Theme: Stronger Families, Better Futures

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the State Correctional Institution at Chester, welcome to TEDxChesterStatePrison for a day of discussion about the impact of incarceration on children and families.
By building stronger relationships between incarcerated individuals and their families, we can build a better future for everyone, especially the children.

SCI Chester
500 East Fourth Street
Chester, Pennsylvania, 19013
United States

Bobby Zankel and the SCI Chester Jazz Band

Brooklyn-born composer/alto saxophonist Zankel first began to blossom around 1971, while a student at the University of Wisconsin as a member of MacArthur Fellow Cecil Taylor's "Unit Core Ensemble". He performed in New York in the early 70's with William Parker and Ray Anderson before moving to Philadelphia in 1975 to raise his family. The introspection of his life has been balanced by over 25 years of sharing musical ideas with the inmates of Pennsylvania. Accompanying Bobby Zankel are Rickie Marra, drums; Joseph Bowie, trumpet; Jonathan Means, guitar; Jesse Tancemore, guitar; Brandon Adams, guitar and Tory Summerford, drums

Lady Lifers & Friends

SCI Muncy "Please Don't Judge Me," music by Naomi Blount, lyrics by Brenda Watkins

Men of Change

John Tyrone Tate, Sr. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, the 36-year-old Tate is a proud father of six children. He enjoys drawing, painting, singing and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers football team. Alexander Solomon Originally from Philadelphia, Solomon said he comes from a loving, supportive family. He enjoys watching and participating in sports, is interested in social, political and economic issues, and would like to work toward preventing violence, inequality and injustice. Quran Herrington, 31, says he is the father of three "beautiful" children who are his pride and joy. He loves to write and wants to work helping inner city youth.

Anna E. Hollis

Executive Director, Amachi Pittsburgh

Ms. Hollis is the Executive Director of Amachi Pittsburgh, a unique partnership of secular and faith- based organizations working together to support children and families of the incarcerated. Under her leadership, the organization has become an ever-growing and diverse network of community organizations, dedicated volunteers, families, and partners in education, government and business.

Brianne Murphy

Transformation Yoga Project

Transformation Yoga Project facilitates yoga programs at prisons and community youth detention centers across the Delaware Valley. The objective is to provide access to safe, supportive yoga programs that teach mindfulness and practical solutions for dealing with impulse control, substance abuse, anger and aggression. Benefits include reduced stress and better self- control.

Chad Dion Lassiter

Professor of Race Relations/ President of Black Men at Penn School of Social Work, Inc

Lassiter is nationally recognized in the fields of American race relations and violence prevention among African American males.

Charles Sample

Originally from North Philadelphia, Sample is the father of a daughter and two sons. His dream is to one day become a hip hop artist.

Cynthia Roseberry

Project Manager for Clemency Project 2014.

Ms. Roseberry currently serves as Project Manager for Clemency Project 2014. The Clemency Project - a partnership among the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, American Civil Liberties Union, the American Bar Association, Families Against Mandatory Minimums and the Federal Community and Public Defenders - was created in response to a challenge to the legal profession to provide pro bono assistance for clemency to federal prisoners who would likely receive a shorter sentence if they were sentenced today.

Daniel Bull

Founder of Zero Six Eight

Zero Six Eight, a for-profit business incubator based in Pittsburgh, exists to promote the full potential of ex-offenders as they pursue goals of employment, entrepreneurship, and independence. Bull founded Zero Six Eight in 2013 after completing a 21-month prison sentence. Since then, the company has supported 10 startups and created more than 40 jobs across a number of different industries. Bull believes that an honest and open confrontation with the past has been the driving factor in leading Zero Six Eight. Of all his accomplishments since reentry, he considers reconciliation with his family and re-marriage to his wife, Nicole, to be the most miraculous examples of restoration - a snapshot of what is possible for those committed to change.

Dawan Williams

Williams is the Program Coordinator for the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Restorative Justice Guild program. He works closely with the program participants, at-risk youth between the ages of 18 and 24, serving as both a supervisor and a mentor. He utilizes his own personal experiences with the criminal justice system to help him connect with the Guild's youth participants. A certified life-skills professional, Williams works closely with returning citizens on a day to day basis. He is also an active member of several non-profit organizations in Philadelphia which are dedicated to uniting families and strengthening the community.

Eugene DePasquale

Auditor General, Pennsylvania

DePasquale became Pennsylvania's 51st Auditor General in 2013, and was recently re-elected to a second term. Prior to his service as Auditor General, DePasquale was a member of the state House of Representatives, where he was known as a leader in government reform.

Kenneth Eason

Deputy Superintendent at Chester State Prison

Deputy Eason has been employed by the Department of Corrections for 26 years. He started his career with the department in 1990 as a corrections officer at SCI Graterford where he became part of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Fire Emergency Response Team (FERT), served as a training instructor as well as a mentor. Eason also served as a training sergeant at SCI Graterford and, in 1998, was promoted to lieutenant. In 2012, Eason transferred to SCI Chester as the Training/ Administrative Lieutenant. In 2015 he was promoted to the rank of Major of the Guard and in 2016 he was promoted to Deputy for Facilities Management.

Matthew Dowsett

Originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania, the 25- year-old Dowsett has aspirations of becoming a published author and motivational speaker. He credits the support of his fiance, Katrine Karchner, and hopes to become a father someday.

Maurice Cartier

Originally from South Philadelphia, Cartier enjoys home remodeling, fashion, art, museums, antiques, travel, foreign cars, reading, exercise, music, singing and song writing. The third of five children, Cartier said his parents instilled in him a love of performing music, singing and dancing. He said he has written more than 30 songs during his incarceration.

Ryu Paul Snyder

Originally from Florida, Snyder, 29, is involved in Christian Ministry, loves the outdoors, almost all sports, plus poetry and music. The son of incarcerated parents, Snyder describes himself as a new man with a heart to help others.