On March 13, The Fortune Society will host “Breaking Barriers: Women’s Journeys from Incarceration to Empowerment,” a webinar platforming the unique perspectives and voices of women impacted by the criminal legal system. Panelists Lucy Lang, Judith Clark and Sheron Thomas, with moderator Leah Faria, will discuss the challenges women face upon reentry from incarceration and the unique support that communities and service providers can offer. 

Ahead of this week’s webinar, we spoke with Leah Faria, Director of Community Engagement at the Women’s Criminal Justice Association (WCJA), about her lived experience, current advocacy work and her excitement for this important discussion. Leah is a longtime advocate, having worked with system impacted women for over twenty years. During that time, she has witnessed firsthand the mounting struggles they often face after incarceration and the powerful impact of community support.   

“The world is not sensitive to women,” Leah explained. “The world isn’t prepared for a woman who did 20 years in prison for their first offense, and they need all these services when they get out. That’s why, to survive, we know that we must tap into each other.”  

During the webinar, Leah looks forward to speaking with three women who each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding women in incarceration and reentry. Through this conversation, she hopes to bring further awareness to mental health concerns, barriers to housing and employment, safety, and other key topics. Leah also noted complex family issues as they may impact women differently than men.

Working with WCJA, Leah remains very hands on with the community she serves. As a passionate advocate of the #CloseRikers campaign, she visits the Rose M. Singer Center biweekly, providing support and other resources to the women and gender-expansive people currently detained at the facility. She also facilitates the Justice 4 Women Taskforce where, each month, she leads an educational and trauma-informed workshop. She emphasized the importance of offering long-term support, as so many individuals return home without a support system or resources to turn to.  

Leah hopes that “Breaking Barriers: Women’s Journeys from Incarceration to Empowerment” will offer further insight to the numerous challenges women face while incarcerated and during reentry. The webinar will also provide information about currently available resources and how to get connected to organizations like New Hour, Providence House, Hour Children, and other supportive service providers.

“I want people to know how important it is to show support for returning citizens,” Leah shared. “A lot of people don’t think about women in jail or prison because it isn’t a large population. I want people to better understand the issues, like mental health concerns, that people come out with. I want them to know how important it is to provide resources when they come home. I want to bring awareness to these concerns on a larger scale.”  

If you are interested in learning more about the unique experiences of women in reentry after incarceration and the impact of community support, we encourage you to register to attend the upcoming webinar. Check out the link below for more details!