Freedom Celebration!

Written By: Cheryl Stovell, Re-Entry Advocate

I attended a conference where we celebrated the newfound freedom with hundreds of people who lost thousands of years of time behind bars due to wrongful convictions. 

The conference was sponsored by the Innocence Project in the beautiful city of New Orleans, where I witnessed a diverse community of justice-impacted individuals, lawyers, and advocates come together was truly motivating. The atmosphere was charged with a shared dedication to effecting positive change in the lives of returning citizens. The conference's attendees passionately networked, sharing stories of resilience, advocacy strategies, and innovative approaches to address systemic injustices. The sense of solidarity and determination in the room was palpable, reinforcing the importance of collective action in the pursuit of justice reform. Hearing firsthand accounts of wrongful convictions and the challenges faced upon reentry underscored the urgency of the work being done by the Innocence Project Network and its allies. 

Leaving the conference, I felt energized and empowered in my work with Freedom From Within to contribute to the ongoing efforts to rectify injustices and support those who are justice-impacted.