August 22 • 2019 15
jn

jews d
in 
the

Justice for All

Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity, JCRC/AJC 
to launch criminal justice reform initiative. 
T

he Coalition for 
Black and Jewish 
Unity and Jewish 
Community Relations 
Council/AJC (JCRC/
AJC) will host “Sentence 
Served — Exploring 
Barriers to Reentry” at 7 
p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 
5, at NOAH Event Venue 
(26100 Northwestern 
Highway) in Southfield. 
The event will focus on 
the complex set of barriers 
that formerly incarcerated 
individuals must navigate 
following their release 
from prison. From finding 
employment and housing 
to being accepted into 
an institution of higher 
learning, going back to 
a “normal” life can be 
nearly impossible.
The program will 
feature a panel of experts, 
including those who have 
been incarcerated or close 
to someone who was. 
They will discuss what 
they have experienced, 
as well as challenges 
and opportunities for 
change. Moderated by 
Jacob Smith, co-founder 
of the “Returning 
Citizen” podcast and 
JCRC/AJC board 
member, panelists will 
include: Margrit Allen, 
Detroit director of the 
Center for Employment 
Opportunities, which focuses on 
providing job pathways for the 
formerly incarcerated population; 
Aaron Kinzel, professor of 
criminology and criminal justice 
at the University of Michigan-
Dearborn. Specializing in 
corrections and public policy, 
he grew up in a life of crime, 
being locked up in multiple 
juvenile detention facilities and, 
later, spending more than half 
of a 19-year sentence in adult 
correctional facilities; and Michelle 

Smart, founder of Bags 
to Butterflies, which 
empowers formerly 
incarcerated women with 
transitional employment, 
resources and a caring 
network immediately 
upon their return to 
the community from 
incarceration.
The event marks the 
official launch of the 
Coalition and JCRC/AJC’
s 
joint criminal justice 
reform initiative.
“Reentry is an issue of 
the utmost importance,” 
said Rev. Deedee 
Coleman of Russell 
Street Missionary Baptist 
Church and co-chair of 
the Coalition for Black 
and Jewish Unity. “How 
we treat the vulnerable 
is the measure of who 
we are as individuals 
and as a nation. These 
individuals are parents, 
children and siblings 
who have served their 
time. Now we must make 
sure they have a place to 
land.” 
Added Jacob Smith, 
“The U.S. has the highest 
rate of incarceration in 
the world. More than 
10,000 individuals in the 
U.S. return from prison 
every week to rejoin us 
as neighbors. When able 
to find work, housing 
and other basic support, they’
re 
drastically less likely to commit 
more crime. We all win when we 
reduce barriers and help these 
returning citizens be successful.”
The event is free, and a dessert 
reception will follow. Advance 
registration is encouraged as 
seating is limited. Register at 
barrierstoreentry.eventbrite.com. 
For more information, contact 
Lauren Herrin at herrin@
jfmd.org. ■

Margrit Allen

Aaron Kinzel

 
Michelle Smart

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JCRC/AJC

Jacob Smith

MAGEN DAVID ADOM 
Det
r
oi
t
 Event

Thur
sday,
 
Oct
ober
 
24,
 
2019

27375 
Bel
l
 
Road 
• 
Southfiel
d, 
MI 
48034

7:00 
p.m. 
Pr
ogr
am 
and 
Keynot
e 
Speaker

Honoring 
Sandy and Ji
m Dant
o

Co-Chairs:
 
Lori 
and 
Steven 
Weisberg

Keynote 
Speaker 
Br
et St
ephens 

Pul
itzer 
Prize-winning 
col
umnist 
at 
the 
NY 
Ti
mes

For 
tickets 
and 
sponsorships, 
pl
ease 
contact 
Sharon 
Kobernik 
at 
 
888.674.4871 
or 
skobernik@afmda.org.

afmda.org/detroi
t

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