Our Stories Matter is honored to share the stories of a diverse group of activists, artists, and healers.
Season 4 Storytellers
HEALING THROUGH THE CREATION OF FFRP
He is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP).
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HEALING THROUGH ART
He was born in El Paso, Texas and began his career in 1995 as a member of the East Los Angeles Streetscapers.
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HEALING THROUGH EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN
She was sentenced to 60 years to a life sentence and recently released after serving ten years when her sentence was overturned and vacated in 2022.
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HEALING THROUGH MWe (Me+We)
He received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in pediatrics and child, adolescent and adult psychiatry.
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HEALING THROUGH FIRE CAMP
He is a 41 year old, black, Jewish Sicilian, Choctaw, Native American, Indian.
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HEALING THROUGH THE WRITEN WORD
He was born in El Salvador at the age of 14 he was brought to the USA by his mother.
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HEALING THROUGH HOPE
Born and raised in Malibu, California, Tyler was a privileged and intelligent young man.
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HEALING THROUGH WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
She grew up system impacted and spent much of her childhood in and out of jails and prison camps.
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HEALING THROUGH CELLBLOCK INTELLECTUALS
He is currently the CEO and Co-founder of The Uncuffed Project. A non-profit that specializes in the formerly incarcerated, which has coined the phrase “Returned Citizens”· and the marginalized and disenfranchised.
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HEALING THROUGH UNWAVERED COMPASSION
He is the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world.
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Season 3 Storytellers
HEALING THROUGH IMMIGRANT JUSTICE ACTIVISM
Using his experiences to advocate for the humanization of Black and immigrant communities in the political and justice systems.
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HEALING THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Writer and artist using his experience in the prison system to empower those who have had negative experiences with criminal injustices.
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HEALING THROUGH ABOLITION
Alameda County’s first Black Chief Public Defender, challenges that bad reputation as he shares his passion and advocacy.
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HEALING THROUGH COLLABORATION
Trailblazers in their work with UCLA’s Prison education Program.
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HEALING THROUGH LOVE
Healing of mind, body, spirit, and justice through their marriage and community addiction treatment center, Beit T’Shuvah.
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HEALING THROUGH SPOKEN WORD
His use of words set the stage for him to model, encourage, and champion vulnerability and healing in others.
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HEALING THROUGH FINANCIAL LITERACY
Fearlessly from the Inside, he shares how music and his promotion of literacy have been his tools for advocating for social justice in Black and Brown communities.
HEALING THROUGH EDUCATION
Leveraging his position in academia to change the face of education in higher education.
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HEALING THROUGH FILM
Working to tell stories of transformation and understated bravery by rendering the juxtaposition of psycho-spiritual realities alongside normalized brutalities.
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HEALING THROUGH WOMEN’S RE-ENTRY ACTIVISM
A fierce advocate for incarcerated women and girls who has firsthand experience in the many challenges of reentry
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HEALING THROUGH TRUTH
Presents her story of resilience, strength, and perseverance while joining us from the belly of the beast.
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HEALING THROUGH LIBERATION
A Black feminist prison abolitionist scholar working to interrupt criminalization at the intersections of race, gender, and education.
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HEALING THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Criminal Justice Director at the ACLU of Southern California.
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HEALING THROUGH INCLUSION
Shares how learning to receive love from others and themselves emboldened them to embrace their intersectionality.
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Season 2 Storytellers
HEALING THROUGH ACTIVISM
South LA organizer and Senior Case Manager at Volunteers of America who focuses on breaking the intergenerational cycle of incarceration.
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HEALING THROUGH RE-ENTRY ACTIVISM
Domestic violence, child abuse, trauma, and addiction advocate.
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HEALING THROUGH ANTI-RACIST ACTIVISM
Experienced trainer, coach, advocate, and leader.
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HEALING THROUGH MINDFULNESS
Renowned teacher in Inglewood, CA who brings mindfulness into the classroom.
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HEALING THROUGH VOTING
Strengthening the self-determination and power building efforts of people who are stigmatized by the law and by society
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HEALING THROUGH RE-ENTRY ACTIVISM
Serving individuals impacted by gangs and incarceration, and re-integrating them back into the workforce, schools, and community.
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HEALING THROUGH FAITH
Chair of USC Unchained Scholars, psychotherapist intern, and community activist. .
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Season 1 Storytellers
HEALING THROUGH STORYTELLING
Writer, producer, artistic theologian, and revolutionary artist exploring the power of story.
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HEALING THROUGH POETRY
Professor of social work at USC, turning classrooms into brave spaces to train the next generation of change makers.
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HEALING THROUGH ART
Artist and activist committed to dismantling patriarchy through advocacy, diverse community building and challenging societal norms.
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HEALING THROUGH ACTIVISM
Entrepreneur and activist with 10 years of experience, passionate about motivating others to always achieve their highest self.
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HEALING THROUGH EMBODIMENT
Founder of Lumos Transforms, creating simple stress-reduction solutions that build capacity and resilience.
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HEALING THROUGH ACTIVISM
Safe brave spaces are needed at all campuses so those impacted by mass incarceration can help one another and know they do not need to struggle alone.
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