South Carolina
Niya Kenny is a social justice advocate and education reformer who uses her experience to fight the school-to-prison pipeline and challenge laws that disproportionately impact Black students.

Georgia
George Anthony Morton is an Atlanta-based award-winning and internationally recognized artist, specializing in classical painting and drawing inspired by Classical-Realist tradition.

New York
Fernando, wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for over 18 years, was exonerated in 2009, becoming the first Latin-American male in New York to be cleared on actual innocence grounds, and has since transformed his life into a powerful advocacy and public speaking career while pursuing his creative passions.

Washington D.C.
Eddie B. Ellis Jr., a reentry advocate and consultant, founded One by 1, Inc. and leverages his experience as a formerly incarcerated person to build safer communities through training, mentorship, and support for reintegration, while also serving as the Co-Director of Outreach & Member Services at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.

Louisiana
Andrew, once labeled a “juvenile lifer,” transformed his life after becoming the first in Louisiana to be paroled under new rulings, and now leads the Louisiana Parole Project to help others with extreme sentences reintegrate and thrive.

Ohio
Sentenced to 10 years in prison at the age of 23 for crimes related to her addiction, Amanda is now devoted to her recovery and helping others in recovery.

Ohio
Through powerful storytelling and vivid artistic expression, Columbus-born filmmaker and playwright Twyana Davis brings light to social injustices, trauma, and the voices of the system-impacted, inspiring audiences to think beyond boundaries and embrace change.

California
Lucas Guilkey is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who investigates systems of power and tells stories of those on the frontlines of fighting oppression.

New York
JoeBill Muñoz is a documentary filmmaker and director and producer of The Strike (Hot Docs 2024).