Stories
Each oral history interview in our archive contains dozens of stories. Explore them here, filtering by topic and collection.
301 stories released to date
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Forming unlikely alliances and advocating for reconciliation and accountabilityRenaldo Hudson -
Inspiration derived from helping women and girls avoid or escape criminalizationDebbie Kilroy
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The goal and broader context of the Street Kids Committee's efforts to prevent criminalizationDebbie Kilroy
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Introduction and early life growing up in historical Brisbane, AustraliaDebbie Kilroy
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Navigating educational experiences as a Black Jehovah's Witness in predominantly white environmentsKatrina Butler
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Conditions for women and children in prisons have remained unchanged over decadesDebbie Kilroy
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Discussing the legal and ethical implications of Murray Hooper’s death sentence in different statesRenaldo Hudson
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Death Row Ten experiences and organization in various prison locationsStanley Howard
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Sources of inspiration for community work during early life and time in prisonRobin Turner
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Fighting for women's access to postsecondary education in prisonLinda Small
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Influential women mentors and their impactRobin Turner
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Post-incarceration organizing and development of Reentry SistersLinda Small
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Learning to be a "good girl" and discovering personal identity later in lifeKatrina Butler
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Experiences and conditions in Ohio Reformatory for Women at MarysvilleRobin Turner
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Being passed over for a death row pardon and the resulting frustrationRonald Kitchen
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Early life curiosity and challenging authorityDebbie Kilroy
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Coping with inmate executions and personal feelings of helplessnessRonald Kitchen
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Engaging Jesse Jackson to amplify the campaign against the death penaltyAlice Kim
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Organizing and successfully performing a spiritual dance team amidst internal challenges and conflictKatrina Butler
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Experiences growing up in the projects and their influence on educational and life goalsRobin Turner
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Lessons learned and advice for women in community organizingRobin Turner
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The surprising sense of community and unexpected kindness on death rowRenaldo Hudson
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Feelings of betrayal on death row and disengaging from toxic individualsRonald Kitchen
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Advocacy for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and girlsDebbie Kilroy
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Challenges and support for formerly incarcerated women globallyDebbie Kilroy
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Realizing and applying prison organizing skills to life outsideRobin Turner
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Overcoming fear of public speaking and becoming a teacher's aide in prisonKatrina Butler
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Experiences with sexism and racism in the construction industrySharon Turner
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Challenges faced by women in maximum security and the impact on health care accessLinda Small
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Mentors and influencers in prisonBleu Inkk Watkins
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Work with the Ohio Organizing Collaborative and creation of Building Freedom Ohio campaignRobin Turner
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Early visits to death row and the concept of solidarityAlice Kim
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Reflecting on freedom, fearlessness, and contentment in the present momentSharon Turner
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Prison classification and an incident leading to solitary confinementSharon Turner
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Ensuring the continuity of advocacy and support for incarcerated womenLinda Small
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Realizing the likelihood of execution following changes in death penalty enforcementStanley Howard
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Retaliation from the government after filing a human rights complaint against the prison systemDebbie Kilroy
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Governor Ryan's moratorium on the death penalty in IllinoisStanley Howard
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Becoming the primary caretaker for a sick parent during adolescenceKatrina Butler
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Proposing restorative justice and community support systems instead of the death penaltyRenaldo Hudson
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The importance of power mapping and respectful collaboration in advocacy workRenaldo Hudson
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Influence of early life struggles on becoming an organizerLinda Small
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The power of collective action and overcoming trust issues among women in prisonRobin Turner
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A childhood memory of moving and the comfort of a mother's friendshipBleu Inkk Watkins
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Addressing negligent healthcare and advocating for fellow inmatesSharon Turner
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Advocating for better medical care and starting the Sisters Inside organizationDebbie Kilroy
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Experience with mentorship and the impact of Bridgette Simpson in organizing workSharon Turner
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Valuing relationships and people over material possessionsDebbie Kilroy
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Gaining knowledge and seeking positive influences while on death rowRonald Kitchen
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Formation and impact of the Renaldo Hudson Mercy CommitteeRenaldo Hudson
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Experiences with dignity and respect during imprisonment, and the struggles of obtaining menstrual productsBleu Inkk Watkins
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Fighting wrongful imprisonment and eventual release of Marvin ReevesRonald Kitchen
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Navigating systemic challenges and prejudice as a Black LGBTQIA woman in a male-dominated environmentBleu Inkk Watkins
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Building trust and addressing conflict among incarcerated womenDebbie Kilroy
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Managing tensions with stakeholders while advocating for a death penalty movement led by death row inmates and their familiesAlice Kim
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First experience on death rowStanley Howard
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Challenges faced while providing support and resources in prisonsBleu Inkk Watkins
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Recalling the moment of being sentenced to death and its immediate impactRenaldo Hudson
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Efforts to create change in women's prison through internal committees and advocacyDebbie Kilroy
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Mixed emotions upon commutation from death to life without parole, reflecting on personal expectations and subsequent effortsRenaldo Hudson
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Experience with over-sentencing, therapy after release, and aiding others' prison releaseSharon Turner
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Challenges related to food quality, education, and gender-specific needs in prisonLinda Small
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Identifying with abolitionist work and inviting Angela Davis to an international conferenceDebbie Kilroy
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Inspirations and challenges in building educational programs in women's prisonsDebbie Kilroy
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Personal transformation and discovering self-worthBleu Inkk Watkins
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Advice for young activists in death penalty states and the importance of acknowledging losses and building relationshipsAlice Kim
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Collaborative efforts and learning about legislation during incarcerationBleu Inkk Watkins
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Challenges and resilience of Sisters Inside amid government oppositionDebbie Kilroy
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Early influences and motivations that shaped activism and community organizing workRobin Turner
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Organizing a longtimer support network in prison to address inmates' needs and advocate for changeLinda Small
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Expectations versus the reality of prison life and the lack of preparation for incarcerationLinda Small
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Mentorship and support from a network of women around the worldDebbie Kilroy
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Early life, upbringing, and family background of ShaiSharon Turner
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Creating and distributing a protest flyer about the Death Row Ten and the challenges faced in doing soStanley Howard
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The importance of community and continuous learningKatrina Butler
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Navigating multiple execution dates and the emotional toll of the appeals processRonald Kitchen
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Impact and expansion of the Change program for women leaving prisonRobin Turner
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Transition from prison to vocational training and addressing discrimination in tradesSharon Turner
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Programs to engage and deter at-risk juveniles from criminal activitySharon Turner
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The impact of mentorship and representation on personal growth and motivationBleu Inkk Watkins
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Expectations versus reality of life in prison influenced by media representationsRobin Turner
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Reflections on legacy and family contributions to American historyKatrina Butler
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Impact on leadership style and communication skillsRobin Turner
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Efforts to gain media coverage and tell his story from death rowRenaldo Hudson
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Evolving friendship and advocacy against the death penalty with Bill RyanRenaldo Hudson
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Philosophy and approach of the Campaign to End the Death PenaltyAlice Kim
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Joining and leading the Death Row Ten group while facing internal challenges and advocating externallyStanley Howard
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Advocacy, legal defense, and decarceration strategies for criminalized and imprisoned women and girlsDebbie Kilroy
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Retaliation and subtle tactics used against community organizers in prisonLinda Small
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Feelings and actions after losing first appeals and discovering new evidenceStanley Howard
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Early life and desires before being arrestedRenaldo Hudson
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Reflecting on conditions and finding hope in life while in the condemned unitStanley Howard
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Courtroom experience, release, and first moments of freedomRonald Kitchen
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Experiences of harassment and manipulation by prison staffBleu Inkk Watkins
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Neglect in correctional healthcare and harsh sentencing for women in GeorgiaSharon Turner
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Support and mentorship from fellow inmates in prisonStanley Howard
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Finding hope and inspiration during years of incarcerationRenaldo Hudson
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Developing a model to prevent women from entering the prison system by working with police and judicial systemsDebbie Kilroy
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Challenges and strategies in pursuing clemency and the impact of political influencesRenaldo Hudson
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The importance of family and community values instilled during upbringingKatrina Butler
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Advice for individuals advocating against the death penalty and fighting for justice from within the prison systemRonald Kitchen
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A cherished childhood memory and personal reflectionKatrina Butler
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Organizing a successful petition to address poor prison conditionsSharon Turner
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Challenges and anxieties faced after release from prisonKatrina Butler
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Challenges and realizations growing up in ComptonBleu Inkk Watkins
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Lessons learned from community organizing and the systemic issues in the carceral systemLinda Small
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Expressing gratitude for shared maternal support and its impact on accomplishmentsRonald Kitchen
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Challenges faced in nonprofit work due to diverse needs and holistic supportKatrina Butler
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Learning self-education, teaching criminal law on death row, and organizing activism against police tortureStanley Howard
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Support and impact of the mothers of the movement for death row inmatesRenaldo Hudson
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Details of the appeals process and experiences with police and legal representation in a capital caseStanley Howard
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Early experiences with drugs and the impact on personal values and addictionSharon Turner
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Path to joining the movement to abolish the death penalty from college activism and key eventsAlice Kim
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Establishing and maintaining maternal relationships during incarceration through communication channelsKatrina Butler
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Reflecting on Murray Hooper’s background and execution in ArizonaRenaldo Hudson
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Collaborations and partnerships pursued during incarcerationLinda Small
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Campaign efforts between Illinois moratorium on executions in 2000 and blanket clemencies in 2003Alice Kim
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Awakening to mission of supporting formerly incarcerated Black women and overcoming stigmaRobin Turner
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The role and activities of the morning crew in the law programRonald Kitchen
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The journey of finding strength and purpose after prisonKatrina Butler
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Advice for incarcerated women on community organizing and initiating changeLinda Small
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Advice for those currently engaged in advocacy workBleu Inkk Watkins
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Influential figures during early life in ComptonBleu Inkk Watkins
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Methods for building solidarity and support among women on important issuesRobin Turner
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Mentorship and community support on death rowRenaldo Hudson
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Challenges and changes in building relationships with death row inmatesAlice Kim
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Evolving career aspirations from engineering to social workRobin Turner
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Growing up in Cabrini-Green and experiencing trauma within the familySharon Turner
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Advocacy for formerly incarcerated women and critique of "lived experience" reformistsDebbie Kilroy
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Coping with the execution of fellow death row inmates and the mission it inspiredRenaldo Hudson
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Mistreatment and neglect of pregnant women and Aboriginal prisoners in correctional facilitiesDebbie Kilroy
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Challenging dangerous one-sided narratives and emphasizing the importance of mitigating factorsRenaldo Hudson
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Advice for women building alliances and support networks for othersRobin Turner
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Realizing the political nature of grassroots prison advocacyLinda Small
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Childhood memories of imaginative play with siblingsBleu Inkk Watkins
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Reading a poem inspired by Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" while on death rowStanley Howard
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Experiencing the shift toward active executions on death row and its impactRenaldo Hudson
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Experiences and unexpected connections on death rowRonald Kitchen
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Facing unjust convictions and navigating the flawed judicial processStanley Howard
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Engaging community support through letter-writing campaignsLinda Small
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Advice for younger self and managing anxiety in activismAlice Kim
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Personal experience as an innocent person on death row and reasons for opposing the death penaltyRonald Kitchen
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Mentorship and education through Cleveland State UniversityRobin Turner
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Explanation of the term "double tap" in the context of prison executionsRonald Kitchen
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Bringing community support programming to women in prison and advocating for legal changesDebbie Kilroy
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Governor Ryan's moratorium on the death penalty and the role of those on death row in influencing itRenaldo Hudson
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Formation and impact of the African American Women Prison AssociationBleu Inkk Watkins
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Personal impact and emotional toll of clemency hearings leading to mass commutationsRenaldo Hudson
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Starting a re-entry program for formerly incarcerated womenRobin Turner
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Becoming socially conscious in prison due to witnessing multiple suicidesBleu Inkk Watkins
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Challenges faced during the parole process and advocacy supportKatrina Butler
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Serving 17 years of life without parole and strategies leading to releaseRenaldo Hudson
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Experiences with institutional racism and resistance in childhoodDebbie Kilroy
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Journey from life coaching to offering free mentoring services to justice-impacted individualsKatrina Butler
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Experience of advocating against chaining and shackling during medical appointments in prisonLinda Small
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Addressing issues of abuse faced by black women in prison and advocating for changeKatrina Butler
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Counseling women in prison and experiencing personal growth through the processKatrina Butler
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Opposition to the death penalty and its inconsistency within U.S. states compared to international normsStanley Howard
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Starting and leading the Atlanta Tradeswomen Network and transition to criminal justice workSharon Turner
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Striving for acceptance and validation while incarceratedKatrina Butler
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Involvement with Governor Deal on criminal justice reform in GeorgiaSharon Turner
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Adjusting to prison life and the shock of a life-altering sentenceStanley Howard
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Community mobilization and strategic influence in securing commissioner supportLinda Small
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Meeting Andrea James and advocating for voter rights and women's incarceration in MaineLinda Small
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Expectations and reality of prison lifeSharon Turner
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The impact of inside and outside organizing on personal growth and family interactionsDebbie Kilroy
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Addressing the desire for retribution and the effectiveness of the death penalty in providing closureRenaldo Hudson
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Remembering Richard Cunningham: A lawyer and friend who deeply cared about his clientsRenaldo Hudson
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Advocating for funding and support for the Women and Girls Centre amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and political challengesDebbie Kilroy
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Life during incarceration and experiences leading to imprisonmentKatrina Butler
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Learning about the governor's moratorium on executions and its impactRenaldo Hudson
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Addressing intersectional issues within a crowded women's prisonLinda Small
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Journey to advocacy and addressing systemic issues in women's prisonsLinda Small
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Educational journey influenced by economic struggles and later rediscovery of education's value during incarcerationLinda Small
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Personal experiences of incarceration and the challenges of confinementLinda Small
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Learning about and joining the Women Transcending Collective Leadership InstituteRobin Turner
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Key moments in the abolition movement in Illinois that inspired hopeStanley Howard
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Disparities Black women face in the prison system regarding racial treatment and access to hair productsBleu Inkk Watkins
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Influences during early years and communal support in later community workDebbie Kilroy
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Union conflicts and advocacy for tradeswomen's rightsSharon Turner
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Formation and efforts of the Death Row Ten at Pontiac Correctional CenterStanley Howard
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Influence of early life experiences on becoming an organizerSharon Turner
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Challenges and strategies in prison education advocacyKatrina Butler
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Key takeaways from organizing with women in prison and reclaiming personal identityKatrina Butler
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Close relationship with lawyer Dick Cunningham and his familyRonald Kitchen
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Prioritizing education while incarcerated to have something to offer after releaseRobin Turner
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The crimes and torture methods of Chicago police officer Jon Burge and his Midnight CrewStanley Howard
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Experiences leading to political activism while incarceratedSharon Turner
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Incidents leading to solitary confinement and infractions in prisonSharon Turner
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Building and growing Reentry Sisters while navigating personal reentry challenges and systemic barriersLinda Small
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Describing the trial and conviction process leading to death rowStanley Howard
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Educational journey and its connection to resistance against oppressionDebbie Kilroy
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