Apart
Film Synopsis
Ohio has one of the largest populations of women in prison, and this year, incarceration will separate approximately 1.6 million children from their mothers across the US. The documentary Apart follows three unforgettable mothers incarcerated in Ohio — Tomika, Lydia, and Amanda — as they prepare to return home from prison and work to rebuild their lives after being separated from their children for years. Their stories overlap at the Chopping for Change workforce development program, run by Malika Kidd, an advocate who was formerly incarcerated in the same prison.
Host A Screening
Represent Justice’s screening tour has come to a close. To host a screening, please work with our friends at Women Make Movies by visiting https://www.wmm.com/apart-host-a-screening-2/.
Take Action
Women are the fastest growing incarcerated population in the country, and the majority are mothers. Additionally, more than 80% of women who enter the carceral system have experienced victimization or abuse in the past. This can look like domestic violence; childhood trauma; and sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.
We need more reentry resources for women impacted by the justice system that take into account the trauma they have endured, and the unique challenges they face. Reentry programs help women and their families gain access to fair-change housing, employment opportunities, medical care, and peer support.
Watch Apart and help us even the playing field for women and their families who’ve been impacted by the justice system.
Support Clean Slate in Ohio
For those with criminal records, having a “clean slate” — a process that clears or limits access to a public criminal record — is very important for securing employment as well as safe and affordable housing. It also helps to strengthen families, communities, and local economies across the state, and promotes public safety. Take action by telling your Ohio State Representative to support “clean slate” legislation.
Support Chopping for Change
The Chopping for Change program, featured in Apart, provides women incarcerated at Cleveland’s Northeast Reintegration Center (NERC) with work experience and culinary training. Your donation will enable the expansion of the program to other facilities, so more women are prepared and empowered to rejoin the workforce.
Become a Fair Chance Employer
Fair chance hiring and employment is a crucial step towards successful reentry into society for hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) helps businesses implement fair chance hiring and other justice-engaged practices. If you are a business owner or leader, consider joining RBIJ.
Get the Discussion Guide
Download the Apart discussion guide, which includes a letter from director Jennifer Redfearn, resources on the effects of incarceration on families, discussion prompts to help guide conversations, and ideas to help plan a screening event.
Hire from the Incarcerated Children's Advocacy Network
If you’re an employer, visit Hire ICAN! to meet your talent needs and DEI goals. ICAN is the first of its kind – a national network made up entirely of individuals who were given extreme prison sentences as children and who are now home and are leaders in the criminal justice reform movement. Hire ICAN! provides fair chance hiring information and resources, and connection to a database of ICAN members who are currently job searching.
Screenings
May 20, 2024
Presented by DC Ward 5 Democrats
Washington, DC
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Aug 30, 2022
Presented by State Representative Latyna M.Humphrey
Whitehall, OH
Aug 18, 2022
Presented by Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Education Program Inc.
Los Angeles, CA
Jul 26, 2022
Presented by Southeast Healthcare
Columbus, OH
Panel discussion to follow featuring Amanda Freed, Judge Gina Russo, Judge Jerrod Skinner, Judge Eileen Paley, Judge Mary Kay Fenlon, and Retired Judge Scott VanDerKarr.
Jun 28, 2022
Presented by Frontier Nursing University
Versailles, KY
Virtual panel discussion to follow with Malika Kidd, Tomika Daniel and Lydia Loth.
Jun 22, 2022
Presented by Clean Turn & RBIJ
Columbus, OH
Panel discussion to follow with Malika Kidd, John Rush, Felicia Williams and Kelly Fuller.
Jun 4, 2022
Presented by Accomplished Ventures
Meridian, ID
May 26, 2022
6:00 PM
Presented by National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Cincinnati, OH
Panel discussion to follow with Malika Kidd and Tyra Patterson.
May 25, 2022
6:00 PM
Presented by North Central State College
Mansfield, OH
Panel discussion with Malika Kidd to follow.
May 4, 2022
Presented by the American Workforce & Justice Summit
Atlanta, GA
This event is invitation only, but you can register your interest here.
Apr 28, 2022
Presented by the Four-Seven
Cincinnati, OH
Panel discussion with Lydia Loth and Twyana Davis to follow.
Apr 27, 2022
5:00 PM
Presented by Clean Turn & the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ)
Chicago, IL
Apr 26, 2022
Presented by Accompanying Returning Citizens with Hope (ARCH), Central Ohio Restored Citizens’ Collaborative (CORCC), and IMPACT Community Action
Columbus, OH
Panel discussion with Malika Kidd to follow.
Apr 7, 2022
Presented by Story Chain
Yellow Springs, OH
Panel discussion with Tomika Daniel and Malika Kidd to follow.
Mar 31, 2022
Presented by Heidelberg University & Writers In Residence
Tiffin, OH
Private Event
Feb 24, 2022
Presented by Faith in Public Life
Newark, OH
Panel discussion with Tomika Daniel.
Feb 21, 2022
Presented by United Returning Citizens
Youngstown, OH
Q&A with Tomika Daniel.
Corporate Events
Bring Apart to Your Organization
Apart showcases the importance of access to equal and equitable employment opportunities for stability and wellbeing, especially for women returning home after incarceration. We invite businesses to explore what fair chance and meaningful employment opportunities looks like for their companies, and their communities.
We have created screening and speaking packages featuring Apart that are designed to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as corporate social responsibility objectives, which align with Women’s History Month in March, and Second Chance Awareness Month in April, and Mother’s Day in May. The expert speakers include the film subjects featured in Apart and Represent Justice Ambassadors.
Events are compelling storytelling opportunities for employees to connect deeply with the importance of workforce inclusion for the one in three American adults who have first-hand experience with the justice system.
About
Credits
Director/Producer, Jennifer Redfearn
Cinematographer/Producer, Tim Metzger
Editor, Rabab Haj Yahya
Francisco Bello, Editor
Morgan Grace Kibby, Composer
Impact Campaign
Since the start of the War on Drugs, the number of women entering jails and prisons across the US has grown significantly, and the majority of incarcerated women are mothers. Everyday, approximately 200 women in the US are released from jails and prisons.
Represent Justice is launching an impact campaign to build public support for gender-responsive reentry solutions for women, and to create a new narrative about the impact of incarceration on women, children, families, and, as a result, entire communities. We will work with reentry programs, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to facilitate screenings that drive audience education and action.