intersection of Black Culture and American Social Life" can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Complex-People-Insights-Intersection-American/dp/0996115153

For more information on the BOND Project, please visit: https://bondeducators.org

In Episode 3, Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles tackle drug criminalization policies with Maritza Perez, the Director of the Office of National Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance. They explore how current drug policies disproportionately target people of color and discuss Maritza’s work confronting the issue through legislative advocacy. As you listen to this episode, consider: what might change if we framed drug use as a public health issue instead of a legal offense? 

For more information about the Drug Policy Alliance, see: https://www.drugpolicy.org  

To read the DPA’s open letter on decriminalizing marijuana, written alongside researchers, academics, clinicians, and public health organizations, please see: https://www.drugpolicy.org/MORE-PublicHealth

In Episode 2, Nuha Naqvi and Brice Calco sit down with Marcy Mistrett, CEO of the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ). We dive right into the advocacy work of CFYJ as it intersects with the Black Lives Matter movement. We discuss current policies that funnel at-risk youth into the prison system and why youth of color are disproportionately arrested and incarcerated. 

CFYJ is a national initiative focused entirely on ending the practice of prosecuting, sentencing, and incarcerating youth under the age of 18 in the adult criminal justice system. In the 15 years since the organization's founding, 40 states and Washington, D.C. have changed their laws making it more difficult to treat non-violent children as adults in the criminal justice system.

More information on CFYJ: http://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/

Catch the first part of the interview on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBAK7mzeqwY