Participation Type
Workshop
Session Title
Hope for Healing: Responding to the impact of the criminal justice system and the opioid crisis in Appalachian communities and beyond
Session Abstract or Summary
The Ohio Safe and Healthy Communities Campaign proposes a workshop including the following three topics:
1) Framing and data about how the criminal justice system and the opioid epidemic have directly impacted both rural and urban Appalachian communities: This will include a break-out session with conversation about the criminal justice system generally and what the interactions are like for urban Appalachian people, including the overall “war on drugs” and the opioid crisis specifically. Questions to explore may include what participants have seen in their communities related to drug crimes and the criminal justice system, what people think of when they hear “war on drugs”, and whether they’ve seen anything successful, or at least that gives them hope, in healing people from addiction.
2) Explore the current pending ballot initiative campaign in Ohio as a model for how to make systems change that will address the impacts of the justice system, reinvest resources in local communities, and tell a different story about how to make our communities safe: This will include an overview of the initiative itself and some history about how it has become positioned for success.
3) Provide opportunities for action: This will include actual resources for folks to get involve and training for signature collection if people are motivated to engage their networks.
Presentation #1 Title
Hope for Healing: Responding to the impact of the criminal justice system and the opioid crisis in Appalachian communities and beyond
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The Ohio Safe and Healthy Communities Campaign proposes a workshop including the following three topics:
1) Framing and data about how the criminal justice system and the opioid epidemic have directly impacted both rural and urban Appalachian communities: This will include a break-out session with conversation about the criminal justice system generally and what the interactions are like for urban Appalachian people, including the overall “war on drugs” and the opioid crisis specifically. Questions to explore may include what participants have seen in their communities related to drug crimes and the criminal justice system, what people think of when they hear “war on drugs”, and whether they’ve seen anything successful, or at least that gives them hope, in healing people from addiction.
2) Explore the current pending ballot initiative campaign in Ohio as a model for how to make systems change that will address the impacts of the justice system, reinvest resources in local communities, and tell a different story about how to make our communities safe: This will include an overview of the initiative itself and some history about how it has become positioned for success.
3) Provide opportunities for action: This will include actual resources for folks to get involve and training for signature collection if people are motivated to engage their networks.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Stephen leads policy initiative for OJPC to significantly reduce the size and racial disparity of the state prison population. Since 2005, he has led efforts to remove barriers for people with criminal records and to shrink the prison population, including drafting local and state legislation, and representing over a hundred clients in state and federal court. Stephen received his J.D., cum laude, from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2001, and his B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science, with honors, from The Pennsylvania State University in 1997.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Amanda serves as the Campaign Manager for a statewide criminal justice reform ballot initiative in Ohio. Previously she led the Ohio Faith in Public Life office, where she brought campaign sophistication and strategic communication to the faith community. Amanda’s own evangelical faith background and political and policy training help guide her in organizing faith leaders. She was the Minority Chief of Staff at the Ohio Senate for three years where she led her legislative team in policy, communications, strategy, and political maneuvering. Amanda received her Bachelor of Arts from The Ohio State University and is a prior service member in the United States Army Reserves, Medical Corp.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Elizabeth is an experienced community organizer who is currently engaged in building and maintaining a robust volunteer-led effort through the Amos Project in support of criminal justice reform in Ohio. Elizabeth’s focus is engaging people of faith in the political arena. As a justice team founder and leader, Elizabeth built a base of over 200 people to engage in the work of justice in the church. Elizabeth received a B.A.Sc. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. She lives in Cincinnati.
Conference Subthemes
Health
Hope for Healing: Responding to the impact of the criminal justice system and the opioid crisis in Appalachian communities and beyond
The Ohio Safe and Healthy Communities Campaign proposes a workshop including the following three topics:
1) Framing and data about how the criminal justice system and the opioid epidemic have directly impacted both rural and urban Appalachian communities: This will include a break-out session with conversation about the criminal justice system generally and what the interactions are like for urban Appalachian people, including the overall “war on drugs” and the opioid crisis specifically. Questions to explore may include what participants have seen in their communities related to drug crimes and the criminal justice system, what people think of when they hear “war on drugs”, and whether they’ve seen anything successful, or at least that gives them hope, in healing people from addiction.
2) Explore the current pending ballot initiative campaign in Ohio as a model for how to make systems change that will address the impacts of the justice system, reinvest resources in local communities, and tell a different story about how to make our communities safe: This will include an overview of the initiative itself and some history about how it has become positioned for success.
3) Provide opportunities for action: This will include actual resources for folks to get involve and training for signature collection if people are motivated to engage their networks.
