Sean Kelly / Parks Conservancy
The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories.
About the Speaker
Recently paroled after completing a 24-year sentence, Leonard began his transformation with a desire to understand when his life has taken such a drastic turn. By taking classes on emotional intelligence, criminal thinking and behavior, substance abuse disorder treatment, and beyond, he realized that he had developed many negative core beliefs and character defects. Once these were identified, he replaced them with coping skills that have allowed him to be a positive member of society.
Leonard is currently a college student pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Communications, working as a student mentor in the Rising Scholars Program, and is creating a social club for formerly incarcerated students. He has dedicated his life to being a positive example and showing what someone can accomplish with sincerity and diligence.
How to Attend
While all events are free, a ferry ticket is required to reach Alcatraz. Purchase ferry tickets at Alcatraz City Cruises. We recommend the 12 PM boat or earlier.
If you are part of a justice-impacted group and are interested in attending one of the days, please email NPS about community tickets for these events.
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- Park
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- Service