Phoenix Arise & UCI Underground Scholars presents

Voices of Redemption

Amplifying the Voices of Second Chances

Sunday, April 28, 2024, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
at the University of California, Irvine

Amplifying the Voices of Second Chances

Keynote Speaker

Franky Carrillo

Exonerated after being wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Franky Carrillo is a father, a community leader, and a justice advocate fighting to reform the broken systems that are failing regular people in our neighborhoods. He is also Chief Policy Advisor for the Los Angeles Innocence Project at Cal State L.A.

LWOP & Lifers, “From the Streets to Degrees: The Transformative Power of Higher Education.”

Steven Green

Dara Yin

Allen Burnett

Raymond Sheppard

“Second Chances” Photography

Cynthia “MIA” Wilkerson was formerly incarcerated in a women’s California penitentiary. She was released after 12 years and discovered solace and redemption through the power of art. Photography became her therapeutic tool which allows her to capture her world and the beauty that lies within the struggle of hardships and adversity. Currently a student at CalState University majoring in Psychology she plans to take her degree into Law School. She is an advocate of education and second chances.

“Freedom & Redemption: Incarcerated Women Survivors”

Niki Martinez

Diana Greer

Nikki Carrroll

Ranza Marshall

Angie Garcia

These women will share raw accounts of their traumatic experiences as system-impacted women, exploring their journey through juvenile halls, jails, and prisons. This session incorporates research and data, culminating in a panel discussion where participants can engage with the speakers to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system.