Healing & Hope: A Celebration

Healing & Hope 2012: A Celebration

Children and Prison

It's a hell of a thing to say to a child that you've done something so hideous you don't deserve to ever be a part of society again.

- Ralph, has been serving JLWOP in Georgia for 20 years, since he was 17

Ken

Trace

No child/young person should have to go through this endless stream of hopelessness.

- Angel, has been serving JLWOP in Texas for 14 years, for crime committed at 15

Bryan

My life was taken away from me and I haven't been given a chance to get it back.

- Corey, has been serving JLWOP in Kentucky for 23 years, since he was 16

Robert

Alexander

Always having to be on point and on the lookout for coming danger, never able to get too comfortable it can turn you into somebody youre really not, but have to be to survive.

- Tony, has been serving JLWOP in Colorado for 13 years, since he was 16

Chris

She said her hands were tied because of the sentencing guidelines.

- Roger, has been serving JLWOP in Pennsylvania for 22 years, for crime committed at 16

Tommy

Shane, Cat, and Caitlin

It doesnt take a lifetime to learn from your mistakes and bad choices.

- Hilton, has been serving JLWOP in Kentucky for 14 years, for crime committed at 17

David

I am not a lost cause.

- Jerome, has been serving JLWOP in Louisiana for 21 years, for crime committed at 17

Voices of Hope: People Serving

I believe change can be made, and a big reason for that is cause I see it in myself.

-Tommy, has been serving JLWOP in California for 17 years

Brandy and her brother Tommy

Tommy has been serving JLWOP in California for 17 years

If given my freedom I will be of value to the world and be able to make a difference for the benefit of all.

-Michael, has been serving JLWOP in Florida

Chris and his wife Pattra

Chris has been serving in Missouri for 20 years, for crime committed at 17

Esi & her son Ralph Jr.

Ralph has been serving JLWOP in Georgia for 20 years, since he was 17

You could lend a cold shoulder, but instead you extend a warm heart, And thats why in my eyes, your acts are a work of art.

-Wyze, has been serving virtual LWOP in Virginia for 15 years, since he was 17

Mary & OsheaHealing & Hope Honorees 2011

just seeing that people like you are working so hard to make changes has truly given me some hope I sincerely thank you for that. Even now as I sit here writing this I cant help but hope that somehow, sometime I might have a chance to go home.

-Shane, has been serving JLWOP in Maryland for 11 years, since he was 17

Cat, her son Shane, and her daughter Caitlin

Shane has been serving JLWOP in Alabama for 23 years, since he was 17

Chris & his mother Lillian

Chris has been serving JLWOP in Texas for 5 years, since he was 17

I am now a man not because of my time in prison but despite it.

-Angel, has been serving JLWOP in Texas for 14 years, for crime committed at 15

Jim, his son Bryan, & his wife Yoshiko Bryan has been serving JLWOP in Louisiana for 23 years

I would hope to build a real and stronger relationship with my daughter, open up a business, and someday in the future get married.

-Thomas, has been serving JLWOP in Minnesota for 15 years, since he was 16

Jesse & his wife Jamie

Jesse has been serving in Louisiana for 31 years, since he was 17

Cindy, Fay, Ken, & KeithKen has been serving JLWOP in Pennsylvania for 12 years, since he was 16

I always wanted to join the military (Navy Seal, Special Forces, Green Berret).

-Tony, has been serving JLWOP in Colorado for 13 years, since he was 16

Remon Saif Saif has been serving in California for 16 years

For the first time I started experiencing the feeling of hope for a better tomorrow.

-Evan-Perry, serving virtual LWOP in Virginia for 23 years, for crime committed at 17

Rose & her sonRobert

Robert has been serving JLWOP in Pennsylvania for 22 years, since he was 16

Trace & his grandmother NanTrace has been serving in Alabama for 17 years, since he was 17

Just give me one chance to prove I'm a changed man. That's all I need.

-Dwayne, has been serving JLWOP in Kentucky for 7 years, for crime committed at 17

David & Bailey David has been serving JLWOP in Virginia for 14 years, since he was 17

There's so much more I have to sharethanks for fighting for us!

-Hilton, has been serving JLWOP in Kentucky for 14 years, for crime committed at 17

Voices of Hope: Official Supporters

"We believe in investing in our children, not imprisoning them Life imprisonment of children is a crime."

Salam Al-MarayatiDirector of the Muslim Public Affairs Council

American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Correctional AssociationAmerican Correctional Chaplains AssociationAmerican Humanist AssociationAmerican Probation and Parole AssociationAmerican Psychological AssociationAmnesty InternationalAssociation of Women Executives in CorrectionsBahais of the United States

Boys Scouts of AmericaBuddhist Peace Fellowship Campaign for Youth Justice Center for Childrens Law and PolicyCentral Juvenile Defender CenterCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.Child Rights International NetworkChild Welfare League of America Childrens Action AllianceChildrens Defense Fund Children & Family Justice Center official supportersorganizations that endorse our statement of principles

The ACLU is committed to ending JLWOP because denying youth offenders an opportunity for a fair hearing and to demonstrate their maturity violates international standards and the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Automatically sentencing kids to die in prison does not advance our society or achieve the goals of our criminal justice system.

Vanita GuptaAmerican Civil Liberties Union

Childrens Law Center of Massachusetts, Inc.Christ & St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, PAChurch of the Brethren, Global PartnershipsCoalition on Human NeedsCoalition for Juvenile Justice Colorado Juvenile Defender CoalitionConference of Major Superiors of MenCouncil for Educators of At-Risk and Delinquent Youth

Council of Juvenile Correctional AdministratorsThe Defender Association of PhiladelphiaDoctors for Global Health Engaged Zen FoundationEqual Justice Initiative Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaEvery Child MattersFamilies & Allies of Virginia's Youth Faith Communities for Families and Children

official supportersorganizations that endorse our statement of principles

We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court in Miller v. Alabama as an important step towards outlawing one of the worst forms of inhuman sentencing of children, a sentence that violates international law and condemns children to die in prison. The decision is just one step, however, in eliminating these sentences in the USA and in eliminating the plethora of inhuman sentencing practices that children suffer globally, including life imprisonment in all its forms.

Veronica Yates, DirectorChild Rights International Network

First Focus Friends & Families of Inmates, Omaha, NebraskaThe General Synod of the United Church of ChristGeorgetown Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia and VicinityHuman Rights WatchInternational Community Corrections Association

International Association of Forensic NursesJesuit ConferenceJewish Council on Urban Affairs Journey of Hope Just Detention International Justice Policy Institute Juvenile Justice Coalition of Ohio Juvenile Justice Initiative of IllinoisJuvenile Justice Project of Louisiana

official supportersorganizations that endorse our statement of principles

we whole heartedly support the U.S. Supreme Court decision (Miller v. Alabama) to strike down mandatory life without parole sentences for children. This decision recognizes the transformative capacity of children and the openness to reconciliation by the community. We hope that it opens wider the window to see all people, children and adults, as God sees them, i.e. with human dignity, capable of both sin and deep transformation, and as ultimately lovable.

Eli S. McCarthyJustice and Peace Director, Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)

Juvenile Justice Trainers AssociationJuvenile Law Center Mental Health America Michigan Council on Crime and DelinquencyMidwest Juvenile Defender CenterMid-Atlantic Juvenile Defender Center Mississippi Youth Justice ProjectMothers Against Murderers AssociationMuslim Public Affairs Council Muslims for Progressive ValuesNAACP

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.NAMI Colorado National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good ShepherdNational African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc. National Alliance of Faith and Justice National Association for Children of Incarcerated ParentsNational Association of Counsel for Childrenofficial supportersorganizations that endorse our statement of principles

The answer is love and compassion for all of humanity.

Bill PelkePresident and Co-founder, Journey of Hope

National Association of Criminal Defense LawyersNational Association of Juvenile Correctional AgenciesNational Association of School Psychologists National Association of Social WorkersNational Black Police AssociationNational Center for Youth LawNational Disability Rights NetworkNational Juvenile Defender Center National Juvenile Detention AssociationNational Juvenile Justice Network

National Legal Aid and Defender AssociationNational Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS)National PTAOffice of Restorative Justice, Archdiocese of Los AngelesPacific Juvenile Defender CenterPartnership for Safety & Justice PeacePathwaysPenal Reform International The Pendulum Foundation

official supportersorganizations that endorse our statement of principles

we call for a more prudent, effective and just system. The recent Supreme Court decision striking down mandatory life without parole sentences for children (Miller v. Alabama) is an important step in that direction. We will continue to support the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth until the task is completed.

Asaf Bar-TuraDirector of Programs, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

Pennsylvania Prison SocietyPrison Fellowship Ministries Prison Mindfulness InstituteThe Sentencing Project Southern Juvenile Defenders Center Southern Poverty Law CenterUDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Took Crowell Institute for At-Risk Youth Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and SocietyUnited States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association University of Iowa Students for Human RightsVoices for Americas ChildrenVoices for Children in Nebraska The W. Haywood Burns InstituteWestern Juvenile Defender Center Wisconsin Council on Children and Families Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. The Youth Advocacy Project, Roxbury, MA Youth Justice Coalition Youth Law Centerofficial supportersorganizations that endorse our statement of principles

I am engaged in the fair sentencing of youth because this country needs to make a quantum jump from where we are now to the fair treatment of youth, which in some part deals with sentencing, but for the most part deals with appropriate, humane treatment of children.

Edwin BurnetteNational Legal Aid & Defender Association

A Special Thanks to our Event Partners

To our honorary committee present this evening

Honorary Committee

Scott Budnick Executive Producer, Greenhat FilmsGreg Craig Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom| Former White House CounselPeter Edelman Professor, Georgetown University Law CenterDavid Grosso D.C. City Council Candidate, At-LargeDavid Keene Former chair, American Conservative UnionKathleen Kennedy Townsend Former Lt. Governor of MarylandCelinda Lake President, Lake Research PartnersLaura Murphey ACLU Washington Legislative OfficeCharles Ogletree Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Harvard Law SchoolMark K. ShriverJamal Simmons Political Analyst, The Raben Group & CNN CommentatorDavid SimonWendy Smith &Barry MeyerSonja Sohn Actress, The Wire & Founder, Rewired for ChangeTommy Wells District of Columbia City Councilman, Ward 6

To those who provided in-kind services for tonights event

Photography services donated by Eliot CohenVideography services donated by Suzanne ArdenEvent space generously donated by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

To our Healing & Hope sponsors

Defender

Baker & McKenzieDavid & Resa EpplerHolland & KnightWendy Smith & Barry Meyer Rebecca MillikenThe Annie E. Casey Foundation

Champion

King & Spalding

Supporter

Debra & John DillonMary Lou Hartman& CliffSloanLatham & Watkins Law Offices of Deborah LaBelleStephen & Patricia MorganNational Childrens CenterMichael & Christine PuzoThe Raben GroupSpitfire Strategies

And thank you to everyone in attendance tonight!

And to the following foundations for their ongoing support and commitment

Butler Family FundFord FoundationMacArthur FoundationOpen Society FoundationsUS Human Rights Fund

in memory of

Terrell SherrillsCathy Lyn ODanielTorrey Donnell Manuel& 9 Other Family Members

in memory of

Casson Biscuit EvansRuth Elizabeth Pelke

The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth