The Fully Free campaign of Heartland Alliance aims to end “permanent punishment” for people seeking to lead law-abiding lives after release from prison. Campaign manager Marlon Chamberlain (whose personal story was featured in Episode 7) shares his personal experience and describes examples of laws creating barriers for employment, housing, education, and professional licensing, which he describes as “prison after prison.”
Co-host Lynard Joiner shares his own experience with permanent punishment and expresses bewilderment as to why society continues to punish people even after serving their sentences in full and having supposedly “paid their debt to society.” Host David Risley adds his perspective as a former career federal prosecutor.
Listen to Episode 8
Marlon Chamberlain manages the Fully Free campaign of the Heartland Alliance in the Chicago area. In this episode he shares his personal story and insights gained from serving over a decade in federal prison, returning home to community and family life, and following the path that led him to where he is today.
Hear him speak with David Risley and Lynard Joiner.
We spent the summer talking with Chicagoans working to reduce shootings. Here’s what they say is driving violence — and is needed to stop it.
Listen to the full story, featuring READI Chicago, from WBEZ here.
Jessica es ecuatoriana, pero desde hace más de 18 años ha hecho de la ciudad de Chicago, en Illinois, Estados Unidos, su casa. Desde marzo de 2020, cuando se implementaron las medidas de cuarentena y distanciamiento social por COVID-19, ella y su esposo perdieron su trabajo. Ella trabajaba como niñera. La combinación de falta de un sueldo estable y carencia de papeles migratorios ocasionó que los pilares que habían construido para criar a una familia de dos adolescentes se empezaran a desvanecer.
Leela la Columna de Opinion de Katie Buitrago sobre los hallazgos del reporte El efecto dominó del COVID-19: Cómo la pandemia profundizó la opresión sistémica para los afroamericanos y latinos de Illinois publicada en The Washington Post
Eddie Bocanegra, Readi Chicago sr. director, works to reduce violence by using predictive analytics to identify people at risk of becoming involved in violent crime.
Watch the full story from CNBC here.
In a recent announcement made by several Chicago sports franchises, the Chicago Sports Alliance, in a collaboration with the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox that began in 2017, said it will now move forward for a fourth year to combine the reach and resources of the iconic franchises in support of impactful, evidence-based solutions to gun violence in the city.
The group, along with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, will provide a total of $1.5 million in grants to support READI Chicago (Rapid Employment and Development Initiative) and the University of Chicago Crime Lab.
Read the full story from the Chicago Crusader here.
When Marlon Chamberlain was asked by his son’s teacher to volunteer as a field trip chaperone, he happily applied. But Chamberlain’s application was denied because of his 25 year-old prison record. “There are hundreds of laws that restrict [formerly incarcerated] people, who are denied opportunities for employment, housing and educational opportunities,” he says.
Read the full story from Illinois Newsroom here
In his first trip as Attorney General, Merrick Garland headed home to Chicago to launch a new gun strike force. He met with police and community leaders.
Listen to the story, featuring READI Chicago, on NPR here.
