Geaux Vote Louisiana: A conversation w/ Shaun Mena

In this special episode of From Chains to Change, our deputy director and host Bruce Reilly is joined by Dr Lydia Pelot-Hobbs, currently serving as the professor of Geography and African American & Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky to discuss her book ‘Prison Capital: Mass Incarceration and Struggles for Abolition Democracy in Louisiana’ The book explores Louisiana's rise to having the world's highest incarceration rate, examining the racial and economic factors that fueled mass incarceration alongside the resistance movements that emerged in response.

In this special episode of From Chains to Change, our host and deputy director Bruce Reilly is  joined alongside the staff of Voice of the Experienced along with concerned members of our community to discuss the ongoing attempts by the Landry administration and the GOP in the Louisiana legislature in their ‘Special Crime Session’ to roll back critical justice reforms and progress we’ve achieved over the past few years. We discuss attempts by the legislatures to dismantle key legislative victories while making our communities less safe and more vulnerable to over policing and abuse by law enforcement.

In this episode, our host sits down with two old friends to discuss their unlikely journeys. Rep. Cruz first met Bruce during a successful 2006 voting rights campaign in Rhode Island, when neither of them could exercise the fundamental right of citizenship. Today, she serves as a valued legislator on the Criminal Justice Committee after having earned two degrees from Brown University. Steve first met Bruce in A-Block, while both were awaiting trial over 30 years ago. Today, he puts his passion into Freedom Reads, installing libraries into prisons and jails across the country with the award-winning Dwayne Betts. Be careful listening, as the accents might get pretty thick!

In this special episode of From Chains to Change, filmed from the banks of the Mississippi River in Norco, Louisiana, our host Bruce Reilly sat down with a panel of guest including, Anne Rolfes, the Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and our Director of Political Operations Devin Davis to speak with Lindsey Cheek candidate for Louisiana Attorney General. We discussed her candidacy and her priorities if elected along with the devastating impacts the petrochemical industry has had on the people of Louisiana and the impact her election to the office could have for these vulnerable communities. 

In this Interview, Voters Organized to Educate sat down with Tammy Savoie, candidate for Louisiana House District 23 in the 2023 election. Filmed at our main office  in New Orleans, LA on October 23, 2023, for a conversation with our deputy director Bruce Reilly to discuss her candidacy and her priorities if elected. 

In this Interview, Voters Organized to Educate sat down with Rep. Barbara Carpenter, Louisiana house representative for District 63 along with our very own Policy Director Checo Yancy. Filmed via zoom at our main office  in New Orleans, LA and our chapter office based in Baton Rouge, LA on October 19, 2023, for a conversation with our deputy director Bruce Reilly to discuss her time in office, the urgent need to mobilize voters and her current race for re-election.

In this Interview, Voters Organized to Educate sat down with Shaun Mean, candidate for Louisiana House District 23 in the 2023 election. Filmed at our main office in New Orleans, LA on October 18, 2023, for a conversation with our deputy director Bruce Reilly to discuss his candidacy and his priorities if elected. 

In this Interview, Voters Organized to Educate sat down with Britt Gondolfi, candidate for Louisiana Senate District 12 in the 2023 election. Filmed at our main office in New Orleans, LA on October 12, 2023, for a conversation with our deputy director Bruce Reilly to discuss her candidacy and her priorities if elected. Learn more and stay up to date! Website: www.VotersOrganized.org Facebook: @VotersOrganized X: @justice_votes Instagram: @VotersOrganized

In this episode of From Chains to Change, our host and deputy director, Bruce Reilly sit down with VOTE member and the director of the Light of Justice Program Calvin Duncan to discuss his wrongful conviction and his journey back home as well as the changes seen within criminal justice system in Louisiana, the impact of life sentences, his experience completing law school and more.

In this episode of From Chains to Change, our host and deputy director, Bruce Reilly sit down with our Executive Director Norris Henderson, and Leon Roche candidate for Orleans Parish Criminal District Court - Section A. We discuss Leon’s experience as a public defender and his plans for the court if he gets elcted. Election Day is Saturday, April 29th and early voting goes from April 15th to April 22nd.