Dan Slepian and Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez
Joining The Army Against Mass Incarceration with Dan Slepian and Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez JJ Velazquez is a justice advocate and public speaker who spent 23 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit before being granted clemency and ultimately exonerated in 2021. A tireless advocate for criminal justice reform, Velazquez works with organizations like […]
Jerry Killedjian
John Koufos
John Koufos: From Prison Cell to Policy Change on Capitol Hill “I heard two booms and saw dust flying in the rearview mirror. My heart sank. I knew my life had changed.” These are the haunting words John Koufos recalls from the night that ended his promising career as a defense attorney. After years of […]
Shaka Senghor
Shaka Senghor: From Solitary Confinement to Redemption Through Writing and Service In the unforgiving world of the American prison system, solitary confinement is often used as a weapon to subdue and punish. Shaka Senghor, who spent seven years in solitary confinement during his 19-year incarceration, describes this experience as deeply dehumanizing. However, despite the mental […]
Danielle Ponder
“We’re spending fortunes arresting people for petty crimes like petty larceny, mostly poor, Black, and Brown individuals. Meanwhile, the real issue is poverty and addiction—services, not cells, would actually make a difference.”-Danielle Ponder Danielle Ponder is a multi-talented musician and former public defender who has made a significant impact in both the legal and entertainment […]
Jessie Rose
Fair Chance Employment At The LA Rams and Bank Of America From the Streets to the Stadium: Jessie Rose’s Incredible Journey from Incarceration to the LA Rams Early Years: A Rocky Start Jessie Rose’s story is one of transformation and redemption. Jessie grew up in a world of constant instability; “Life wasn’t always stable; there […]
