WE GOT US NOW podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series

WELCOME to Season 4 of the ⁠WE GOT US NOW Podcast⁠ series POWERED by ⁠The Just Trust⁠

HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 6th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight voices from our community, and uplift our allies working across the field to create a just and equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.  

Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, MD, MBA | MSc | FAAP is a pediatrician and a physician-investigator at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She examines the influence of social adversities experienced in childhood and subsequent child and adolescent health. Dr. Heard-Garris is also interested in the factors that contribute to thriving and resilience despite these experiences. Dr. Heard-Garris completed a prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Fellowship at the University of Michigan. She earned her Master of Science in Health and Healthcare Research. She received her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Howard University College of Medicine and helped to launch the student-run free clinic serving DC residents. Dr. Heard-Garris earned her Bachelor of Science in biology at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Heard-Garris is also an active member in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Heard-Garris has had numerous media appearances, including CNN/Sesame Street, NPR, NBC, and numerous others. 

In this episode, she takes our listeners on a deep dive about the impacts of structural racism on the lives of children with incarcerated parents. She believes in using research to better inform clinical practice and policy that supports youth, their families, and their communities to become their healthiest selves and thrive. Don't Miss This Insightful Discussion!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: ⁠WEGOTUSNOW.org ⁠|⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠

LISTEN to the WE GOT US NOW Podcast on SPOTIFY, APPLE Podcasts and all podcasts platforms.

#WEGOTUSNOW  #10MillionInspired #ChildWellBeing #Community #Allies #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents  #WeGotUsNowPodcast 

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series

WELCOME to Season 4 of the ⁠WE GOT US NOW Podcast⁠ series POWERED by ⁠The Just Trust

HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 6th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight voices from our community, and uplift our allies working across the field to create a just and equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.  

Tony Lewis Jr. is an Author, Community Leader, Re-Entry Expert, WE GOT US NOW Actionist and champion for children with incarcerated parents. Tony Jr. has fought relentlessly to uplift and empower men, women, and children impacted by mass incarceration. His work and advocacy has been featured on CNN, BET, and in the Washington Post. He is the winner of many awards including the Steve Harvey/Ford Motor Company “Best Community Leader” award and the Presidential Call to Service award.

In this episode, we celebrate the reunification of Tony and his father Tony Lewis, Sr. after 34 years in prison. As his father's only child, Tony Jr. was relentless about advocating for his father's release and while doing so changed the negative narrative associated with his namesake into a pillar of positivity, as a native Washingtonian, for his DC community.  Today, Tony Sr. is FREE - listen as he shares his story of redemption, restoration and how elated he is to be able to reunite with his family, spend quality time with his granddaughters, and finally be reunited with his son, Tony Jr.  LISTEN TO THIS COMPELLING CONVERSATION!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: ⁠WEGOTUSNOW.org ⁠|⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠

LISTEN to the WE GOT US NOW Podcast on SPOTIFY, APPLE Podcasts , iHEART and all podcasts platforms.

#WEGOTUSNOW #10MillionInspired #ActionistinAction #Fathers #Sons #Children #GrandChildren #Family  #Community #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents  #WeGotUsNowPodcast

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series

WELCOME to Season 3 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast series HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 5th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight our community voices, bring awareness to 50 Years of Mass Incarceration in 2023, and uplift our allies working to reform the criminal legal system and create a just, equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.️

S3 | EP 3: SYLVIA TASCON ~ Stepping into Greatness: Advocacy for Family, Justice, Fairness + Freedom for Her Incarcerated Father

Sylvia Tascon is a 2022 WE GOT US NOW Actionist from Houston, TX.

She is an Entrepreneur, Loctician and Daughter of Omar Torres Montalvo who continues to be incarcerated for the last 28 years in federal prison. 

In this episode of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast, Sylvia describes growing up as an introverted little girl due to the collateral consequences she experienced as a result of her father's incarceration. She highlights the wonderful, encouraging relationship her father has maintained with her throughout the years, despite the prison walls that separated them.

Motivated by the movement for social justice, Sylvia's interest in advocacy was peaked. She stepped out of the shadows of fear and pain and into the light of strength and advocacy. Yearning to be reunited with her father in the free world, she describes taking her sons to visit her father for the first time and the injustices they faced. As a daughter who experienced the devastating impact of parental incarceration for the majority of her life, she courageously advocates for the reunification of her family, fair sentencing, her father's freedom, and the wellbeing of all children and young adults with justice-impacted parents. 

This is an episode, not to be missed!

#WeGotUsNow #SylviaTascon #10MillionInspired #WellBeing #SocialConnection #ActionistinAction #Actionist #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents #MassIncarceration #endmassincarceration #ParentsBehindBars #Family #WeGotUsNowPodcast

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO www.WEGOTUSNOW.org| Instagram @WE_GOTUSNOW | Twitter: @WE_GOTUSNOW

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series ⭐ WELCOME to Season 3 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast series HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 5th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight our community voices, bring awareness to 50 Years of Mass Incarceration in 2023, and uplift our allies working to reform the criminal legal system and create a a just, equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.️

⭐S3| EP 2: KELLY WOOLF ~ Acknowledging & Uplifting an Unseen Community

Kelly Woolf is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist at Sixth Street Wellness and WE GOT US NOW Board Member. Her personal commitment to social justice and the desire to make an impact in the world has helped her create parallel careers in the fields of social work, mental health, and nonprofit leadership. Her experience as a daughter of a formerly incarcerated parent led her to WE GOT US NOW. She serves on the Governing Board of Directors at WE GOT US NOW, and has been instrumental in the strategic development and growth of the organization since its inception. Principles of equality, social justice, and rehabilitation drove her to the field of Social Work. But it is the incredibly rewarding experience providing clinical services and advocacy for both adolescents and adults that has helped her to develop an incisive and expanded understanding of these principles. 

As a trusted nonprofit leader, her expertise is in strategic visioning, brand building, and content creation. She is the former Chief Impact Officer at Multiplying Good, where for 8 years she held a multifaceted position, dividing her time between partnerships, development, programs, and communications. Prior to Multiplying Good, she was at Fran Drescher's cancer organization, Cancer Schmancer. She began her work with non-profits in 2009, when she assisted in setting up the U.S. branch of The Startfund. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from The New School and received her Masters in Social Work from the Silver School at New York University.  Kelly is a native New Yorker and avid world traveler, with over 10 years of non-profit experience.

WE GOT US NOW is extremely honored to have the opportunity to spotlight our Board Member, Kelly Woolf.

This episode is not to be missed!

#WeGotUsNow #KellyWoolf #10MillionInspired #WellBeing #SocialConnection #Community #Unseen #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents #MassIncarceration #endmassincarceration #ParentsBehindBars #Family #RankedTop10 #WeGotUsNowPodcast

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO www.WEGOTUSNOW.org| Instagram @WE_GOTUSNOW | Twitter: @WE_GOTUSNOW

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series WELCOME to Season 3 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast series HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 5th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day, WE spotlight our community voices, bring awareness to 50 Years of Mass Incarceration in 2023, and uplift our allies working to reform the criminal legal system and create a a just, equitable society that seeks to keep justice-impacted families connected.️

S3 | EP 1: TIFFANY BROWN ~ Developing Despite Distance: 3Dimensional Leadership, Lived Expertise & Elevating Black Boys ️

Tiffany Brown is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a WE GOT US NOW Actionist from the inaugural cohort representing Detroit, Michigan. She is the Founder/ Executive Director of Developing Despite Distance ~ a Michigan based nonprofit that supports young men of color, ages 10-18, with a justice impacted parent, and works to empower these youth to develop positively despite the distance of their incarcerated parent. Fueled by her own lived experience and professional expertise, Tiffany has created a phenomenal program that addresses the challenges and intricate details that these youth face and helps them to develop coping strategies that empower them to keep going and on a trajectory towards success. 

SPECIAL FEATURE: Developing Despite Distance Member - Armone

This is an episode, not to be missed!

#WeGotUsNow #TiffanyBrown #3DDetroit #DevelopingDespiteDistance #10MillionInspired #FortheYouth #WellBeing #SocialConnection #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents #MassIncarceration #endmassincarceration #ParentsBehindBars #Family #RankedTop10 #WeGotUsNowPodcast  

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO www.WEGOTUSNOW.org | Instagram @WE_GOTUSNOW | Twitter: @WE_GOTUSNOW

S2 | EP 6: UPDATE: ASHLEY JACKSON + FATHER, ORRIN JACKSON ~ EMPATHY, JUSTICE & REUNIFICATION AFTER 30+ YEARS

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series⭐

WELCOME to Season 2 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast series HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 4th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day this year WE will highlight directly impacted advocates as well as allies in the work to reform the criminal legal system and create a fair and just society that seeks to keep families connected.

S2 | EP 6: UPDATE: ASHLEY JACKSON + FATHER, ORRIN JACKSON ~ EMPATHY, JUSTICE & REUNIFICATION AFTER 30+ YEARS

Ashley Jackson is a Charlotte, North Carolina native and the only child of father, Orrin Jackson. She has been relentless in her advocacy to bring her father home after decades of separation. During the first season of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast, WE highlighted her story where Ashley shared, "My Father has spent more time IN prison than he has been alive." 

A few weeks after the episode aired and right before Father's Day 2021, her father, Orrin Jackson, her Uncle, Cecil Jackson and Cousin, Eric Whitener ALL received reduced sentences from 98 to 145 years to TIME SERVED from federal prison after 31 years of incarceration due to Ashley and her family's staunch advocacy and persistence. 

In 2022, they epitomize what the meaning of a Second Chance can look like for a daughter, a father, a family and a community as the Dream Corps Justice North Carolina Empathy Network Leaders. Together, they hosted the North Carolina Dream Corps Justice #DayofEmpathy ~ an event that consisted of three different sessions centering on Expression, Impact and Community from the experiences and voices of the directly impacted. Today, Ashley and Orrin are leading the charge, as subject matter experts, from North Carolina on the importance of the proposed EQUAL ACT by educating and informing legislators and policymakers.  

This EPISODE is one NOT TO BE MISSED!   

#WeGotUsNow 🌍 #AshleyJackson #OrrinJackson #ReunificationCelebration #ActionistinAction #FortheKids #DreamCorpsJustice  #FortheFuture #SecondChances #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents #ParentsBehindBars #WeGotUsNowCommunity #WeGotUsNowAllies #WeGotUsNowPodcast

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO www.WEGOTUSNOW.org | Instagram @WE_GOTUSNOW | Twitter: @WE_GOTUSNOW

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series⭐

WELCOME to Season 2 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast series. HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 4th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day this year WE will highlight directly impacted advocates as well as allies in the work to reform the criminal legal system and create a fair and just society that seeks to keep families connected.

S2 | EP 5: ERIC GONZALEZ ~ Trailblazing Justice in Communities | First Latino Brooklyn District Attorney in New York State

️Eric Gonzalez made history in November 2017 when he became the first Latino District Attorney elected in New York State. He had been appointed Acting District Attorney by Governor Andrew Cuomo a year earlier following the tragic death of his predecessor, the late Ken Thompson, for whom Gonzalez had served as Chief Assistant District Attorney.

️Since his appointment to lead the office, DA Gonzalez has implemented his own trailblazing initiatives, including bail reform, a Young Adult Court, expansion of non-prosecution of marijuana possession, a pre-court diversion program for low-level drug offenders and a policy to reduce unfair immigration consequences in criminal cases.

Following his swearing in as District Attorney, Gonzalez launched a ground-breaking initiative known as Justice 2020, to help him carry out his vision of keeping Brooklyn safe and strengthening trust in our justice system by ensuring fairness and equal justice for all. Justice 2020 consists of a 17-point action plan – created by a committee of criminal justice reform experts, defense groups, service providers, law enforcement, formerly incarcerated individuals, clergy and community leaders – to make the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office a national model of what a progressive prosecutor’s office can be. This blueprint aims to transform the work of Gonzalez’s office by shifting toward preventative and accountability solutions with a track record of success, and away from over-reliance on criminal convictions and incarceration.

DA Gonzalez grew up in East New York and Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and attended John Dewey High School in Coney Island. He graduated from Cornell University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a dual major in government and history. In 1995, he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was president of the Latino Law Students Association.

#WeGotUsNow 🌍 #DAEricGonzalez #BrooklynDA #FortheKids #FairandJustProsecution #FortheFuture #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents #ParentsBehindBars #WeGotUsNowCommunity #WeGotUsNowAllies #WeGotUsNowPodcast

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO www.WEGOTUSNOW.org | Instagram @WE_GOTUSNOW | Twitter: @WE_GOTUSNOW

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series ⭐

WELCOME to Season 2 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast series. HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 4th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day this year WE will highlight directly impacted advocates as well as allies in the work to reform the criminal legal system and create a fair and just society that seeks to keep families connected.

S2 | EP 4: CHRISTINE NORBUT BEYER ~ POWERFUL FAMILIES, POWERFUL COMMUNITIES

Christine Norbut Beyer, MSW has been Commissioner of the NJ Department of Children and Families since 2018. She is redefining the agency as a prevention-focused, child and family serving department, with a vision to help keep all New Jerseyans safe, healthy and connected. Under her leadership, the Department of Children and Families has reduced out of home removals and made historic investments in children's mental health. Some of her ground-breaking initiatives include, preventing maltreatment and promoting strong families pioneering constituent voices including amplifying youth voices, increasing kinship and familiar placements, supporting evidence-based, data-driven contracting; reducing staff safety incidents; evolving the integrated, inclusive system of care for children with behavioral and developmental diagnoses; promoting ACEs prevention, and transforming child welfare. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Beyer served as a Senior Director and Strategic Consultant at Casey Family Programs, a national child welfare foundation, focused on improving outcomes for children and families. In her capacity as a national child welfare consultant, she supported the efforts of public child welfare agencies, the judiciary and governors in creating better outcomes for at-risk children and families and had the opportunity to delve deeply into the areas of brain science, ACEs, and trauma-informed care and the intersection with child welfare. These are policy areas she continues to pursue at the Department of Children and Families. Commissioner Beyer and her staff at NJ DCF is an ally of WE GOT US NOW.

#WeGotUsNow #ChristineNorbutBeyer #NJDCF #NJCommissioner #DepartmentofChildrenandFamilies  #ChildWelfareSystem #PowerfulFamiliesPowerfulCommunities  #FortheKids #FortheFuture #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents #KinshipCare  #ParentsBehindBars #WeGotUsNowCommunity  #WeGotUsNowAllies #WeGotUsNowPodcast

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO www.WEGOTUSNOW.org | Instagram @WE_GOTUSNOW | Twitter: @WE_GOTUSNOW

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series ⭐

WELCOME to Season 2 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast series. HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

For our 4th annual #KeepFamiliesConnected multimedia campaign series that runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day this year WE will highlight directly impacted advocates as well as allies in the work to reform the criminal legal system and create a fair and just society that seeks to keep families connected.

S2 | EP 3: DR. ALEXANDRIA PECH, PH.D ~ Centering BIPOC Women + Girls in Research 

Dr. Alexandria Pech, Ph.D is a researcher and WE GOT US NOW Actionist from the inaugural cohort. She is a First Generation Latina Doctora. She graduated in MAY 2022 as a Doctor of Philosophy with a Ph.D in Family Studies and Human Development at The University of Arizona. She represents 3% of Latinas with a doctoral degree. She is a child of a formerly incarcerated parent and has experienced a parent in prison for more than half of her life.  For her dissertation research study, she has conducted the Adolescent Girls of Color, Identity & Familial Incarceration study. The study centers adolescent Black and Brown cisgender and transgender girls experiencing parental and familial incarceration. Her research interests include: Youth Participatory Action Research; Adolescent development among youth of color, particularly those with incarcerated parents; using Critical Race Theory; and using counterstory methodology. She has been a leading voice and advocate for children and young adults with incarcerated parents in the states of Arizona and California.

#WeGotUsNow #AlexandriaPech #DrPech #DirectlyImpactedScholar #FortheKids #FortheFuture #ChildrenwithIncarceratedParents #ProtectOurParents #ParentsBehindBars #WeGotUsNowPodcast

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO www.WEGOTUSNOW.org | Instagram @WE_GOTUSNOW | Twitter @WE_GOTUSNOW

WE GOT US NOW #KeepFamiliesConnected campaign series ⭐

WELCOME to Season 2 of the WE GOT US NOW Podcast HOSTED by Ebony Underwood

S2| EP2: ANYE YOUNG - LIFE, SCHOOL + SELF PUBLISHED AUTHOR

Anyé Young is a courageous youth advocate for prison reform best known for the book she self-published when she was 16 years old: Teen Guide to Living With Incarcerated Parents (#TGLWIP). Since the release of her book, Young has shared her story and experiences as a child with a father serving a 12-year prison sentence — for a non-violent offense under mandatory minimum laws — to help teens in similar situations overcome the shame they may feel due to social stigma. She offers #TGLWIP as a guide for teenagers, like her, who are determined to succeed in life no matter the circumstances. Young continues to share her story along with lessons learned while coping with the challenges of life away from her father and in a single-parent home. She was awarded a 4-year tuition scholarship at the University of Southern California and is currently a rising junior. She majors in Dramatic Arts. She was also awarded a $10,000 scholarship to help cover some of her college expenses. This scholarship was presented to her by ScholarChips and funded in whole by The Family Foundation in Silver Spring, Maryland. 

#AnyeYoung #WeGotUsNow #TGLWIP #FortheKids #FortheFuture #ChildrewithIncarceratedParents #ProtectOurParents #ParentsBehindBars #WeGotUsNowPodcast #WeGotUsNowCommunity

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO www.WEGOTUSNOW.org | Instagram @WE_GOTUSNOW | Twitter @WE_GOTUSNOW