ONLINE: Bridging the Gap: The State of Those Impacted by the Criminal Justice System During the Coronavirus Pandemic

press release: Amid COVID-19 concerns and the uncertainty of what the near future holds, the Nehemiah Reentry Conference will be postponed. We are planning on holding a virtual conference on Sept 9th and 10th. Because predictions about the virus suggest that we may need to avoid mass gatherings even this fall, we think the best plan is to hold the conference online. Those who have purchased a ticket to the conference will receive a link to participate in the online keynotes and panel discussions along with instructions on what you will need on your end to access everything. We will have chat rooms available for you to ask questions, comment and interact during the sessions.

On our original conference dates, April 23 and 24, we will be offering online discussions and updates of the current state of affairs for people currently incarcerated in Wisconsin as well as unique challenges for those who have been recently incarcerated.

If you've purchased tickets already and the new plan does not work for you, we do have refunds available. However, we hope you will keep your ticket and participate in the conference as planned. Our costs will likely be raised significantly to accommodate the technology. The purchase of your ticket will help Nehemiah make that happen.

We recognize that not everyone participating in the conference may have access to technology and we will be working on plans to provide an option (e.g. rooms available for small, spread out groups) to those who need it.

April 23 Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94007573964?pwd=TnowTmtDdFlDZ1BrQVFIdzZ0NEhjUT09

April 24 Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/97689185439?pwd=MjkraVZlMkxydkx3SW9aOXdFcTdlQT09

Virtual Panels are free and open to the public. Please join us for the full Reentry Conference in September.

This conference will include experts in the field joining together with people with lived experience to address the reentry process to support success for the community as a whole!

Speakers include:

Dominque Gilliard, Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice (LMDJ) initiative of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC)

Welcome by Anthony Cooper, Vice President of Reentry and Strategic Partnerships at Nehemiah

Kelli Thompson, Wisconsin State Public Defender

Tamra Oman

Foley Law Firm

Conference Agenda

Day 1 Agenda - Thursday

8:30-8:45 – Welcome (Anthony Cooper)

8:45-9:45 – Keynote #1 (Dominique Gilliard)

9:45-10:00 – Break/Transition

10:00-11:00 – Breakout Sessions

11:00-11:15 – Break/Transition

11:15-12:15 – Breakout Sessions

12:15-1:00 - Lunch

1:00-2:00 – Breakout Sessions

2:00-2:15 – Break/Transition

2:15-3:15 – Keynote #2 (Tamra Oman)

3:15-3:30 – Break

3:30-4:00 – Black Like Me Podcast Live Recording

4:00-4:15 - Closing

4:30-7:00 – Cocktails/Appetizers

Day 2 Agenda - Friday

8:30-9:30 – Keynote #3 (Kelli Thompson)

9:30-10:30 – Expungement Panel (Foley Law Firm)

10:30-10:45 – Break/Transition

10:45-11:45 – Action Steps Discussion Groups

11:45-12:45 – Keynote #4

12:45-1:00 – Closing

Conference learning objectives and outcomes:

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to identify 3 components of reentry services.
• Attendees will be able to identify 3 strategies to support reentry in the community.
• Attendees will be able to identify 3 challenges to address with re-entry planning & implementation services.
• Attendees will have the experience to hear stories from persons with lived experience and opportunity to ask questions and share experiences.

Outcomes:

• Increase attendees’ awareness of what is Reentry Services
• Increase awareness of community needs for Reentry Services
• Learn how to support Re-Entry Services within the local community
• Identify future training and learning needs to continue to expand on collaboration with attendees, community and Reentry Services