On Tuesday, September 30, representatives from the advocacy group Building Justice in Berks joined by Dr Seleda Simmons, Founder and Executive Director of The Real Deal 610, will host a Community Conversation here at the library to talk about their work to reduce the number of people in Berks County Jail, identify interventions that maximize community safety, and ensure that everyone in our criminal legal system is treated with dignity and equity.
In May, the group released a powerful report called Wasted Resources, The True Cost of Jail Detention in Berks and a Vision for Public Safety. The report was based on 18 months of research and consultation with The Real Deal 610, a non-profit organization, staffed by formerly incarcerated people, providing coaching and reentry services,, and the Vera Institute of Justice, a national organization dedicated to ending mass incarceration. The cornerstone of the project was a countywide listening tour including in-depth interviews with more than 120 formerly incarcerated people. This was the first time in Berks history that the views and experiences of impacted people were reported on a large scale and taken into account.
In the course of the project, dozens of people came together to create the magnificent murals currently on display at the library. Designed by artists Mike Miller and Theron Cook, the clasped hands (the hands of real people involved in the project) represent the power of mutual aid and solidarity.
The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.