Prison to Promise

William "Mecca" Elmore's life has been marked by the highs and lows that few individuals experience. Mecca's story took an unexpected turn on March 30, 1991, a day that would alter the course of his life forever.In a desperate attempt to protect a friend embroiled in a drug deal, Mecca found himself entangled in a web of tragedy. He fired a gunshot toward a parked and occupied van. Little did heknow that this impulsive act would lead to a murder charge and a life sentence that seemed insurmountable.Convicted of first-degree murder, Mecca was sentenced to "mandatory life." For the next 24 years, he navigated the harsh realities of prison life in North Carolina. However, his unwavering spirit and commitment to justice never wavered.In 2012, a glimmer of hope appeared as Mecca was granted entry into the M.A.P.P., a parole program designed for those convicted before the 1995 changes in sentencing. On December 15, 2015, against all odds, Mecca walked out of prison as a free man.Since his release, Mecca has dedicated himself to positively impacting society. Engaging in outreach activities, he has worked tirelessly with youth and those battling addiction through organizations like RSN. His involvement in re-entry programs, such as Step-Up, S.W.I.T. (Success While in Transition), and Wounded Healers, showcases his commitment to helping others transition back into society.Today, William "Mecca" Elmore stands as a symbol of resilience and transformation, proving that even in the darkest times, there is the potential for redemption and a chance to impact the world positively. 

Walter, a staunch advocate for criminal justice reform, is a beacon of resilience and determination. He wears many hats — from being a motivational speaker and author to a radio host, life coach, legal analyst, and relationship expert. With a college degree in General Education under his belt, Walter's journey took a dramatic turn when he got accused of a crime, faced a trial, and received a staggering 27-year sentence.What sets Walter apart is his unyielding spirit and self-driven pursuit of knowledge. During his time behind bars, he immersed himself in the study of law, eventually mastering it to the point where he successfully overturned his sentence. His challenges ignited a fire within him, leading to a profound passion for rectifying the injustices prevalent in the criminal legal system.Before his incarceration, Walter spent six years working at a university, making his story all the more compelling. Today, he traverses the country, speaking at universities, sharing his gripping narrative, and inspiring young minds to stand up against injustice. Walter's tale is not just one of personal triumph but also a call to action, urging the youth to join him in the fight for a brighter and more equitable tomorrow.

Khalil Osiris is a trailblazer in education, restorative justice, and social impact. His groundbreaking eBook, titled "Second Chances: The Benefits of Hiring Returning Citizens," serves as a crucial guide for employers, business leaders, HR professionals, DEI officers, and returning citizens themselves.At the forefront of change, Khalil leads the way with Truth & Reconciliation Conversations (TRC), driving conversations that promote racial reconciliation and passionately advocating for the rights of women and girls. Rooted in his journey of incarceration, his widely studied book, "Psychology of Incarceration," provides a distinctive perspective on the subject, offering profound insights.Khalil's influence reverberates globally. He is a seasoned consultant, a charismatic TV show host, and the creative mind behind impactful documentaries. To delve deeper into his extraordinary contributions, visit his website at khalilosiris.com. Khalil Osiris continues shaping conversations, challenging perspectives, and profoundly inspiring change.

Cierra Cobb is a beacon of strength and resilience in the face of injustice. As the wife of a wrongfully convicted man, she has channeled her unwavering dedication into a powerful mission: fighting for justice and supporting families affected by the criminal justice system. In her multifaceted role as a prison/jail coordinator and a family advocate, Cierra provides essential support and guidance to those with incarcerated loved ones, offering them a glimmer of hope in challenging times.Beyond her vital work on the front lines, Cierra amplifies her impact through her Blacklight Mass Incarceration Show podcast. Through this platform, she illuminates the dark corners of mass incarceration, particularly within the Black community, shedding light on the systemic issues that perpetuate injustice. Cierra engages in profound conversations with experts and individuals directly impacted by the system, aiming to ignite discussions that inspire positive change. Her unwavering commitment to advocacy and her ability to foster meaningful dialogue makes her a driving force in the fight for a more just and equitable society.

This is a continuation of pt.I of the conversation.

Andre Smith is a practicing Buddhist, an activist, and a teacher of meditation and anger management.  Through the Kadampa Center in Raleigh, NC, he has worked with incarcerated people for more than fifteen years, and through Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, he advocated for the enactment of the NC Racial Justice Act. He is now an active volunteer with the NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. He lost his son, Daniel "Peace" Smith, to murder in 2007. The death of his son only made him more committed to his work with incarcerated people and his advocacy to end the death penalty.

Devin D. Smith is the founder and CEO of Ship and Anchor LLC, a social impact enterprise. As an entrepreneur and strategist passionate about inclusion and working with other entrepreneurs and leaders to bring innovative ideas to life, Devin is committed to employing his gifts and experiences to serve and build capacity in others. Devin has recently begun incorporating his creative and artistic nature into his work with his Letters from America’s 3rd World project, consisting of a podcast and documentary short.Join us as Deven shares a treasure trove of invaluable insights, delving into the lessons he gleaned during his detour from college to prison and unveiling the journey of his remarkable resilience and triumphant comeback.

George O'Briant originally hails from Roxboro (Person County), NC; at 14, his family relocated to Durham, NC. Following a significant injury from a car accident, he fell in with an unsavory crowd, leading to involvement in substance abuse, alcohol, and minor criminal activities. As a result, George decided to leave school--as a result, he got placed in foster care. With the support and guidance of his foster parents, he enrolled in Job Corps, successfully achieving a GED and obtaining a food service certification.Upon his return from Job Corps, George found himself deeper entrenched in the drug and street culture of Bull City (Durham, NC). This path led him through three prison terms totaling 8.5 years. However, his final period of incarceration in 2004 marked a turning point in his life. During an experience in solitary confinement in April 2005, George underwent a profound spiritual awakening—an encounter with Jesus Christ that ultimately transformed his life.During his participation in drug treatment while in prison, George began to envision a new purpose for himself as a drug counselor. Upon his release, he actively pursued a college education in drug counseling. For the past 12.5 years, George has dedicated himself to the helping profession, with the most recent five years as a North Carolina board-certified alcohol and drug counselor. Additionally, he has found happiness in his marriage to the love of his life. George highlights that while sobriety can lead to external improvement, the true essence of holistic recovery lies in internal transformation.

In the realm of reentry, there exists a warrior named Brent Bailey. Buncombe County is privileged to have him as the Local Reentry Council Coordinator. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to converse with Brent as he graciously shared his voyage through the North Carolina prison system and his unwavering commitment to avoid returning to incarceration. Prepare to gain remarkable insights from Brent's unique perspective on reentry as he illuminates the essential elements required for incarcerated individuals to reintegrate into the community following their release successfully. Brace yourself for a transformative exploration of reentry with Brent Bailey, where rejection is simply a redirection toward a brighter future.

I'd assume Brother Tony Lowden is a preacher if I didn't know any better. He reminds me of the preachers I grew up listening to in church on Sunday mornings as he discusses his journey from growing up in a "trap house" in North Philadelphia to become President Jimmy Carter's pastor. As the SVP, Chief Social Impact Officer at ViaPath Technologies Tony is an advocate for criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, and reentry programs, he is committed to helping people nationwide rebuild their lives after release from prison and highlights the importance of taking action to help others.

Mr. Shabazz, who received a 28-year sentence for non-violent drug offenses in McCracken County, Kentucky, is now committed to the Life Coach Each One Teach One Reentry Fellowship, where he is Executive Director. This program focuses on raising awareness and prevention of prison, probation, and parole (3P's) and equipping individuals with the skills necessary to reintegrate into their families and communities after incarceration. According to Mr. Shabazz, his life has undergone a profound transformation, and he now feels like he's in full bloom. Despite having previously sowed seeds of self-destruction and hatred, he has found strength and determination through his struggles. Through his journey, Mr. Shabazz has been reborn and is continually growing.

Kevin went through jail and addiction before founding a thriving business called Social Imprints as a way to empower marginalized adults. Kevin notes that ‘his own life experience enables him to relate to the business team members' struggles as they begin the journey to getting their lives back in order.’During the past 20 years Kevin has also had the good fortune of working with multiple non-profits on their board and as a volunteer. Constantly looking for ways to improve the lives of returning citizens, individuals in recovery, and other marginalized communities.Tune in as Kevin talks shop about what he detailed as his “tour of institutions and hospitals up and down the west coast, collecting charges” to becoming the COO & Co-Founder at Social Imprints.

When James Smith got out of prison in 2016, he was lost. Nobody returned his call when he reached out for help from a re-entry program. So instead, his sister, wife, and church members coached him through the changes he wanted."I felt ashamed if I went someplace," he said. "I felt like people would look at me and see a criminal, even if they didn't know me. So it's a miracle really to come out of it."Today, James works as a Community Inclusion Specialist for the Alliance of Disability Advocates NC, helping other men rejoin the community after incarceration. For example, he talks with them about getting a job and dealing with mental pressure."Guys don't go to interviews because they don't feel prepared," he said. "They need encouragement, mock interviews… a step-by-step of how it's going to go." Tune in as James talks about how he transitioned and some of the keys to helping others.

Joshua Boyer was essentially sentenced to twenty-four years in prison for conversing about committing a robbery. While incarcerated, he determined he would learn everything he could about the law to help unlock the legal puzzle that resulted in his incarceration. Boyer spent a lot of time in the law library, learning the ins and outs of the law. Eventually, he earned a reputation as a jailhouse lawyer who could help write briefs or advise on cases. After applying for clemency, Joshua Boyer was released from prison in 2017 after serving 16 years.

Right off the muscle, Paul Campiche lets me know he recognizes his affluence, whiteness, and gender as an advantage in this world. But, as Paul told me, "I need to do something more than just be privileged; I need to [help] make [a] change."Paul Campiche is a formerly incarcerated individual with a background in connecting individuals with re-entry services, such as housing, food, education, jobs, and other services. Paul's background is in Psychology, Crisis Management, and Case Management; he has worked with homeless individuals and individuals in recovery or active drug use. Tune in as Paul talks with me about how his academic achievements helped him develop emotional awareness, which led him to begin thinking about what wasn't working in his life, how to realign his life, and to stay out of prison. Today, Paul is giving back to other formerly incarcerated people as a mental health care provider by helping them access services and employment.

Joseph Arvidson is the Executive Director of The Paragon Group, LLC.The Paragon Group strives to promote and advance evidence-based practices in criminal justice. Their services include speaking engagements, training, and consulting on risk needs responsivity (RNR) and desistance-based models. Joseph’s training and consulting clientele have ranged from Federal Probation to local for-profit and non-profit agencies and international training and consulting. Additionally, he is the founder of The Criminologist Media Group, serving as producer and host of The Criminologists podcast. Joseph Arvidson has been an adjunct faculty member at Concordia University and Metropolitan State University since 2000, where he teaches several graduate and undergraduate-level Criminal Justice courses. He currently serves on the Criminal Justice Advisory Board for Concordia University. He also serves as a board member for Volunteers in Corrections.

After being certified as an adult at fifteen years old and incarcerated for nearly fifteen years, Keenan Hudson positively transformed his life. While incarcerated, he took full advantage of educational services and self-development opportunities and persevered using lessons learned through education, religion, and music. Tune in as Keenen talks about how, despite experiencing several adverse childhood experiences and facing a 12 1/2-to-25-year sentence at the age of 15, he learned that by developing a determined mindset, he could change the trajectory of his future.

Travis Abercrombie resides in South Carolina and is the founder of the Resurgence Post-Conviction Rehabilitation Program, which aims to positively influence and rehab the minds of men, women, and children affected by mass incarceration. Travis is an author (The Four Levels of Reintegration), teacher, curriculum developer, and motivational speaker with 10+ years of experience helping people impacted by mass incarceration succeed inside and outside prison.While doing a ten-year prison sentence, Travis was influenced by the teachings of two other incarcerated men (Lester Young and Lee Nelson) to know one's self, how to communicate with others appropriately, and to understand one of the human beings' most extraordinary powers, which is the power of choice.You can't afford to miss this conversation where Travis repeatedly describes the influence one's thinking has on their reality and outcomes. 

Barry Diamond was the owner of a successful 30-year-old business consulting company. Barry also started the Chamber of Commerce, was on the board of the Economic Development Commission, the Vice President of his town's Tax Abatement Commission, President of his town's Library Foundation, and the President-Elect of the Better Business Bureau of the State of Connecticut. All that ended when he was convicted of a non-violent white-collar crime and sentenced to 6 years in prison.One day he was having lunch with Mayors and state representatives, and the next day lunch with murderers, rapists, child molesters, and bank robbers.Barry is currently an active member of the Reentry Roundtables, HangTime, and operates the reentrysurvivors.com website. For ten years, he has taught the first Reentry Entrepreneurial course (called P.R.I.D.E.) and Financial Literacy Workshops (called FLOW), endorsed by Congressmen, Governors, DOC Commissioners, and Mayors. These FREE training programs are exclusively for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and family or friends of people with a criminal background.

Peter Felix Armstrong is a third-year law student at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a criminal appellate paralegal. While in prison for a fatal car crash, Armstrong discovered a new purpose in the law. He spent his time behind bars as a law clerk advocating for other incarcerated men. Released in 2019, admitted to law school in 2020, and set to graduate in 2023, Armstrong seeks to find his place and be a force for meaningful change for the still-incarcerated and those coming out of incarceration.