Screening and Discussion of Documentary, “Writ Writer”
Thursday, February 16 at Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago in the Congress Lounge, 2nd Floor
This profound film portrays a troubled prison system that has not changed much since the story unfolded over a century ago. Writ Writer tells the story of the historic conflict that emerged in the 1960s when Texas prisoners petitioned the courts for relief from inhumane prison conditions. Focusing on the story of self-taught jailhouse lawyer Fred Arispe Cruz, the film uncovers his legal battle, his collaboration with poverty law attorney Frances Jalet, and his successful litigation for the right of Texas prisoners to assist one another with lawsuits. His litigation paved the legal path for Ruiz v Estelle, the most comprehensive court-ordered state prison reform litigation in U.S. history. The film steeped in issues of social justice also has sociological significance as it imparts an example of corrupt and unjust systems of power and the subsequent link to the social construction of deviance.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion that will include a former Writ Writer as well as criminal justice experts and Lawyers with knowledge in this area.
RSVP: nmichaels@roosevelt.edu
Friday, February 24th at 5:30 in the Alumni Hall at Roosevelt Universtiy's Schaumburg Campus, 1400 N. Roosevelt Blvd.
The Interrupters (by Steve James, director of Hoop Dreams, and Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here) tells the story of 3 “violence interrupters” in Chicago who now protect their communities from the violence that they once employed
Panelists: Tio Hardiman, Director of Ceasefire; Ameena Mathews and Eduardo Bocanegra, Interrupters at Ceasefire
RSVP: nmichaels@roosevelt.edu
March 27th at 5:30- 430 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago in the Spertus Lounge, 2nd Floor
Panelists: Film Producer/Director: Erin Isabel McGinnis
RSVP: nstange@roosevelt.edu
February 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Spertus, Room 244
This introductory workshop will provide basic information about the points of contact for youth with the juvenile justice system as well as information about rights that young people have in the system. The workshop is appropriate for RU Students, community members, parents, educators, young people, and organizers who have minimal knowledge about the juvenile justice system. At the end of the workshop, participants will: Know the points of contact for youth in the juvenile justice system. Understand what some of the issues that young people in conflict with the law experience. Learn about the rights that youth have in the system. Be able to identify some of the existing resources that can support young people in conflict with the law in Chicago. Co-sponsored by The Mansfield Institute for Social Justice and Transformation and Project NIA
For more information contact, nmichaels@roosevelt.edu or to sign up online: http://niastories.wordpress.com/
Don't miss...Getting Paid to Cause Trouble: Carreers in Organizing for Social Justice. Thurday February 9th 4:00-6:00. Click for details.
(We know, thats all of you!) MISJT has a student organization - "MISO." To get involved or for more information contact: Nikita Stange at nstange or, Professor Erik Gellman at egellman@roosevelt.edu
Check out what is going on in Women and Gender Studies at Roosevelt University. Here is a copy of their newsletter.
Prison: Photographs by Lloyd DeGrane at the Gage Gallery, 18 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago. Exhibit runs through February 4, 2012. For hours and details visit the Gage Gallery web page.
New Transformational Service Learning Courses! Students, enroll in a TL course and experience learning outside of the classroom.
The State of America's Children 2011," a report issued last month by the Children's Defense Fund, the impact of the recession on children's well-being has been catastrophic. A few of the findings:
We will have a chance to discuss these and other findings with the Director of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, October 13th at 6:30 at Roosevelt University
One Book, One University The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Lecturer: Michelle Alexander
Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago
"About 70 percent of offenders and ex-offenders are high school dropouts and, . . . about half are functionally illiterate. Many offenders are tracked for prison at early ages, labeled as criminals in their teen years, and then shuttled from their decrepit, underfunded inner city schools to brand-new, high-tech prisons. The communities and schools from which they came failed to prepare them for the workforce, and once they have been labeled criminals, their job prospects are forever bleak."
-- From Michelle Alexander's, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in an Era of Colorblindness, available in the library and bookstore.
View a full listing of past events.
MISJT hosted a Cradle to College Summit this past October at Roosevelt University. If you were unable to attend or you are simply interested in this topic, please click the link below. Here you will find information on the panels, panel members, articles and resources on this topic. The MISJT along with our Advisory Board is committed to continuing the work of dismantling the cradle to prison. If you are interested in colloborating with us on action based work to dismantle the pipeline, email us at nmichaels@roosevelt.edu.
The Mansfield Institute for Social Justice and Transformation
Roosevelt University * 430 S. Michigan Ave., Room 680 * Chicago IL 60605 * 312-341-2150
CNN interviews Associate Professor Jeff Edwards and his graduate student Ameshia Cross on a new political science course being offered this spring on social movements - specifically the Occupy Movement.
Chicago 430 S. Michigan Ave.Chicago, IL 60605(312) 341-3500 Directions & Maps
Schaumburg 1400 N. Roosevelt Blvd.Schaumburg, IL 60173(847) 619-7300 Directions & Maps
Roosevelt Online http://www.roosevelt.edu/ruonline/
