2022 Conference Information

 Topic: Restorative Justice   

Kratina Baker is the Empathy Network & Programs Manager at Dream Corps JUSTICE where she manages the nation’s largest network of formerly incarcerated and justice impacted individuals working to pass federal and state policy to bring people home from prison and give them opportunities while keeping our communities safe. Before joining Dream Corps JUSTICE, Kratina was the North Carolina organizer for a global reproductive rights campaign where she led the digital strategy for the campaign and managed volunteer teams to advocate for family planning and comprehensive reproductive health care for individuals around the globe. Having obtained a law degree, Kratina has offered her legal expertise working as a consultant for attorneys, advocacy organizations, and grassroots political campaigns. She was also a part of the te team that launched a digital campaign for Oklahoma death row inmate Julius Jones. The campaign went viral, gaining support from celebrities and people all over the world. Kratina has a B.A. in Communications from the University of West Florida and received her Juris Doctorate from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. 

.tina@dreamcorps.org

Topic: Reentry in Florida

Neil Volz has more than 25 years of experience working as a public servant and community advocate. He is currently the Deputy Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. His previous work includes being the Chief of Staff for a Member of Congress and the Staff Director for a full Congressional Committee, as well as the Outreach Director for one of the fastest-growing churches in the country and as the Program Director for a leading Non-Profit Organization that serves formerly homeless veterans. FRRC’s platform for 2021 is informed by the lived experiences of returning citizens from all walks of life, political persuasions, and regions of the state. Nearly 7,000 returning citizens filled out FRRC surveys, outlining the priorities and values of Florida’s returning citizen community. This platform is a blueprint for the policies that FRRC will work to enact moving forward.

info@floridarrc.org

Topic: We Are Called

Allison DeFoor is an Episcopal priest, and serves as Canon to the Ordinary to the Bishop of the Diocese of Florida, in Jacksonville. He is married to the Honorable Randy Poitevent DeFoor, a longtime Jacksonville native. Previously he served parishes in four prisons around Tallahassee, and as an assistant at Grace Mission, an inner-city mission there. He has an extensive background in criminal justice, including service as a prosecutor, public defender, judge, and was the elected Sheriff of Monroe County. A former law professor, he was the founding chair of the Project on Accountable Justice at FSU. Before coming to Jacksonville, Canon DeFoor served as a priest in four prisons in the Tallahassee area and as an assisting priest at Grace Mission, an inner-city mission in Tallahassee. Canon DeFoor has earned degrees in law, criminology, and theology. He has an extensive background in criminal justice, having previously served as a prosecutor, public defender, judge, and as the elected Sheriff of Monroe County. In addition, he is a former law professor and the founding chair of the Project on Accountable Justice at Florida State University. Canon DeFoor has served on the board of Episcopal Children’s Services since 2015. You can read more about Rev DeFoor here

Topic: History of Florida Life Sentences

Kathie is the author of Madame Dread: A Tale of Love Voudo and Civil Strife in Haiti and a contributor to two anthologies: So Spoke the Earth and Women, Writing, and Prison. In 2010 she received a Knight International Journalism Fellowship to train journalists in investigative reporting in Haiti, where she spent half of the last 24 years reporting for print, radio, and television, including Time, The New York Times, ABC, and NPR. Kathie started facilitating writing workshops in the correctional system in 2009 and began writing exchanges with academic institutions in 2013. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received her MFA from Lesley University.  Exchange for Change offers writing courses in prisons and runs letter exchanges between incarcerated students and writers studying on the outside. By preparing incarcerated people for their reentry into the outside community and preparing that community for their return, Exchange for Change provides vision and understanding on both sides of the fence. 

kathie@exchange-for-change.org

Topic: Removal of Indentured Servitude

Dianne Hart was born and raised in Tampa, Fl. and Educated in the public schools of Hillsborough County. Dianne has been a small business owner for over 36 years (Ms. Dee's World of Beauty) Dianne has committed her life to help others throughout the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County. Dianne Hart has been the CEO of East Tampa Business and Civic Association Inc. since 2008. From 1999 to 2008, she was the Community Development Specialist.  She directs ETBCA's new homes construction projects, including locating and assembling land for the development of affordable housing, recruiting home-buyers, and qualifying them to purchase or substantially improve existing homes, working with contractors, the City of Tampa, and Hillsborough County in these endeavors. Dianne has provided homeowner housing rehabilitation for more than 120 homeowners in the last 4 years. Through her upbringing and working with ETBCA, Ms. Hart became an outstanding community leader who is tireless in her efforts in raising awareness to the violence in our community.  She has driven East Tampa and other areas in the City to new heights and set an example for other community leaders as well.  

 Dianne.Hart@myfloridahouse.gov

Topic: Unconstitutionality of Florida’s Life Sentence

Mr. Swensen has spent 20 years at the crossroads of political and nonprofit work creating, managing, and leading various operations at the local, state, and federal levels. He has written and implemented finance plans ranging from hundreds of dollars to millions of dollars. He created and managed policies and procedures with the purpose of recruiting and retaining paid and volunteer staff. Mr. Swensen has served on boards, committees, and commissions with concerns ranging from criminal justice reform to federal campaign finance reform.  Mr. Swensen has been incarcerated more than once, he has been homeless and he’s spent the night at the White House. All of these experiences have prepared him for the work that he is currently doing.  Mr. Swensen is the Development Director for Pacific Islander Knowledge 2 Action Resources (PIK2AR) located in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a co-founder and board member of the National Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform. 

Topic: Ready Or Not PowerPoint

Micah Turner is the Access Division Manager for Trekker Distributor. He is the Owner and President of Turner Consulting and Training Services. He and his wife, Dawn Turner,reside in Davenport, Florida and are the parents of 8 children and 6 grandchildren.They are the founders of For the Least of These… Living Water Ministries. They committed to showing the love of Jesus to those who might not experience it otherwise. The ministry provides resources and services inside prisons and to those who reenter society. He is dedicated to preaching the Truth of Jesus Christ to all.

Topic: Diamonds in the Rough

Jim is the CEO of Inmate Encounter, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) prison ministry, was founded with the assistance of the Billy Graham Ministry in 1979, engaged in prison ministry for four decades. They are a faith-based ministry located in Central Florida with active members from across the United States. Inmate Encounter goes into Florida prisons to minister to incarcerated men and women and assists inmates as they transition back into society. On our front lines, we have world-class talented individuals that spread the gospel of Jesus Christ within the jails and prisons of Florida. Our platform speakers work in concert with a volunteer army of faith-based counselors that offer up the good news of finding salvation through Jesus Christ in a loving Christian face to face delivery.

Topic: Fight for Life Prison Tour

Christina Reyes was born and raised in Philadelphia. She has worked in her community for over 18 years helping to support families in low-income areas. During her life experiences, she became a dual survivor by being a victim of violence in 1989 at the age of seven when three of my family members were murdered. In 1998 she had a loved one named Matthew Garcia that was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 18 years old which fuelled her to become an active member in CADBI the Coalition to Abolish Death by Incarceration. She has been actively engaged in helping to educate and bring awareness to end death by incarceration and to bring our loved ones home.

 Topic: History of Life Sentences in Florida

John Thompson (he/him) is a social and political organizer with the Abolitionist Law Center, primarily working and advocating to eliminate death by incarceration, solitary confinement, and the release of all aging and geriatric prisoners. He is the founder and Executive Director of New Hope Community Services, a grassroots community organization advocating for both social and political issues. He is also the co-founder of Urban Inspiration, a community organization that provides resources and mentoring to children and young adults. He has organized political campaigns for candidates in both state and national elections. John spent over 37 years in prison, after being convicted at the age of 17, and sentenced to death by incarceration. He has a degree in paralegal studies and worked as a jailhouse lawyer for over 20 years while incarcerated in state prison. He currently sits on the Data & Safety Monitoring Board of the National Institute of Health and National Institute on Aging. He currently resides in Philadelphia with his wife and young daughter.

johnt5260@gmail.com

Topic: Pathways to Reducing Recidivism During Reentry

Dr. Parker has a distinguished career as a university teacher and administrator that spans approximately 32 years. He is Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at FSU. He is Chair of the National Civil Rights Conference, and he is Founder and Executive Director of the National Education and Empowerment Coalition, Inc. The mission of the National Education and Empowerment Coalition is to develop and promote communication and advocacy skills via conferences, workshops and educational programs that will empower individuals to recognize the moral imperative in creating a more civil society where diversity and inclusion are embraced. 

kdparker@neec-inc.org

 Topic:  SB 1378 & HB 1037

Terms & Conditions of Probation 

(REFORM's 2022 legislation)

Katie is the State Campaign Organizer at Reform Alliance. With 15 years of experience organizing and facilitating events and fundraising for political campaigns, associations, foundations, and the governor of Florida; her background in non-profits, political campaigns, and the government is broad and diverse. Katie has a proven record in strategically managing multiple competing interests and stakeholders to achieve optimum outcomes in government, campaign, and non-profit sectors. More than a decade of achievement in association management, government relations, logistics, fundraising, crisis response, policy & research, communication strategy, and campaign finance. katie@reformalliance.com 

Opening prayer

Apostle Otis Young is the founder of Team Kingdom ⁓ A man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). 20+ years of servitude in ministry. A worshiper who loves God and has an unconditional love for his people. He holds multiple degrees: B. S. – Elementary Education, Florida A&M University, M. Ed. – Educational Leadership, Florida A&M University, Ph. D. – Christian Education, Covenant Restoration International College, and a Doctorate of Ministry - St. Thomas University. Apostle Otis Young is married to Lady Michelle Young. Team Kingdom is the heartbeat of Otis and Michelle Young which encompasses Kingdom Life Tabernacle, Kingdom Life Preparatory Academy, Young Hope Ministries International, KL University and a host of other Ministries.

Topic:  The Truth of Your Commitment 

In 2001, Kenny Glasgow began asking an important question: How do we change society to make it fair for ordinary people? His organization, The Ordinary People Society, (T.O.P.S.), funded by Criminal Justice Initiative (CJI) since 2003, exists to do just that. Recognizing the disparities in arrest, bail, and incarceration, Kenny and T.O.P.S. set out to learn how to increase equity for the ordinary people caught up in the criminal justice and legal system. They studied past movements, including civil and voting rights organizing, and they soon saw a connection. “Part of the rejection of people who are convicted of crimes,” Kenny explains, “is dehumanizing them. And part of that dehumanization is taking away their voting rights, which are the rights that define citizenship. People are stripped of their citizenship when they’re not allowed to vote.” In 2007, the group successfully pushed for new Rules of Executive Clemency in Florida, which allowed for the restoration of voting rights for people convicted of non-violent felonies. In a single year, this initiative resulted in more than 100,000 individuals being granted the right to vote.

kennethglasgow@gmail.com

Moderator Session, thoughts from leaders  

Dustin Rivenbark is a determined motivational speaker/preacher who is taking his passion for motivating youth and young adults, using stories of inspiration and unwavering faith to the young adults of today in order to better prepare them for tomorrow. With over six years of working with youth and young adults, Dustin has a proven track record with EMPOWERING the Next Generation to stay in school and succeed in life NO MATTER WHAT! Dustin is experienced in speaking to schools, companies/businesses, churches, conferences, non-profit organizations and jails. His experience in the community consists of helping to organize community events and working with youth/young adults and inmates to ensure the success of the NEXT GENERATION.

dustinrivenbark@yahoo.com