Join the Opening Doors LIVE Audience on Tuesday, March 25th, 6:30-8pm, Lower Merion HS, Ardmore PA. Rachel Dalinka hosts Suave Gonzalez, Jeff Abromowitz, and KimPedro Rodriguez for a discussion on Incarceration and Redemption. Register: Main Line School Night.

In this powerful episode of Opening Doors Podcast, Rachel Dalinka speaks with Shakaboona Marshall about his journey of thirty years of incarceration to gaining freedom and leading efforts in prison reform and human rights advocacy. Shakaboona shares his personal story of being sentenced to life as a juvenile. He discusses the fight for freedom through the Miller v. Alabama Supreme Court ruling. He explains his transition to community activism upon release. Shakaboona is the Executive Director of the Human Rights Coalition, an organization dedicated to empowering families of incarcerated individuals and exposing inhumane prison conditions. The conversation highlights the impact of systemic injustices, the fight against for-profit prisons, and the urgent need for second chances. We also discuss The Human Rights Coalition's inspiring awards ceremony recognizing justice-impacted individuals who are leading change in their communities.

Key Takeaways:

The Human Rights Coalition fights for incarcerated individuals and their families, advocating for systemic change.
The Miller v. Alabama case led to the release of many juvenile lifers, highlighting the flaws in extreme sentencing.
Mass incarceration disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, reinforcing racial and class-based discrimination.
Environmental justice is a crucial but overlooked issue within prison systems, with many facilities built on toxic sites.
The fight against the for-profit prison industrial complex is necessary for a fairer justice system.
The True Faces of Second Chances awards celebrate formerly incarcerated individuals making a positive impact.
Barriers such as employment restrictions, lack of identification, and housing discrimination make reentry challenging.

Resources & Links:

Learn more about the Human Rights Coalition and its work: https://www.hrcoalition.org/
The W.E.B. Du Bois Movement School for Abolition & Reconstruction: https://abolitionschool.org/

Books:

Support Groups-Resources:

Grief Support Resources for Parents Who Have Lost Children to Gun Violence: https://judishouse.org/childhood-bereavement/gun-violence/
The Compassionate Friends non-profit organization exists to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process: https://www.compassionatefriends.org/
Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families: https://adultchildren.org/meeting-search/
Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA): https://coda.org/
Children of Incarcerated Parents: CAP4Kids -Philadelphia: https://cap4kids.org/philadelphia/parent-handouts/parenting-foster-care-adoption/incarceration-resources/
Rainbows for All Children: https://rainbows.org/

Support for Children dealing with Grief from many traumas, including incarcerated parents:

We Got Us Now: https://www.wegotusnow.org
National Resource Center on Children & Families of the Incarcerated – Rutgers Camden: https://nrccfi.camden.rutgers.edu/resources/directory/national-programs/
Youth.Gov: Children of Incarcerated Parents: https://youth.gov/youth-topics/children-of-incarcerated-parents/tools-guides-resources
Sesame Workshop: https://sesameworkshop.org/topics/incarceration/

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Opening Door Podcast Music by John Abella