I am a Berkeley, CA based freelance writer and the author of Making Room In Our Hearts: Keeping Family Ties Through Open Adoption (Routledge, 2007). I have covered racial bias and policing for the East Bay Express and Restorative Justice for The Monthly. I completed 8 articles for my fellowhsip on Lessening the Impact of Incarceration on Oakland. I was inspired by one of the interviews for that series to begin The Welcome Home Project.  I interviewed 20 formerly incarcerated men and women that had spent between 10-20 years in prison and jail and have completely transformed their lives.

 The Welcome Home Project was supported by a Community Storytelling grant from CAL  Humanities.  we created a book with compelling photos and stories both for the general public to change attitudes about crime and criminality and as a motivational /educational tool for people both inside and outside of prison.

Media Coverage of The Welcome Home Project:

oaklandnorth.net/2014/10/23/formerly-incarcerated-residents-recognized-in-on-going-art-show-welcome-home/

 www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/finding-hope-after-prison/Content?oid=4103383

http://kalw.org/post/your-call-how-do-you-re-enter-society-after-prison