it wasn’t until my best friend went to prison that I became aware of the plight
prison that I became aware of the plight
prison that I became aware of the plight of the incarcerated her heart-wrenching
of the incarcerated her heart-wrenching
of the incarcerated her heart-wrenching stories opened my eyes to a world that I
stories opened my eyes to a world that I
stories opened my eyes to a world that I did not know existed that I had
did not know existed that I had
did not know existed that I had previously ignored and why shouldn’t I
previously ignored and why shouldn’t I
previously ignored and why shouldn’t I ignore it those people in that prison
ignore it those people in that prison
ignore it those people in that prison have nothing to do with me
have nothing to do with me
have nothing to do with me I was so wrong as a member of an
I was so wrong as a member of an
I was so wrong as a member of an enlightened society with a compassionate
enlightened society with a compassionate
enlightened society with a compassionate heart and a sense of duty instilled in
heart and a sense of duty instilled in
heart and a sense of duty instilled in me during childhood I know that their
me during childhood I know that their
me during childhood I know that their plight definitely has to do with me
plight definitely has to do with me
plight definitely has to do with me we’re all connected we’re all in this
we’re all connected we’re all in this
we’re all connected we’re all in this soup together and my specialty after
soup together and my specialty after
soup together and my specialty after over 25 years and more than ten thousand
over 25 years and more than ten thousand
over 25 years and more than ten thousand hours of experience is in physical
hours of experience is in physical
hours of experience is in physical education and performing arts for
education and performing arts for
education and performing arts for children and teens so that is how I
children and teens so that is how I
children and teens so that is how I participate in my own tiny way to help
participate in my own tiny way to help
participate in my own tiny way to help heal the ills of a massive and complex
heal the ills of a massive and complex
heal the ills of a massive and complex criminal justice system in my tiny
criminal justice system in my tiny
criminal justice system in my tiny beloved City
beloved City
beloved City I shared my expertise and enthusiasm
I shared my expertise and enthusiasm
I shared my expertise and enthusiasm with teenagers in our juvenile detention
with teenagers in our juvenile detention
with teenagers in our juvenile detention center my friend Stacy spent 19 months
center my friend Stacy spent 19 months
center my friend Stacy spent 19 months in a New Jersey prison she was an
in a New Jersey prison she was an
in a New Jersey prison she was an otherwise law-abiding citizen but ended
otherwise law-abiding citizen but ended
otherwise law-abiding citizen but ended up behind bars after a chain of events
up behind bars after a chain of events
up behind bars after a chain of events that to me now seemed somehow
that to me now seemed somehow
that to me now seemed somehow predestined for a higher purpose suffice
predestined for a higher purpose suffice
predestined for a higher purpose suffice to say she got tangled up in a child
to say she got tangled up in a child
to say she got tangled up in a child custody dispute between her then husband
custody dispute between her then husband
custody dispute between her then husband and his ex-wife and things went terribly
and his ex-wife and things went terribly
and his ex-wife and things went terribly wrong her felony conviction which should
wrong her felony conviction which should
wrong her felony conviction which should have been in a civil courtroom never a
have been in a civil courtroom never a
have been in a civil courtroom never a criminal one was later overturned but
criminal one was later overturned but
criminal one was later overturned but not before her life was turned upside
not before her life was turned upside
not before her life was turned upside down and inside out and she endured
down and inside out and she endured
down and inside out and she endured horrible cruelty despite and because of
horrible cruelty despite and because of
horrible cruelty despite and because of this hellish experience
this hellish experience
this hellish experience she created a phenomenal nonprofit
she created a phenomenal nonprofit
she created a phenomenal nonprofit organization for women in and leaving
organization for women in and leaving
organization for women in and leaving prison to provide assistance with
prison to provide assistance with
prison to provide assistance with transportation to parole appointments
transportation to parole appointments
transportation to parole appointments housing clothing
housing clothing
housing clothing coaching for job interviews I remember
coaching for job interviews I remember
coaching for job interviews I remember giggling at the picture of her minivan
giggling at the picture of her minivan
giggling at the picture of her minivan stuffed just bursting at the seams with
stuffed just bursting at the seams with
stuffed just bursting at the seams with bras that were on route to a women’s
bras that were on route to a women’s
bras that were on route to a women’s facility they offered support in many
facility they offered support in many
facility they offered support in many ways because I I didn’t know that things
ways because I I didn’t know that things
ways because I I didn’t know that things like feminine hygiene products and bras
like feminine hygiene products and bras
like feminine hygiene products and bras are considered luxuries and not
are considered luxuries and not
are considered luxuries and not necessities when you’re locked up when
necessities when you’re locked up when
necessities when you’re locked up when she was released she could have just
she was released she could have just
she was released she could have just walked away and never looked back but
walked away and never looked back but
walked away and never looked back but she chose to stay and make a positive
she chose to stay and make a positive
she chose to stay and make a positive enormous difference in the lives of
enormous difference in the lives of
enormous difference in the lives of thousands not only those women but their
thousands not only those women but their
thousands not only those women but their families and communities as well in so
families and communities as well in so
families and communities as well in so doing she inspired me and many others
doing she inspired me and many others
doing she inspired me and many others Viktor Frankl the Austrian neurologist
Viktor Frankl the Austrian neurologist
Viktor Frankl the Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who survived three
and psychiatrist who survived three
and psychiatrist who survived three years in concentration camps during the
years in concentration camps during the
years in concentration camps during the Holocaust wrote that which is to give
Holocaust wrote that which is to give
Holocaust wrote that which is to give light must endure burning my friend
light must endure burning my friend
light must endure burning my friend exemplifies this idea she uses her
exemplifies this idea she uses her
exemplifies this idea she uses her suffering to help others now knowing and
suffering to help others now knowing and
suffering to help others now knowing and loving her as I do and believing in the
loving her as I do and believing in the
loving her as I do and believing in the work she was doing I wanted to add my
work she was doing I wanted to add my
work she was doing I wanted to add my light to her enormous flame and you know
light to her enormous flame and you know
light to her enormous flame and you know show some support for her work without
show some support for her work without
show some support for her work without having to go to New Jersey and so I
having to go to New Jersey and so I
having to go to New Jersey and so I asked her what I might do here in Nevada
asked her what I might do here in Nevada
asked her what I might do here in Nevada to support the mission and she suggested
to support the mission and she suggested
to support the mission and she suggested that I simply continue the work I was
that I simply continue the work I was
that I simply continue the work I was already doing that the dance in
already doing that the dance in
already doing that the dance in gymnastics classes I was teaching were
gymnastics classes I was teaching were
gymnastics classes I was teaching were precisely the sorts of activities that
precisely the sorts of activities that
precisely the sorts of activities that would keep kids from ever needing to go
would keep kids from ever needing to go
would keep kids from ever needing to go to prison in the first place so I poured
to prison in the first place so I poured
to prison in the first place so I poured myself into my work more intently than
myself into my work more intently than
myself into my work more intently than ever but always with the idea in my mind
ever but always with the idea in my mind
ever but always with the idea in my mind that I would like to serve those who are
that I would like to serve those who are
that I would like to serve those who are caught up in the system several years
caught up in the system several years
caught up in the system several years later I was offered an opportunity to
later I was offered an opportunity to
later I was offered an opportunity to teach in our local juvenile detention
teach in our local juvenile detention
teach in our local juvenile detention center and I literally jumped at the
center and I literally jumped at the
center and I literally jumped at the chance when I was asked to submit a
chance when I was asked to submit a
chance when I was asked to submit a proposal I immediately decided on
proposal I immediately decided on
proposal I immediately decided on improvisational acting the type made
improvisational acting the type made
improvisational acting the type made popular by the TV show whose line is it
popular by the TV show whose line is it
popular by the TV show whose line is it anyway
anyway
anyway improv as it’s known is made up of games
improv as it’s known is made up of games
improv as it’s known is made up of games and
and
and structures that create scenes out of
structures that create scenes out of
structures that create scenes out of thin air from just a few words to an
thin air from just a few words to an
thin air from just a few words to an hour or more of unscripted dialogue
hour or more of unscripted dialogue
hour or more of unscripted dialogue there are no materials required anyone
there are no materials required anyone
there are no materials required anyone can do it almost anywhere and it’s fun
can do it almost anywhere and it’s fun
can do it almost anywhere and it’s fun the well-known yes and mantra of improv
the well-known yes and mantra of improv
the well-known yes and mantra of improv encourages us to seek agreement and
encourages us to seek agreement and
encourages us to seek agreement and cooperation now that and really every
cooperation now that and really every
cooperation now that and really every aspect of improv lends easily to our
aspect of improv lends easily to our
aspect of improv lends easily to our lives improv roads confidence public
lives improv roads confidence public
lives improv roads confidence public speaking skills creative expression
speaking skills creative expression
speaking skills creative expression expansion of vocabulary imagination
expansion of vocabulary imagination
expansion of vocabulary imagination relationship building and give-and-take
relationship building and give-and-take
relationship building and give-and-take in relationships the importance of
in relationships the importance of
in relationships the importance of listening and responding honestly and of
listening and responding honestly and of
listening and responding honestly and of course
course
course laughter glorious laughter the gifts of
laughter glorious laughter the gifts of
laughter glorious laughter the gifts of this particular discipline are good for
this particular discipline are good for
this particular discipline are good for everyone especially for young people who
everyone especially for young people who
everyone especially for young people who are still trying to figure out who they
are still trying to figure out who they
are still trying to figure out who they are and how to relate to others in my
are and how to relate to others in my
are and how to relate to others in my first visit to the detention center
first visit to the detention center
first visit to the detention center about halfway through the first class
about halfway through the first class
about halfway through the first class one of the boys just stopped and he had
one of the boys just stopped and he had
one of the boys just stopped and he had this enormous smile and wide eyes and he
this enormous smile and wide eyes and he
this enormous smile and wide eyes and he looked at me and said you’re hyper and
looked at me and said you’re hyper and
looked at me and said you’re hyper and it’s contagious
it’s contagious
it’s contagious they all obviously enjoyed the
they all obviously enjoyed the
they all obviously enjoyed the activities and I felt very relieved and
activities and I felt very relieved and
activities and I felt very relieved and delighted by their willing participation
delighted by their willing participation
delighted by their willing participation and excitement but when our time was up
and excitement but when our time was up
and excitement but when our time was up and they were asked to sit down to wait
and they were asked to sit down to wait
and they were asked to sit down to wait to be escorted out the smiles instantly
to be escorted out the smiles instantly
to be escorted out the smiles instantly disappeared the room seemed to go gray
disappeared the room seemed to go gray
disappeared the room seemed to go gray and deflate like a punctured balloon but
and deflate like a punctured balloon but
and deflate like a punctured balloon but I know that the positive energy we
I know that the positive energy we
I know that the positive energy we stirred up that day was real and
stirred up that day was real and
stirred up that day was real and potentially transformative I left there
potentially transformative I left there
potentially transformative I left there that day wondering if I would see all of
that day wondering if I would see all of
that day wondering if I would see all of them again they come and go and I simply
them again they come and go and I simply
them again they come and go and I simply felt grateful for the time I still do
felt grateful for the time I still do
felt grateful for the time I still do every week since then I have seen
every week since then I have seen
every week since then I have seen soft-spoken kids find their voice I have
soft-spoken kids find their voice I have
soft-spoken kids find their voice I have seen active kids find an outlet and
seen active kids find an outlet and
seen active kids find an outlet and appreciation from a grown-up who is also
appreciation from a grown-up who is also
appreciation from a grown-up who is also hyper and I have enjoyed moments like
hyper and I have enjoyed moments like
hyper and I have enjoyed moments like the time a newcomer turned to the boy
the time a newcomer turned to the boy
the time a newcomer turned to the boy next to him after class and said I
next to him after class and said I
next to him after class and said I didn’t want to do that at first but that
didn’t want to do that at first but that
didn’t want to do that at first but that was fun
was fun
was fun and I cherished moments like the time a
and I cherished moments like the time a
and I cherished moments like the time a three-line scene spontaneously turned
three-line scene spontaneously turned
three-line scene spontaneously turned into a 20 line scene I said you’re
into a 20 line scene I said you’re
into a 20 line scene I said you’re getting it and we all felt it not every
getting it and we all felt it not every
getting it and we all felt it not every class is great we’re humans we have
class is great we’re humans we have
class is great we’re humans we have moods but they thank me every week
moods but they thank me every week
moods but they thank me every week unprompted at the end of class and I
unprompted at the end of class and I
unprompted at the end of class and I know that when carrying adults from the
know that when carrying adults from the
know that when carrying adults from the community take time to share with these
community take time to share with these
community take time to share with these kids it makes a very clear statement to
kids it makes a very clear statement to
kids it makes a very clear statement to them that they are cared for valued and
them that they are cared for valued and
them that they are cared for valued and worth it across the country advocates
worth it across the country advocates
worth it across the country advocates and administrators are working to change
and administrators are working to change
and administrators are working to change the culture of juvenile justice from
the culture of juvenile justice from
the culture of juvenile justice from punitive to rehabilitative for example
punitive to rehabilitative for example
punitive to rehabilitative for example there’s a program called girls court
there’s a program called girls court
there’s a program called girls court that provides social services to young
that provides social services to young
that provides social services to young female offenders who themselves have
female offenders who themselves have
female offenders who themselves have been victims of trauma and the book
been victims of trauma and the book
been victims of trauma and the book neglecting abuse there are alternative
neglecting abuse there are alternative
neglecting abuse there are alternative sentencing programs that provide
sentencing programs that provide
sentencing programs that provide counseling and vocational training and
counseling and vocational training and
counseling and vocational training and in addition to academic studies over
in addition to academic studies over
in addition to academic studies over half of the juvenile detention centers
half of the juvenile detention centers
half of the juvenile detention centers in the u.s. now provide some sort of
in the u.s. now provide some sort of
in the u.s. now provide some sort of supplementary arts program and evidence
supplementary arts program and evidence
supplementary arts program and evidence is clear that these types of programs
is clear that these types of programs
is clear that these types of programs have many positive outcomes like
have many positive outcomes like
have many positive outcomes like decreases in violent behavior increases
decreases in violent behavior increases
decreases in violent behavior increases in self-control and cooperation and a
in self-control and cooperation and a
in self-control and cooperation and a reduction in tension not only for the
reduction in tension not only for the
reduction in tension not only for the participants but also for staff in the
participants but also for staff in the
participants but also for staff in the center I visit yoga drawing financial
center I visit yoga drawing financial
center I visit yoga drawing financial literacy and entrepreneurship program
literacy and entrepreneurship program
literacy and entrepreneurship program and substance abuse training substance
and substance abuse training substance
and substance abuse training substance abuse deterring education are made
abuse deterring education are made
abuse deterring education are made available they are doing a great job and
available they are doing a great job and
available they are doing a great job and I feel very proud and honored to play
I feel very proud and honored to play
I feel very proud and honored to play even a small part on their team it is
even a small part on their team it is
even a small part on their team it is way too easy
way too easy
way too easy to allow the out-of-sight out-of-mind
to allow the out-of-sight out-of-mind
to allow the out-of-sight out-of-mind mentality to help us ignore what’s going
mentality to help us ignore what’s going
mentality to help us ignore what’s going on in our prisons jails and juvenile
on in our prisons jails and juvenile
on in our prisons jails and juvenile detention centers too often it isn’t
detention centers too often it isn’t
detention centers too often it isn’t until someone we know and love gets
until someone we know and love gets
until someone we know and love gets caught up in the system that we be made
caught up in the system that we be made
caught up in the system that we be made aware as I did until then it’s
aware as I did until then it’s
aware as I did until then it’s – easy to dismiss those on the inside as
– easy to dismiss those on the inside as
– easy to dismiss those on the inside as criminals who deserve the suffering and
criminals who deserve the suffering and
criminals who deserve the suffering and deprivation they’re experiencing because
deprivation they’re experiencing because
deprivation they’re experiencing because they broke a law yes criminal activity
they broke a law yes criminal activity
they broke a law yes criminal activity absolutely should carry a punishment but
absolutely should carry a punishment but
absolutely should carry a punishment but no debt to society should be paid by any
no debt to society should be paid by any
no debt to society should be paid by any means that are dehumanizing cruel and
means that are dehumanizing cruel and
means that are dehumanizing cruel and traumatic before my friend Stacy went to
traumatic before my friend Stacy went to
traumatic before my friend Stacy went to prison I had no idea how inhumane these
prison I had no idea how inhumane these
prison I had no idea how inhumane these institutions can be for me to experience
institutions can be for me to experience
institutions can be for me to experience even a little bit of empathy
even a little bit of empathy
even a little bit of empathy she once suggested that I spend 23 of 24
she once suggested that I spend 23 of 24
she once suggested that I spend 23 of 24 hours locked in my bathroom for a
hours locked in my bathroom for a
hours locked in my bathroom for a weekend and then imagine what that would
weekend and then imagine what that would
weekend and then imagine what that would feel like for a year or two or five it
feel like for a year or two or five it
feel like for a year or two or five it occurs to me that this is the future
occurs to me that this is the future
occurs to me that this is the future these kids have to look forward to if we
these kids have to look forward to if we
these kids have to look forward to if we don’t nurture them and redirect their
don’t nurture them and redirect their
don’t nurture them and redirect their paths they need our attention our love
paths they need our attention our love
paths they need our attention our love our forgiveness and our guidance we a
our forgiveness and our guidance we a
our forgiveness and our guidance we a caring community can give them that
caring community can give them that
caring community can give them that vital sense of belonging and we know now
vital sense of belonging and we know now
vital sense of belonging and we know now it’s that sense of connection that
it’s that sense of connection that
it’s that sense of connection that diminishes the desires to get high or
diminishes the desires to get high or
diminishes the desires to get high or take dangerous risks can encourage them
take dangerous risks can encourage them
take dangerous risks can encourage them to continue doing the next right thing
to continue doing the next right thing
to continue doing the next right thing so that rational thinking becomes not
so that rational thinking becomes not
so that rational thinking becomes not only preferable but second nature to the
only preferable but second nature to the
only preferable but second nature to the question what can I do to help
question what can I do to help
question what can I do to help I suggest paying attention to state and
I suggest paying attention to state and
I suggest paying attention to state and local legislation that speaks to issues
local legislation that speaks to issues
local legislation that speaks to issues of juvenile justice in Nevada last year
of juvenile justice in Nevada last year
of juvenile justice in Nevada last year a be 180 was passed the juvenile justice
a be 180 was passed the juvenile justice
a be 180 was passed the juvenile justice bill of rights which doesn’t create new
bill of rights which doesn’t create new
bill of rights which doesn’t create new rights but codifies existing ones and
rights but codifies existing ones and
rights but codifies existing ones and guarantees that all juvenile offenders
guarantees that all juvenile offenders
guarantees that all juvenile offenders be made aware of their rights right –
be made aware of their rights right –
be made aware of their rights right – state representatives in support of
state representatives in support of
state representatives in support of rehabilitative programs for kids and a
rehabilitative programs for kids and a
rehabilitative programs for kids and a fiscal responsibility is your top
fiscal responsibility is your top
fiscal responsibility is your top priority keep in mind that for every
priority keep in mind that for every
priority keep in mind that for every dollar we spend on programs like this
dollar we spend on programs like this
dollar we spend on programs like this now we potentially save five to ten
now we potentially save five to ten
now we potentially save five to ten dollars in the future if these kids
dollars in the future if these kids
dollars in the future if these kids avoid getting incarcerated as adults
avoid getting incarcerated as adults
avoid getting incarcerated as adults seek out books articles documentaries
seek out books articles documentaries
seek out books articles documentaries about the prison industrial complex and
about the prison industrial complex and
about the prison industrial complex and our juvenile justice system as painful
our juvenile justice system as painful
our juvenile justice system as painful as they are to take in we need to be
as they are to take in we need to be
as they are to take in we need to be informed and
informed and
informed and if like me you enjoy working with
if like me you enjoy working with
if like me you enjoy working with youngsters get involved call your local
youngsters get involved call your local
youngsters get involved call your local center propose a class or join a youth
center propose a class or join a youth
center propose a class or join a youth Mentor Program my friend Stacy is now
Mentor Program my friend Stacy is now
Mentor Program my friend Stacy is now living in sunny Southern California
living in sunny Southern California
living in sunny Southern California raising her three amazing daughters and
raising her three amazing daughters and
raising her three amazing daughters and mentoring others including foreign
mentoring others including foreign
mentoring others including foreign exchange students the organization that
exchange students the organization that
exchange students the organization that she started on the East Coast is still
she started on the East Coast is still
she started on the East Coast is still going strong
going strong
going strong in the hands of others and I’ll close
in the hands of others and I’ll close
in the hands of others and I’ll close with this I think one of the best TED
with this I think one of the best TED
with this I think one of the best TED Talks ever given we need to talk about
Talks ever given we need to talk about
Talks ever given we need to talk about an injustice was given by Bryan
an injustice was given by Bryan
an injustice was given by Bryan Stevenson he is the he’s a well
Stevenson he is the he’s a well
Stevenson he is the he’s a well respected public interest lawyer and the
respected public interest lawyer and the
respected public interest lawyer and the executive director and founder of the
executive director and founder of the
executive director and founder of the equal justice initiative in Montgomery
equal justice initiative in Montgomery
equal justice initiative in Montgomery Alabama he says often that each of us is
Alabama he says often that each of us is
Alabama he says often that each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever
more than the worst thing we’ve ever
more than the worst thing we’ve ever done I know that we can share this idea
done I know that we can share this idea
done I know that we can share this idea with our youth we demonstrate to them
with our youth we demonstrate to them
with our youth we demonstrate to them through our action we can provide them
through our action we can provide them
through our action we can provide them the second chance that they deserve we
the second chance that they deserve we
the second chance that they deserve we all deserve a second chance thank you
all deserve a second chance thank you
all deserve a second chance thank you [Applause]
”
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