Walking In My Shoes from the Workforce Wire Podcast
We are proud to feature a series from one of our WorkforcePods podcasts. Walking In My Shoes is a 5 part series from the Workforce Wire Podcast, brought to you by Employ Prince George’s.
Walking In My Shoes provides the perspective of returning citizens related to reentry. The terms “Reentry” and “Returning Citizens” have become popular phrases and topics of discussion for politicians, the media, and workforce development professionals. Unfortunately, the most important people for these discussions, returning citizens, aren’t being included. The series allows 5 returning citizens to discuss their needs and recommendations for their communities related to crime prevention, improving the criminal justice system, and how communities can reduce crime and recidivism by helping offenders successfully reenter their local communities.
Part 1
Part 1 of Walking in My Shoes features Qiana Johnson, founder of Life After Release, Inc. Life After Release provides reentry services to formerly incarcerated Prince George’s County residents and was founded by Qiana after she couldn’t find the services she needed once released from incarceration. Qiana shares her story of incarceration and subsequent return to the community. Discover the policy changes that need to happen in order to help individuals successfully integrate back into society upon their release from incarceration and the support that is needed from the community.
Part 2
Part 2 features Joseph Tolbert, a father and Community Activist from Prince George’s County, Maryland. After his release from prison, Joseph graduated from DC Central Kitchen and started a career in the hospitality industry. Eventually seeing many problems in his community, Joseph became a Community Activist, fighting on the behalf of concerned residents, returning citizens, and youth. In 2019 Joseph launched a clothing company, Been There Done That (BTDT), and became a board member at DC Central Kitchen.
Part 3
Part 3 features Prince George’s County Council Member Calvin S. Hawkins, II. He was elected by Prince George’s County voters as one of the inaugural Prince George’s County Council At-Large seats in November 2018. Councilmen Hawkins has successfully transitioned from the prison to the highest levels of local government. From civic activities to political engagement, to community preparedness for emergencies, he has been involved in multiples facets of local government in Prince George’s County and the Washington Metropolitan Region over the last 28 years. Committed to servant leadership, Council Member Hawkins is a strong supporter of progressive initiatives for seniors, working families, and youth. Learn about his pathway from prison to elected office.
Part 4
Part 4 features entrepreneur & justice reform advocate, Marcus Bullock. Following his 2004 release from prison, Marcus Bullock launched a construction business that grew to employ other returning citizens. Bullock is also the Founder & CEO of Flikshop, Inc., a software company that builds tools to help incarcerated people stay connected to their families and build community. He is also a member of the Justice Policy Institute’s Board of Directors and serves as an advisor to the Aspen Institute’s Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund.
Part 5
Part 5 features Huwe Burton, a Bronx native, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his mother in 1991. Huwe was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison at just 16 years old. After spending more than 20 years wrongfully incarcerated, Burton was released on parole in 2009 with the help of the famed Innocence Project. In January of 2019, Burton was finally exonerated. Learn about Huwe’s experience, journey, and reflection as a wrongfully convicted returning citizen.
This powerful series of interviews with first-hand accounts and experiences is a strong example of how a podcast can be used to educate, communicate, and connect. Creating a series within a larger podcast provides the opportunity to dive deeper into some of the topics that resonate most with your community, as well as positioning you as a thought leader and trusted resource.
To hear more episodes from Workforce Wire, click HERE. You can also find hundreds of other episodes from WorkforcePods shows to stream as well.
For more information on Employ Prince George’s visit employpg.org.
