The following article summarizes the original event which is listed below the summary.
February speaker urged us to consider criminal justice reform at a personal level
What if you were always introduced by the worst thing you have ever done? UMRA’s February luncheon speaker, criminal justice advocate Emily Baxter, posed this provocative question to inspire us to think about “the empathy and opportunity chasm” that exists between those who are caught and convicted of criminal offenses and the rest of us.
Baxter is the founder and executive director of the media-based organization We Are All Criminals (weareallcriminals.org). Her distinctive approach to advocacy includes asking people to think in very personal terms about the lifelong consequences of a criminal record. The United States accounts for 5 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of the world’s incarcerated population, she noted. “Many policies since the 1970s have led to this mass caging. It is a tsunami of humanity,” she said, “and it is not born equally across our country.”
Furthermore, being imprisoned in the U.S. does not improve the chances for a better life on the outside. “Prison is warehousing with trauma,” Baxter said. “We need a criminal justice system that is based on rational, reasonable, and merciful plans for preventing criminal behavior.”
Her organization’s advocacy includes supporting Restore the Vote–Minnesota, a coalition aimed at restoring the voting rights of convicted felons who have served their time and are living in their communities.
—Kristine Mortensen, content editor
February Luncheon At a Glance
Tue, February 27 2018, 11:30am
Campus Club ABC room, Campus Club, Fourth Floor, Coffman Memorial Union
FEBRUARY
LUNCHEON MEETING
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.`
Featured Speaker
Emily Baxter, executive director
We Are All Criminals organization
Location
Conference Room ABC
Campus Club, Fourth Floor
Coffman Memorial Union
Menu
Beef bolognese over pappardelle; coffee and tea.
For special dietary needs, please request when making your reservations.
Reservations ARE required.
Deadline: Thursday, February 22
Prepayment of $16 per person.
Annual prepayers, please make reservations.
To reserve your place(s) and parking,
send your check payable to UMRA to:
UMRA Reservations
c/o Judy Leahy Grimes
1937 Palace Ave., St. Paul MN
55105-1728
Or, contact her before the deadline
at 651-698-4387; e-mail: [email protected].
Please honor the reservation deadline date;
to cancel, please call by Thursday, February 22
Parking
University ramps and reserved space in East River Road Ramp
with UMRA's discount coupon―$6 for the day.
Upcoming Events
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Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
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We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.