by Francette Carson, ICN Senior Correspondent
The Connecticut Hall of Change, Great 8 presents a stage production titled “One State One Film” a live performance and dialogue at Infinity Music Hall in Hartford, Connecticut. The Connecticut Hall of Change (CT HoC) is a groundbreaking re-entry program honoring and providing support to formerly incarcerated persons in the Connecticut state or federal systems. “The Hall of Change Great Eight is designed to recognize and memorialize formerly incarcerated men and women who have transformed their lives and have made outstanding achievements and substantial contributions to their communities.”
“One State One Film” is an emotionally riveting storytelling experience produced and directed by Charles Grady. Grady has a wealth of experience in law enforcement, as an actor, and writer in film, television, and theater. Grady is committed and dedicated to judicial reform and has merged his passion and experiences to produce a production that will change lives.
The CT Hall of Change presents a stage production each year to highlight issues associated with the disparities in race and the criminal justice system. The 2023 production raise awareness to the school to prison pipeline. The production presents the humbling and crippling effect of incarceration on individuals, families, and communities. The stage production was an intimate storytelling series highlighting the traumatic experiences of four heroic people that have overcome many obstacles. The stories told helps to raise awareness by humanizing previously incarcerated people, destigmatizing them as career criminals and seeing them as our neighbors, coworkers, and productive members of society, making positive changes and bringing hope to others.
The 2023 Journey of the Great 8 was comprised of four phenomenal Great 8’ers that chose to share their stories through an intimate storytelling experience on stage. Dr. Antoinette Glenn, Maggie Young, LaReese Harvey and Gordon Lyde. The four stories were weaved together to show commonalities of their traumatic experiences resulting in incarceration and the challenges they faced upon reentry into their communities. They have worked hard, persevered and dedicated their lives to change. These four highly successful people are an inspiration and through their individual and collaborative efforts they give others hope with the aspirations for change.
Dr. Antoinette Glenn is using the platform to bring issues to the forefront and to give others hope. She wants to highlight the impact prison has on women and children. She is writing a book to shed the stigma of an ex-felon to help people understand there is a story before and a story after incarceration. Dr. Glenn emphasizes the importance of not focusing on the past and looking forward to a new day.
Maggie Young states the process is about growth and change. Young wants to tell people who she was, who she became and who she is today. She emphasizes that it’s never too late.
LaReese Harvey shares her story because she believes people need to be aware of the traumatic experiences that may have occurred prior to incarceration. She was a victim of sexual abuse and domestic violence and as a result was put into the school to prison pipeline. She was motived to push forward because she refused to be a statistic. Harvey states “I’m a person. Harvey aspires to give people hope and to show them that anything is possible. Harvey is the author of “Buttons Journey” and is writing her second book “A Dating Guide for formerly incarcerated persons.”
Gordon Lyde believes there is light at the end of the tunnel, and he shared his story to help someone and to give them hope. Lyde states he was initially motivated to change because he did not want to return to prison or die. During his journey of change he continued to push forward because he did not want to take himself away from his daughter. He identifies trauma as the commonality in their stories which pushed them into the school to prison pipeline. He believes in the urban community children are conditioned to transition to prison. The rules and regulations of school are similar to those in prisons and therefore it becomes an easy adjustment to the conditions. Lyde stated “the community must become more proactive rather than reactive in effort to prevent disparities within the judicial system.”
The Great 8er’s are on a journey together to inspire and to empower others. The process is transformative, and everyone learns from each other along the path of moving towards change. Charles Grady stated, “It’s a pilgrimage to bring people together and to remove the stigma placed upon incarcerated persons.” It’s about hope. It’s about change.
The Great 8er’s exude honesty and have authentic personas; a dramatic portrayal of the uncertainty, trauma, and accomplishments in the lives of four phenomenal people that have made significant changes in their lives and contributions to their communities. The moral obligation to help others and the innate desire to save oneself is evident in the stories told. The issues of self-identity, dedication, hard work, and change are realistically portrayed with conversations expressing their individual perspectives on life through their past and current circumstances. The commonality the Great 8’er’s share reflect us all. “He/She is me. I am him/her.”
The Connecticut Hall of Change provides support to previously incarcerated persons through Hang Time/Her Time a community-based service providing a forum to foster community and “to give a voice to men and women ex-offenders returning citizens who have been silent or unheard for too long.” The Connecticut Hall of Change has received national recognition and there are plans to replicate the program in Maryland and other states throughout the country.
For more information: https://www.cthallofchange.org/ https://www.hangtimerealtalk.com