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
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Navigating high school isolation through writing workshops during a shift to online learningZoe Dorado -
The challenges and empathy needed for incarcerated individuals during the pandemicStephanie Hammerwold
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Impact of meeting David Gordon and a prison organization on personal change and choicesRosma Karlina
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Influence of Black female mentors during upbringing and education journeyWaleisah Wilson-Menefee
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The impact of personal tragedy and incarceration on a mother's advocacy workLeslie Credle
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Self-discovery through education and understanding systemic issuesPamela Neely
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Advocacy for reparations and reflections on systemic injustice in ChicagoDarrell Cannon
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Core personal values shaped by love, forgiveness, faith, education, and familyYolanda Johnson-Peterkin
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Development and impact of the AAACC program in prison reform effortsMichael Anderson
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Reflections on understanding and overcoming societal divides in early lifeCharlotte Garnes
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Balancing work within formal organizations and personal community involvementDana Talbot
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Experiences and challenges during incarceration and rehabilitation effortsSappho Fulton
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Experiences and challenges with the Illinois murder registry systemLa Tanya Jenifor-Sublett
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The origin of advocacy work for women post-incarcerationTonie Willis
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Building solidarity and support among women through open communication and collaborationRobin Turner
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Integrating trans women into a prison advocacy group and addressing internal transphobiaJames King
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Overcoming initial challenges in public speaking and advocacy workDavid Ayala
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Counseling women in prison and personal growth through shared experiencesKatrina Butler
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Coping with an abusive and strict parent through sibling support and humorJoseph Hankins
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Encouraging involvement in prison organizational structures and personal change through participationJane Dorotik
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Reflecting on the impact of the 1992 Los Angeles uprisings during childhoodAmber-Rose Howard
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Advocacy against the death penalty and efforts for a moratorium in IllinoisBill Ryan
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Finding strength and purpose while in solitary confinement through advocacy and community supportEddy Zheng
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Evading capture during a prison riot and witnessing the warden's responseDanny Dandridge
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Hopes for a legacy focused on community, love, and truthSharon White-Harrigan
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The importance of civic engagement and voting educationDena Dickerson
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Advocacy for police reform and justice for victims of police violenceTaquittee Sheree Cross
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Unexpected experiences and connections during time in prisonTiffany Vulcain
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Making early life decisions and prioritizing family over education and military careerRegnarian Jenkins
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Advocacy and activism within the prison systemKelly Savage-Rodriguez
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Personal transformation and inspiration from supportive mentors during reentry from incarcerationCassandra Severe
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Experiences of trauma and coping through poetry after a hospital stayMaria Moon
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Challenges of implementing gender-responsive programs in prisons and advocating for women's educationLinda Small
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Key qualities for future organizers to sustain and propel movements forwardGlenn Martin
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Connecting domestic and international efforts in human rights and prisoner liberation movementsBrian Kaneda
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Formation and impact of the Renaldo Hudson Mercy CommitteeRenaldo Hudson
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Memorable moments and triumphs from involvement in prison work focused on women's education and supportYolanda Johnson-Peterkin
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Addressing fairness and stopping unnecessary dorm inspections in prisonSusan Bustamante
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Skills and strategies for navigating systemic obstacles and improvisation within the prison systemSharon White-Harrigan
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The challenges and dynamics of organizing for change among female inmatesMichelle Clopton
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The importance of addressing early childhood education and mental health in criminal justice reformJames White III
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Explaining the concept of a C-51 in prison contextDanny Dandridge
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Securing employment assistance after incarceration through the Center for Employment OpportunitiesRegnarian Jenkins
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Admiration for a mother's resilience and influence during upbringingJarrell Daniels
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Challenges faced by incarcerated women regarding nutrition, education, and basic needsLinda Small
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Addressing internal divisions and disagreements within an organizationSusan Bustamante
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Learning to fight and lessons on toughness from adolescenceJeffrey Denson
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A cherished childhood memory of peaceful moments spent on a homemade patio swingKatrina Butler
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Reflecting on organizing and education efforts in a reparations movementDarrell Cannon
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Inspiring stories of student achievement against odds in education programsDena Dickerson
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Time spent in solitary confinement over a disciplinary issueTonie Willis
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Gaining media coverage and public platforms to share a personal story while on death rowRenaldo Hudson
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Experiences of racial tension and segregation growing up in GeorgiaCharlotte Garnes
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Surviving and advocating against the conditions in Illinois prisonsDarrell Cannon
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Coping mechanisms and substance use among incarcerated individualsJeffrey Denson
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The emergence of a political awakening and organizing international conferences for abolitionDebbie Kilroy
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Perceptions of the likelihood of execution in Illinois during the 1990sStanley Howard
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The impact of the Primary Caretaker Bill on incarcerated parents and their childrenLeslie Credle
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Discussion about involvement and leadership in community organizationsJeffrey Denson
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Educational journey and motivations for becoming a lawyer after incarcerationDebbie Kilroy
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Building a grassroots movement using radio and social mediaKimberly Garner
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Childhood activities and early involvement in social justice and activismJoe Moreno
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Addressing and navigating discrimination and bias in professional environmentsRobin Turner
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Challenges and considerations in providing housing for women and gender nonconforming individuals with childrenYolanda Johnson-Peterkin
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Performing as an inmate band in Illinois prisons and winning battle of the bands competitionsDarrell Cannon
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Community solidarity during the 1968 blizzard and Muhammad Ali's charitable actionsMichael Anderson
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Pursuing a career in laser hair removal and financial struggles during esthetician schoolChanel Rhymes
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Access to family support and resources helped avoid legal consequencesJeffrey Denson
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Experiences with corruption and employment within a correctional facility systemDanny Dandridge
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Vision and future goals for New Breath and racial solidarity initiativesEddy Zheng
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Formative experiences in early life and their impactMaurice Ward
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Advocacy and reform efforts within a women's prison settingDebbie Kilroy
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Challenges faced during a court case and maintaining innocenceTiara Cooper
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Advocacy methods and personal journey to community leadership and political candidacyWaleisah Wilson-Menefee
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Legal advocacy strategies for incarcerated individuals seeking releaseTopeka Sam
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Influence of peer group on early career ambitions and choicesKeith Peterkin
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Initiating change by advocating for justice-impacted individuals in prison settingsRegnarian Jenkins
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Advocacy and challenges in addressing life sentences and death row sentencesAlice Kim
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Organizing and managing a letter writing team to directly communicate with CIWJoseph Hankins
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Involvement in organizing protests and efforts to decarcerate during COVID-19 in IllinoisErica Bentley
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The impact of the housing crisis on family and generational wealthZoe Dorado
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The impact of involvement with CCWP on understanding and advocating for social justice and incarcerated womenKelly Savage-Rodriguez
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Advice for incarcerated individuals on self-discovery and community buildingJames King
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Growing up in a small, diverse town in South Georgia during post-segregation eraCharlotte Garnes
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Advocacy for incarcerated women and legislative efforts on domestic violence issuesSusan Bustamante
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Advocacy for abolishing life without parole and the death penaltyJane Dorotik
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Addressing disrespectful behavior in a supportive environmentMichelle Clopton
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Learning from community engagement and leadership experiencesKatrina Butler
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Overcoming a troubled past through education and personal growthSappho Fulton
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Childhood aspirations of becoming an athlete and community sports involvementKeith Peterkin
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