Bridging the Gap: Amplifying Incarcerated Voices

You are invited to join Look2Justice, Empowerment Ave, Institute to End Mass Incarceration, Inquest and Haymarket Books in Chicago May 29th-30th for Bridging the Gap: Amplifying Incarcerated Voices. 

This conference is focused on strengthening journalism in and about American prisons and supporting the work of everyone in media who wants understand prison journalism as a discipline and broaden their networks and connections. 

Even as a greater number of incarcerated journalists and writers succeed in publishing their work, significant barriers to being heard persist. While newsrooms, publishers, and other organizations are increasingly eager to collaborate with incarcerated writers, they often lack the knowledge and connections to do so effectively. At the same time, restrictive communication systems leave them largely isolated from one another, limiting opportunities for shared learning and collective impact. And still incarcerated storytellers, from journalists and documentary filmmakers to other narrative nonfiction writers, have developed deep expertise in overcoming obstacles and building support networks.

This convening hopes to honor that struggle. We aim to build connections between outside platforms , incarcerated storytellers, and organizations on the ground who have developed tools for doing this work ethically and with integrity. In the face of increasing censorship, it is also crucial to build systems that defend the legal rights of incarcerated storytellers.

Over the course of two days together participants will learn concrete tools for supporting incarcerated writers and journalists, make connections with other entities doing this work, and collectively problem-solve to overcome the barriers to doing this work.

Audience: Who should attend?

• Editors, journalists, publishers, legal organizations who want to deepen their work with incarcerated storytellers

• Program administrators and organizers who work with incarcerated writers and filmmakers

• Currently and formerly incarcerated storytellers, including journalists, narrative nonfiction writers, memoirists, documentary filmmakers

• Funders who want to support incarcerated storytellers in building and developing platforms for their work

Logistics for traveling to Chicago:

In order to support formerly incarcerated creators and other folks who might need assistance traveling to Chicago we are offering a limited number of travel stipends which we have now expended. We estimate the cost for a flight and three night hotel stay will be about $2,000 depending on location. We ask those who are able to pay their own way or receive organizational support for travel to do so, helping the conference accommodate as many attendees as possible.

If you are a Chicago-based attendee and can contribute a donation to support those who need to travel that would be much appreciated. 

The location for the conference is in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, near the United Center, and accessible by public transit. Below is a list of hotel options within a couple miles of the conference. There may also be less expensive hotel options further from the venue. 

We have reserved some rooms for folks who need assistance with housing, please indicate on your registration if you need support to attend the conference and we can follow up. 

• Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Medical District UIC

• Hyatt House Chicago Medical/University District

• Courtyard by Marriott Chicago at Medical District/UIC

• Hyatt House Chicago West Loop

This conference is co-organized by Look2Justice, Empowerment Ave, Institute to End Mass Incarceration, Inquest, and Haymarket Books, with generous support from ACLU National, Center for Just Journalism, Press Forward Chicago, David Rockefeller Fund, Freedom to Grow, Galaxy Gives, Jewish Currents, No More Alabama, Prison Journalism Project, Social Documentary Network, Solitary Watch, TruthOut, Unlock the Box, and Vital Projects Fund.