New York, NY 10025
USA
Close Conversation: Incarceration
The Cathedral Of St. John The Divine Presents A Discussion On The Culture Around Incarceration In American Society
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
6:30 – 8:00 pm
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street), Manhattan
COST: Free
This event is presented in conjunction with The Value of Sanctuary: Building a House Without Walls.
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine will welcome Robert Pollock, Samuel Cabassa and Lanetta Hill as they each share their experiences and insights gained from their time spent incarcerated in New York State prisons at Close Conversation: Incarceration on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:30 PM at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street).
The discussion will be led by the Cathedral’s Madeleine L’Engle Fellow, Elizabeth Howard and will be introduced by Bruce MacLeod, President of the Board of Trustees of the Cathedral and member of the Board of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison. Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison provides college education, life skills and re-entry support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women to help them make a positive impact on their own lives, their families and communities, resulting in lower rates of recidivism, incarceration and poverty.
Robert Pollock is PEN America’s Prison Writing coordinator. For over a decade, he has worked with the justice system and its intersection with the arts. He has participated in workshops and panels at several universities to advocate for the power of the arts in prison education and rehabilitation. As a singer-songwriter, his compositions have been heard at the Obama White House, the New York Ethical Society, and Carnegie Hall.
Lanetta Hill is a Senior Case Manager at Services for the Underserved, which provides services for individuals and families dealing with homelessness. She served 13 years of a 15 year sentence. Ms. Hill is a single parent with four children and is a motivational speaker utilizing her experiences to inspire and educate others.
Samuel Cabassa is a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate, certified by the NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services at the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation. From 1982 to 2017, Mr. Cabassa served a 34-year prison sentence in various upstate correctional facilities. He trains others to become certified Recovery Coaches.
Elizabeth Howard, the inaugural Madeleine L’Engle Fellow at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, is an author and journalist. She is currently working on a book entitled Uncommon Vision: Extraordinary Lives.
A short reception will follow the conversation. The reception is being underwritten by the J.C. Flowers Foundation a, key funder of Circles of Support: a partnership of grass root organizations supporting successful re-entry for people coming home from prison.
