The Power of our Stories: Achieving Mental Health and Criminal Justice Transformation Through Women’s Advocacy

Dionne Bensonsmith, Tammy Nyden, and Angela Riccio speak on panel with members of Essie Justice group. This panel is part of the Grinnell Justice Prize Week. Grinnell College, Grinnell Iowa. October 3, 2017.

Session Description:

Members of the Essie Justice Group and Mothers on the Frontline will discuss the power and perils of uplifting the experiences of women in advocacy work. Panelists will explore the significance of bringing women’s stories into stigma-laden public debates, through a focus on advocacy at the intersection of mental health and incarceration. Leaders of Essie Justice Group and Mothers on the Frontline will discuss their methodologies and commitment to promoting healing and agency while avoiding voyeurism and further trauma in their efforts to leverage women’s stories to advocate for decarceration and the mental well-being of ourselves, children, and loved ones. This Panel Discussion is part of Grinnell Prize Week at Grinnell College, Grinnell Iowa.