Message preview

Hi there, You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Oct 21, 2020 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: Last Prisoner Project's Prison to Prosperity Reentry Services and Mentorship Program with Vangst Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-oGPEoZNR56IZYPWjyR2yA After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. ---------- Webinar Speakers Mikelina Belaineh LPP's Director of Criminal Justice Law and Policy Mikelina has spent their carer exploring how to facilitate community regeneration and empowerment in marginalized communities. Their work has focused on examining the disparate impact of the criminal legal on black and brown communities, and working with various stakeholders (impacted community, advocates, government decision makers, and experts) to explore innovative solutions. Mikelina has worked as a Chief Program Officer for a community based social enterprise working to address the root causes of street and gang violence, a contributor to the field and literature of criminal justice reform, and an expert consultant to local governments interested in implementing alternatives to incarceration. Arlene Mejia (Director of Reentry Services ) Arlene Mejia is a native Angeleno with deep roots in community organizing and political activism. Growing up in a family of all boys, in a low-income neighborhood, Arlene watched her brothers become engaged in gang life, during the 1990’s epidemic in Los Angeles, and the revolving door of family members going in and out of jail ensued. In 2017, the City of Los Angeles released an arrest-rate report for a cannabis social equity program. It revealed which zip codes were most marginalized by the War on Drugs. Arlene immediately noticed the zip codes overlapped with the City of Los Angeles’ GRYD zones, or Gang Reduction Youth Development zones, areas her brothers now serve as a reentry and intervention provider, Breaking Through Barriers to Success. It sparked an interest to become the recruiter for gang service providers to be the beneficiaries of cannabis community benefits plans. Karson Humiston (Founder & CEO @Vangst) Karson Humiston is the Founder & CEO of Vangst, the cannabis industry’s recruiting platform. Since launching in 2016, Vangst has connected thousands of people with jobs at over leading cannabis businesses around the World. Karson was featured on the 2018 Forbes 30 under 30 list and Vangst was featured in Entrepreneur’s 100 Brilliant Companies of 2018. Prior to founding Vangst, Karson founded On Track Adventures, a student travel organization based out of St. Lawrence University.