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From influencing legislation in California and building bridges with policymakers in Montana and Ohio, to changing the narrative within universities, correctional systems, and faith-based communities, the 2024 Ambassador campaigns demonstrate how lived experience and first-person storytelling can drive systemic change.
The summary below highlights the powerful impact of seven film campaigns led by our 2024 Ambassadors, all formerly incarcerated movement leaders turned filmmakers. Their films are not only acts of storytelling but tools of transformation—shaping public opinion, influencing policy, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and building community. Through targeted screenings, panel discussions, academic engagement, and collaborations with advocacy organizations, each campaign has created ripple effects far beyond the screen.
1,000,000
Over 1 million people reached by 2024 Ambassador stories
185,000
Film views across prisons, campuses, government offices, grassroots, and virtual gatherings
52
Impact screenings hosted by 41 screening partners, including 11 film festivals
Collectively, these efforts represent a growing movement of justice-impacted leaders reclaiming the narrative, reshaping public discourse, and mobilizing communities toward equity, healing, and reform.
For partners committed to racial equity and community-driven solutions, the Ambassador Program offers a blueprint for how meaningful investment in directly impacted storytellers and organizers can shift power, shape public will, and accelerate systems change from the inside out.
Click on the film title to jump to that respective section:
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Chasing Redemption
By Thaisan Nguon · California
Dara and Tommy change their life trajectories after their Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentences are commuted. This is a story about the lifelong road towards redemption.
Thaisan’s campaign was designed to create a culture change in how society views people serving LWOP and other extreme sentences. It had a specific focus on prosecutor engagement around the use of youth diversion programs as an alternative to incarceration relating to Juvenile Life Without Parole in California (California SB 672).
Campaign highlights:
- Chasing Redemption was screened by members of the California Governor’s Office and the advocacy community, which contributed to the momentum for CA Senate Bill 672. 
- Award-Winning: - Best Documentary at the Golden State Film Festival 
- Best Short Documentary at the Cambodia Town Film Festival 
- Silver Telly Award 
- Accepted into the San Quentin Film Festival 
 
- The film was integrated into internal programming across all California state prisons. 
- Screening highlights include API-Rise and Cal State LA’s law program, including the Long Beach Prosecutor’s Office. 
- 78% of surveyed viewers reported they were "extremely likely" to support life without parole policy reform after watching. 
- Thaisan’s film and story reached over 85,000 people nationwide. 
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
- National LWOP Leadership Council 
- Cal State University, Los Angeles 
- Asian Pacific Islander Reentry through Inclusion, Support & Empowerment (API-RISE) 
- Ironwood State Prison 
- Cambodia Town Film Festival 
- Golden State Film Festival 
- LatinoJustice PRLDEF 
- The California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR DRP-TV) 
The Candle
By Jessie Mabrey · Georgia/Ohio
Children of incarcerated parents may look fine from the outside, but they are often dealing with trauma and anxiety from their parents’ confinement. Through The Candle, Jessie shows us the overlooked impact of incarceration on children and their village.
Through her campaign, Jessie invited audiences to build stronger communities of support for caregivers and children impacted by incarceration, ensuring every child has a safe and welcoming place to turn.
She continues to encourage adults to create healing spaces for the child within themselves, especially those who grew up with an incarcerated parent, and support family unification policies in Montana and Georgia, as well as family-based treatment programs as alternatives to incarceration.
Campaign highlights:
- Led outreach at the 2024 National Returning Citizens Conference, engaging 10–15 policy leaders. 
- Created a post-screening resource guide for churches and communities supporting children of incarcerated parents. 
- Featured on the ACE-ing Grief podcast with the Executive Director of Rainbows for All Children. 
- Jessie built new partnerships with the Montana Department of Corrections, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Forever Families, and facilitated a 6-hour event in Montana for corrections officers and donors focused on family reunification and reentry. 
- The Candle was selected by multiple film festivals, including the Charlotte Black Film Festival, Independent Shorts Awards and the Worldwide Women’s Film Festival. 
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
- Maternal World Health 
- Healthy Minds 
- Montana Department of Corrections 
- Big Brothers Big Sisters 
- NIA 
- Forever Families 
- Worldwide Women’s Film Festival 
Change is Possible
By Eddie Ellis · Washington D.C.
A father and mentor shares his personal journey after being incarcerated as a child and invites impacted community leaders into a conversation about the types of support needed for people rebuilding their lives after release.
Eddie’s campaign focused on educating the public about extreme sentencing and the unfair treatment of Black and Brown children. His campaign drove awareness for ending Juvenile Life Without Parole reform across the country, including using his film to fight for the end of JLWOP in Michigan.
Campaign highlights:
- Change is Possible was used to amplify a legislative outreach campaign designed to get people to contact Michigan legislators in support of HB 4160-64/SB 119-23. Ultimately, it helped drive over 750 emails to state legislators, which helped the legislation pass out of committee. - Subsequently, a State Supreme Court decision (which held that mandatorily sentencing 19- and 20-year-old emerging adults to life without parole (LWOP) is unconstitutionally harsh) extinguished the need for the supported legislation. 
- Presented the film to two classes at Georgetown University’s Advanced Law and Justice Reform Program. 
- Featured in Capital B’s article, They Got Life in Prison at 17. Now They’re Helping Others Avoid That Fate. 
- The film was screened at the Columbia, Maryland Film Festival and with DC’s Ward 5 Democrats. 
- Eddie’s film and story reached over 75,000 people nationwide 
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
- Georgetown University’s Advanced Law and Justice Reform Program 
- Columbia Maryland Film Festival 
- One by 1 Inc 
- DC Ward 5 Democrats 
- The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth 
Breaking Barriers
By Kristel Cosio · California
Breaking Barriers follows a group of system-impacted students at Cal-Berkeley who face significant challenges as formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals pursuing higher education. The film also highlights the importance of policy change to dismantle systemic barriers and support education for the formerly incarcerated.
Kristel used her film to spotlight the systemic barriers formerly incarcerated individuals face in accessing higher education and to advocate for policy reforms that remove those obstacles.
Campaign highlights:
- Breaking Barriers was featured regularly on CCTV across California prisons. 
- The film screened at five California universities, reaching 350+ students—many system-impacted. 
- At UC Irvine, a post-screening panel with Kristel and participants created space for reflection and community healing. 
- Screened with CA’s Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson; led to interest from the Director of the Department of Social Services. 
- Won a Silver Telly Award; accepted into the San Francisco Frozen Film Festival. 
- Kristel’s film and story reached over 65,000 people nationwide. 
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
- Universidad de Guadalajara (UdG) & ITESO 
- Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara 
- San Francisco Frozen Film Festival 
- Merritt College, Underground Scholars Ambassador Program 
- University of California Irvine (UC Irvine), Underground Scholars 
- UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies 
- Underground Scholars UC Santa Barbara 
- Project Rebound - California State University, San Bernardino 
- Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO) 
- Anti-Recidivism Coalition & Youth Law Center 
- Justice on Trial Film Festival 
- CDCR DRP-TV (Division of Rehabilitative Programs – Television) 
- California Department of Social Services 
DISRUPTED: Injustice, Trauma, and Healing
By John Pace · Pennsylvania
John’s story is a portrait of Philadelphia through the lens of race, class, and incarceration. The enduring legacy of slavery is an American story. Still, John sees community building and policy as a way towards healing for system-impacted individuals and the people who love them.
John used his story to educate audiences about the enduring legacy of white supremacy and slavery that has lasting impacts on marginalized communities. His campaign highlighted the impact of using the Intergenerational Healing Circle.
Campaign highlights:
- Disrupted screened at four Pennsylvania universities, reaching 250+ students; St. Joseph’s University reported "profound impact" on students and curriculum integration. 
- 74% of surveyed viewers said they were more likely to discuss mass incarceration and generational trauma after the film. 
- Community screening with Media Fellowship House and NAACP sparked group dialogue on youth justice reform. 
- Accepted into FirstGlance Film Fest Philadelphia and Phoenixville Film Festival; featured in red carpet interview. 
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
- Phoenixville Film Festival 
- FirstGlance PA Film Festival 
- University of Pennsylvania, Students for Criminal Justice Advocacy (S4CJA) 
- Temple University - Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program 
- Media Fellowship House 
- Saint Joseph's University 
- LaSalle University 
- Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project 
- The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth 
- Eastern State Penitentiary 
Power of the Pen
By Kareemah Hanifa · Georgia
Power of the Pen is a story about the power of manifestation and art to liberate individuals beyond confinement.
Kareemah used her film to create spaces for self-expression and connection as acts of resistance against state violence and isolation. Through her storytelling, she challenges societal perceptions of incarceration and offers a message of hope to those envisioning a better future.
She used her film to create journaling workshops and programs in schools, youth centers, and correctional facilities to help individuals process trauma and build resilience.
Campaign highlights:
- The film was selected by the African American Film Festival of the Quad Cities and the Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival; won a Silver Telly Award. 
- Power of the Pen screened at AJFO’s national conference for 400 attendees; leading a vision board and dialogue session. 
- GirlTREK will host a screening and healing circle at Breakthru House, a transitional housing program for women. 
- Kareemah’s film and story reached over 735,000 people nationwide. 
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
- Atlanta Public Schools System 
- Chillon Project 
- State of the People Tour 
- GirlTREK 
- Life University 
- 'Pulling Focus' African American Film Festival of the Quad Cities 
- Benjamin E Mays High School 
Mama, I’m Different
By Tabatha Trammell · Georgia
Mama, I’m Different addresses critical issues surrounding untreated and undiagnosed mental illness, particularly in children, and the resulting vulnerability to abuse, substance addiction, poverty, incarceration, and homelessness.
Through her film, Tabatha focused on breaking the stigma around mental health and showed how early intervention and community-led solutions can help heal and prevent compounded trauma, while advocating for policies that divert individuals with mental illnesses from incarceration to appropriate treatment.
Campaign highlights:
- Mama, I’m Different screened at Justice on Trial and Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival. 
- Tabatha presented alongside her film at NYC Peer Justice Initiative’s annual conference to 85 community advocates. 
- Hosted community screenings in Georgia with reentry organizations Women on the Rise, Greater Gwinnett Reentry Alliance, and NewLife-Second Chance Outreach. 
- Tabatha’s film and story reached over 55,000 people nationwide. 
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
- Greater Gwinnett Reentry Alliance 
- Women on the Rise GA 
- NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc 
- Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival 
- Georgia Department of Corrections 
- Justice on Trial Film Festival 
- The NYC Peer Justice Initiative 
 
                         
            
              
            
            
          
               
            
              
            
            
          
               
            
              
            
            
          
               
            
              
            
            
          
               
            
              
            
            
          
               
            
              
            
            
          
              