Disrupting the Injustice Narrative - Agenda
9:00am-9:15am: Welcome
9:20am-10:10am: How to Advocate for Legislative & Policy Changes
This panel will teach lawyers, social workers and the public how to: (1) utilize the legislative process to achieve changes in law; and, (2) pursue policy changes.
Terry Landry, Jr.- Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
Will Harrell - Senior Policy Counsel at VOTE
Rep. Edward "Ted" James - Louisiana House of Representatives
10:15am-11:45am: Becoming a Justice Watchdog
This panel of judicial watchdogs will illustrate ways that citizens, social workers and lawyers can work as watchdogs towards the ends of achieving justice and accountability for justice-impacted individuals.
Mental Health:
Reverend Anderson- Presenting Resources Effectively, Applying Christlike Humbleness (P.R.E.A.C.H)
Solitary Confinement:
Katie Swartzmann- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Children of Justice Impacted Parents:
Bree Anderson- Daughters Beyond Incarceration (DBI)
School-to-Prison Pipeline:
Ben Robertson- Southern University New Orleans (SUNO)
Grand Jury:
Deidra Howard & Donna Howard Kennon
Voting for Justice-Impacted Citizens:
Checo Yancy- Voters Organized To Educate (VOTE)
Bail:
Chareese "Queen" Haile, J.D.- Bail Disruptor, The Bail Project-Baton Rouge
Ashley White - Bail Disruptor - The Bail Project- Baton Rouge
11:45-11:55am: Break/Get Lunch
12:00pm-12:50pm: Calvin Duncan, keynote address
In his keynote address, Calvin Duncan, one of Louisiana’s wrongfully convicted citizens, will broach discussions of non-unanimous juries, wrongful convictions and re-entry before advising advocates of the role they might play in the lives of these victims of the justice system.
1:00pm-1:50pm: Getting the Ear of the Media
This panel will offer insights into how citizens might successfully get the ear of the media when injustices are at issue.
Jeff Thomas- Think504
Gary Chambers- The Rouge Collection
1:50-2:10pm: Break
2:10pm-3:00pm: Using Art to Advocate
This panel of artists will teach social workers, lawyers and citizens how to use collaborations with artists to promote social justice in society.
Kristen Downing- Artist, Gallery Owner and Activist
Kevin McQuarn- Producer, Writer, Filmmaker
Donney Rose- Poet, Teaching Artist and Community Activist
3:00pm-3:50pm: Responding to Prosecutorial Misconduct
This panel will share insights on systemic changes that are needed to minimize prosecutorial misconduct, as well as offer tips for lawyers, social workers and citizens assisting individuals who are on the receiving end of official misconduct.
Attorney Harry Daniels- Daniels and Washington Law Firm
Attorney Jee Parks- Innocence Project of New Orleans (IPNO)
William Snowden- Director of the Vera Institute of Justice’s New Orleans office
Honorable Calvin Johnson- Retired Chief Judge of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
3:50-4:00pm: Closing