Stories
Each oral history interview in our archive contains dozens of stories. Explore them here, filtering by topic and collection.
670 stories released to date
-
Insights on personal growth and understanding through therapy and shared human experiencesStephanie Hammerwold -
Influence of Black female mentors during upbringing and education journeyWaleisah Wilson-Menefee
-
Self-discovery through education and understanding systemic issuesPamela Neely
-
Advocacy for reparations and reflections on systemic injustice in ChicagoDarrell Cannon
-
Core personal values shaped by love, forgiveness, faith, education, and familyYolanda Johnson-Peterkin
-
Reflections on understanding and overcoming societal divides in early lifeCharlotte Garnes
-
Balancing work within formal organizations and personal community involvementDana Talbot
-
Childhood experiences and racial dynamics in Washington, D.C. during historical eventsKimberly Garner
-
Building solidarity and support among women through open communication and collaborationRobin Turner
-
The impact and dynamics of collaborative events on prison rehabilitation effortsJames King
-
Sharing personal coping strategies for stress and seeking inspirationDavid Ayala
-
Counseling women in prison and personal growth through shared experiencesKatrina Butler
-
Building relationships with incarcerated individuals and the impact of commutation effortsJoseph Hankins
-
Encouraging involvement in prison organizational structures and personal change through participationJane Dorotik
-
Advocacy against the death penalty and efforts for a moratorium in IllinoisBill Ryan
-
Finding strength and purpose while in solitary confinement through advocacy and community supportEddy Zheng
-
Evading capture during a prison riot and witnessing the warden's responseDanny Dandridge
-
Hopes for a legacy focused on community, love, and truthSharon White-Harrigan
-
Perspective on freedom after imprisonmentDena Dickerson
-
Educational journey and motivations for becoming a lawyer after incarcerationDebbie Kilroy
-
Unexpected experiences and connections during time in prisonTiffany Vulcain
-
Making early life decisions and prioritizing family over education and military careerRegnarian Jenkins
-
Lessons from working with a community coalition on sustaining progress and engagementKelly Savage-Rodriguez
-
Personal transformation and inspiration from supportive mentors during reentry from incarcerationCassandra Severe
-
Experiences of trauma and coping through poetry after a hospital stayMaria Moon
-
Challenges of implementing gender-responsive programs in prisons and advocating for women's educationLinda Small
-
Journey into organizing and advocacy through Ardella's House and working in addiction treatmentHeather Renn
-
Coalition building and fundraising efforts to construct a prison chapel in MississippiPauline Rodgers
-
Formation and impact of the Renaldo Hudson Mercy CommitteeRenaldo Hudson
-
Memorable moments and triumphs from involvement in prison work focused on women's education and supportYolanda Johnson-Peterkin
-
Skills and strategies for navigating systemic obstacles and improvisation within the prison systemSharon White-Harrigan
-
The challenges and dynamics of organizing for change among female inmatesMichelle Clopton
-
Explaining the concept of a C-51 in prison contextDanny Dandridge
-
Securing employment assistance after incarceration through the Center for Employment OpportunitiesRegnarian Jenkins
-
Challenges faced by incarcerated women regarding nutrition, education, and basic needsLinda Small
-
A cherished childhood memory of peaceful moments spent on a homemade patio swingKatrina Butler
-
Reflecting on organizing and education efforts in a reparations movementDarrell Cannon
-
Motivation for political organizing due to inadequate prison conditions and treatmentClifford Ellis
-
Gaining media coverage and public platforms to share a personal story while on death rowRenaldo Hudson
-
Experiences of racial tension and segregation growing up in GeorgiaCharlotte Garnes
-
Surviving and advocating against the conditions in Illinois prisonsDarrell Cannon
-
Impacts of activism and organizing on personal growth and family dynamicsDebbie Kilroy
-
Perceptions of the likelihood of execution in Illinois during the 1990sStanley Howard
-
Advocacy against incarceration of women and girls and critique of reform agendasDebbie Kilroy
-
Significant experiences during early life including activism and attending protestsJudy Greenspan
-
Childhood activities and early involvement in social justice and activismJoe Moreno
-
Addressing and navigating discrimination and bias in professional environmentsRobin Turner
-
Challenges and considerations in providing housing for women and gender nonconforming individuals with childrenYolanda Johnson-Peterkin
-
Performing as an inmate band in Illinois prisons and winning battle of the bands competitionsDarrell Cannon
-
Pursuing a career in laser hair removal and financial struggles during esthetician schoolChanel Rhymes
-
Experiences with corruption and employment within a correctional facility systemDanny Dandridge
-
Vision and future goals for New Breath and racial solidarity initiativesEddy Zheng
-
Engagement with political organizing and writing initiatives during incarcerationMaurice Ward
-
Advocating for a women and girls center and supporting criminalized women and girlsDebbie Kilroy
-
Early life experiences and their impact on personal development and relationshipsDena Dickerson
-
Advocacy methods and personal journey to community leadership and political candidacyWaleisah Wilson-Menefee
-
Staying connected with and supporting individuals transitioning from prison to community lifeMaurice Ward
-
Influence of peer group on early career ambitions and choicesKeith Peterkin
-
Initiating change by advocating for justice-impacted individuals in prison settingsRegnarian Jenkins
-
Advocacy and challenges in addressing life sentences and death row sentencesAlice Kim
-
Appreciation for Joe's supportive approach to formerly incarcerated individualsJoseph Hankins
-
Experiences of hardship and mistreatment in the county jail and prison systemTaquittee Sheree Cross
-
Overcoming challenges with grammar and writing skills through tutoring and self-improvement effortsTeronia Scott-Campbell
-
Community support and advocacy for incarcerated womenColby Lenz
-
Growing up in a small, diverse town in South Georgia during post-segregation eraCharlotte Garnes
-
Advocacy for abolishing life without parole and the death penaltyJane Dorotik
-
Addressing disrespectful behavior in a supportive environmentMichelle Clopton
-
Learning from community engagement and leadership experiencesKatrina Butler
-
Childhood aspirations of becoming an athlete and community sports involvementKeith Peterkin
-
Challenges faced by women in prison due to poverty and a biased justice systemTeresa Njoroge
-
Long-term representation of a death row inmate in IllinoisCharles Hoffman
-
Potential setbacks related to long-term investment and funding for the agencySharon White-Harrigan
-
Organizing and managing a letter writing team to directly communicate with CIWJoseph Hankins
-
Challenges of growing up in a non-diverse, lower middle class communityLinda Small
-
Involvement with CCWP and experiences at Delancey Street and CCWFJane Dorotik
-
The story of how the interviewees met at a conference in 1967William Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn
-
The impact of storytelling and personal connection in documentariesRenaldo Hudson
-
Organizing against COVID-19 outbreaks at San Quentin and expanding narratives on incarceration and public healthJames King
-
Advice for those entering advocacy and organizing work, including knowing one's limits and balancing personal lifeWaleisah Wilson-Menefee
-
The impact of early grief and loss on career choice as a grief counselorAyana Thomas
-
Childhood experiences of abuse and resilience in Englewood neighborhoodTaquittee Sheree Cross
-
Reutilizing vacant Birmingham schools for transitional homes and community supportKimberly Garner
-
Organizing protests and coordination within the prison systemDanny Dandridge
-
Experiences and challenges with the Illinois murder registry systemLa Tanya Jenifor-Sublett
-
Advice for lifelong organizers on staying motivated amidst challenges and avoiding burnoutWilliam Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn
-
Addressing systemic discrimination through community-building and advocacy effortsCassandra Severe
-
Incidents at San Quentin demonstrating the precariousness of unwittingly violating rulesJames King
-
Experience in incarceration and participation in the Shock Incarceration Program as a mentorKeith Peterkin
-
Connection to nature and the personal importance of spending time in the woodsErica Bentley
-
Racial disparities and discrimination in prison entertainment resourcesRegnarian Jenkins
Load More Stories