Day 2: Prison Industrial Complex Abolition Symposium 2021

It is with great enthusiasm that Justice Works, a Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice student organization, presents a two-part virtual symposium on prison-industrial complex (PIC) abolition theory and practice.

Justice Works invited PIC abolitionists from the greater Chicago area to discuss their personal journey to PIC abolition, facilitate a critical discussion on how to engage with abolition, and share their experience in translating abolitionist values into practice.

Intro to Abolition

Wednesday, May 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM (CDT)

The first day of the symposium will offer attendees the opportunity to explore the many facets of abolition and abolitionist values. This event is dedicated as a brave learning space for community members to critically engage with the purpose of abolition and how this movement can serve our communities.

• Hanna Kazemi, Justice Works and current master's student at the Crown Family School, will moderate a panel discussion that includes:

• Sophia Sarantakos, PhD '20, The University of Denver School of Social Work

• Sharlyn Grace, Crown Family School Lecturer and Former Executive Director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund

• Hoda Katebi, Organizer and Founder of Blue Tin Production

 

Practical Applications for Abolition

Saturday, May 22 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM (CDT)

The second day of the symposium will focus on providing tangible ways to incorporate abolitionist values into daily practice. Our panelists will share how they have centered abolitionist values within their community organizing.

• Tre Nowaczynski, Justice Works and current master's student at the Crown Family School, will moderate a panel discussion that includes:

• Damon Williams, The Let Us Breathe Collective

• Monica Cosby, Mothers United Against Violence & Women’s Justice Institute

• Janae Bonsu, AM '15, BYP100 & The University of Illinois School of Social Work

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About Justice Works

Justice Works seeks to engage and cultivate Crown Family School students’ interest in criminal justice as a core component of social work to enable them to be effective social change agents and to promote a more just, humane, and equitable criminal justice system.

Justice Works aims to examine and strengthen the intersection of social work and criminal justice through three primary strategies: (1) Promote education and awareness of key criminal justice issues among Crown Family School students; (2) Provide opportunities for Crown Family School students to engage in advocacy related to the criminal justice system; (3) Foster connections between Crown Family School students and allied community groups, related departments within the University of Chicago, and Crown Family School alumni and faculty who are involved in criminal justice-related practice, scholarship, and/or research.

CONTACT INFO http://www.ssa.uchicago.edu/clubs-organizations#justiceworks

About the Event

• Free to attend but registration is required. Registration includes both event dates.
• Registrants will receive a Personalized zoom link , link is non-transferable.
• Closed-captioning will be available.
• Programs will be recorded.
• Questions, contact events@ssa.uchicago.edu or call 773.702.9700

Series Sponsors:

The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice Office of Professional Development

The University of Chicago Grad Council

The Pozen Center Human Rights Lab