Reentry, Resetting and Redemption: LASP and Safe Corridors present Pardon Symposium
(Jan. 28, 2022)
Click to watch the Pardon Symposium on YouTube at youtu.be/F7CWSJnAjT4: Reentry, Resetting, and Redemption: Pardon Symposium Jan. 27, 2022. (1 hour, 13 minutes)
CHESTER city - LASP and Safe Corridors hosted "Reentry, Resetting and Redemption: Pardon Symposium: Part III" virtually on Jan. 27. Originally planned to take place in-person in Chester city, Delaware County, the event focused on stories of inspiration and reentry success, plus specifics on how to navigate Pennsylvania's pardon process and how legal aid may be able to help. Speakers included Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry’s, Celeste Trusty, Pennsylvania Board of Pardons Secretary, and Saad Soliman, National Reentry Systems Subject Matter Expert.
John Linder, former mayor of Chester city, Delaware County, moderated. Cohen and other special guests Van Jones, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, State Rep. Brian Kirkland, and Meg Grant of Keystone First shared remarks in support of reentry, noting the benefits to individuals, families, communities, and the nation as a whole. Jonathan Abdur-Rahim King, Reentry Professional, was the event organizer and also provided words of hope, while explaining the mission of Reentry, Resetting and Redemption. Saad Soliman discussed the scope of reentry and social reform, including successes in Delaware.
Secretary of the Board of Pardons Celeste Trusty outlined Pennsylvania's pardon process and how to apply for a pardon in the state. Megan Reinprecht, LASP Community Engagement (CEU) Staff Attorney, shared information on how to apply to Legal Aid for help with pardon process if you are in Bucks, Chester, Delaware or Montgomery counties. Erica Briant, CEU Supervising Attorney, fielded questions from attendees. Stacey Mandel offered resources for starting the narrative section of the pardon application.
Thank you to event sponsors!
Aivazoglou & Mikropolous, Attorneys at Law; Amachi Chester Mentoring Program; Big Var’s Water Ice; Cavalry Cleaning Services LLC; Chester Cultural Arts & Technology Center; Chester Housing Authority; Chester Peace Initiative; City of Chester; CMP Radio; Creative Artist Support Team; Crown Me Fit; Delaware County Public Defender; Dream Event Space; EDSI; Elite Facility Services; Emir Healing Center; The Empowerment Management Group, LLC; State Sen. John Kane; Keystone First; State Rep. Brian Kirkland; Madison’s Place; Making a Change Group; Mom’s Deli; MVP Recovery; Nemex Landscaping; Positive Potential Project; Riverside Futures; Sanai Dior Ballroom and Wedding Chapel; Servicemaster Clean; Single Mothers Are Really Trying (SMART); Swarthmore College Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility, Tandem; Trippley Foundation; and Urban Inequality and Incarceration (UII), Swarthmore Language Center.
Stay tuned!
An in-person event will be rescheduled in April 2022. Stay tuned to lasp.org/events!
LASP webpage on reentry, pardons and record-clearing
Our new webpage is at lasp.org/expungements.