On May 13, 2022 this first-of-its-kind Blue Ribbon Commission on Correctional Staff Wellness assembled to shed light on the deadly wellness crisis sweeping through our correctional system yet not seen by most Americans; government, regulators, legislators have all failed to provide oversight. It is our hope that more stakeholders will begin to recognize and address this crisis by listening to first-hand testimony of officers, staff, and stress management experts in the field.
Panel 1: I Am Not Okay
First-hand accounts and experiences featuring Stephen Walker, Bryanna Mellen, William Young, and Milagros Brown
Panel 2: Another way is Possible
Understanding the mental/physical wellness implications on staff and looking toward a better future, featuring Dr. Michael Pittaro, Dr. Caterina Spinaris, and Tor Erik Larsen
Blue Ribbon Commissioners: The distinguished panel of Blue Ribbon Commissioners include people with national standing who are not in the correctional workforce. The panel includes those whose titles, words of affirmation, networks, spheres of influence and commitment to work towards officer wellness will demonstrate the strength of our alliances and partners, inspire officers and staff and add much needed momentum to our movement.
Ken Dalley, Chairman and Chief Warrior of Guardian RFID
Rob English, Senior Organizer, Metro IAF
Juan Gomez, Co-Founder and Executive Director, MILPA Collective
Mary Kay Henry, International President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Juliene James, Vice President of Criminal Justice, Arnold Ventures
Darielle Kennedy, Chair, Student Senate, Oberlin College
Rev. Terrence Melvin, Secretary Treasurer, NY State AFL-CIO
Brianna Nuhfer, Vice President of Criminal Justice, Stand Together
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
David Pitts, Director of the Prison Research & Innovation Initiative, Urban Institute
Dr. Lisa Puglisi, Asst Professor of Medicine at Yale
Amanda Ripley, New York Times Best Selling Author and Investigative Journalist
David Safavian, Director, American Conservative Union Foundation
Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia, Managing Director of Justice Initiatives, Chicago Beyond
source
