Since I Been Down: Film, Conversation and Call To Action

Date: 
Sunday, October 24, 2021 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Location: 
Online
Register Here
Learn more about sentencing reform. Join us for a film screening of @sinceibeendown 10/16-10/19, followed by a multi-faith dialogue with award-winning filmmaker Gilda Sheppard (pictured) on 10/24.

About SINCE I BEEN DOWN

Meet Kimonti Carter.

Joined a gang at age 11. At age 18, sentenced to 700 years in prison for his role in a drive by shooting in 1997. Against all odds, Kimonti became an inspirational role model within the prison system. As a leader of the Black Prisoners' Caucus, at age 34, Kimonti founded TEACH (Taking Education and Creating History), a remarkably innovative prisoner education program.

Kimonti was part of a community profoundly impacted by the city's disinvestment in housing, education, and employment as well as our policies in the 1990's.

This film, told by the people who have lived these conditions unravels why children commit violent crime and how these children – now adults – are breaking free from their fate by creating a model of justice that is transforming their lives, our humanity and the quality of life for all our children.

A Film, A Conversation and a Call To Action

If you have registered for this event, you will receive a private link to view the film, SINCE I BEEN DOWN at your convenience between October 16th and October 19th, 2021.

Then, we will come together on October 24th, 2021 for a Zoom conversation with multi-faith leaders to discuss SINCE I BEEN DOWN and identify ways to take action to transform our justice system

Links to watch the film and to join the Zoom conversation will be sent out on October 16th.

After a conversation with the featured panelists, attendees will come together for a call to action. We will leave with a better understanding of the criminal justice laws in Washington State and concrete ways we can all take action towards a system of transformative justice.

Featured Panelists

  • Gilda Sheppard, Director/Executive Producer/Writer of Since I Been Down
  • Tonya Wilson, Re-entry Outreach Coordinator, The Freedom Project
  • Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, Herzl-Ner Tamid
  • Dr. Mark Jones, The Sunyata Group
  • Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum , Kavana Cooperative
  • Rev. Kelle Brown, Plymouth Church Seattle

Multi-faith Team: Dr. Marcia Arunga, Rev. Paul Benz, Rabbi Jill Borodin, Justice Bobbe Bridge, Rev. Kelle Brown, Audrey Covner, Justice Mike Heavy, David Israel, Dr. Frank Jameson, Dr. Mark Jones, Karen Lee, Yaffa Maritz, Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum, Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, Dr. Gilda Sheppard, Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Rabbi Zari Weiss

The multi-faith team was initiated by Blacks and Jews Building Beloved Community.