What It’s Like to Experience the U.S. Election From Prison

We Can’t Vote on Politicians’ Promises or Policies—Even Though They Will Shape Nearly Every Aspect of Our Realities

In a small conference room nestled inside a secure red-brick building, I met with 11 fellow staff members of the Nash News, a prison newspaper in North Carolina. It was late March, and we were huddled over folding tables to discuss a novel idea: hosting a mock election for Nash Correctional’s 900 medium-custody prisoners.

Cris, the paper’s graphic designer, suggested it. “Maybe we can learn how our choices compare with society’s,” he said, smiling. “It’ll make a helluva story, too.”

A news story felt secondary, I thought, but a mock election would …

Anti-Recidivism Coalition Executive Director Sam Lewis

On a Clear Night, the Stars Seem Like You Can Grab Them

Sam Lewis is the executive director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. He previously served as the director of Inside Programs where he created the Hope and Redemption Team, engaging formerly incarcerated staff to lead rehabilitative …

Root & Rebound Executive Director Carmen Garcia

We Don’t Exist Alone in the World

Carmen Garcia is the executive director of Root & Rebound. Before joining the Zócalo program “What Is a Good Job Now?” For the Formerly Incarcerated—supported by The James Irvine Foundation—Garcia …

Amity Foundation President and CEO Doug Bond

I’m Not a Big Dancer, but I’ll Dance for My Wife

Doug Bond is president and CEO of Amity Foundation, overseeing dozens of contracts including four residential campuses serving people with histories of criminal justice system involvement, addiction, and homelessness. Before …

Life After Incarceration Starts in Community

“‘What Is a Good Job Now?’ For the Formerly Incarcerated” Reveals the Hard, Long Work of Building Careers for People Reentering Society

What is a good job now?

That has been the guiding question for Zócalo’s ongoing series investigating low-wage work across sectors in California—supported by The James Irvine Foundation. Thus far, we’ve …