Annual Event with Keri Blakinger: October 26, 2022

Keynote speaker: Keri Blakinger
The Marshall Project journalist and author of Corrections in Ink

JHA was thrilled to have Keri Blakinger join us to discuss her new book and prison reform with WTTW’s Brandis Friedman.

Keri Blakinger is a Texas-based staff writer for The Marshall Project, where her work focuses on prisons and jails. She previously covered criminal justice for the Houston Chronicle, and her work has appeared in the Washington Post Magazine, VICE, the New York Daily News and The New York Times. She is the organization's first formerly incarcerated reporter. Her memoir, "Corrections in Ink", published in June 2022. 

Brandis Friedman is a co-anchor and correspondent for Chicago Tonight, and the host of Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, both on Chicago’s PBS affiliate, WTTW. Her reporting on education and criminal justice has appeared on PBS’ NewsHour and NPR’s The Takeaway. Before joining Chicago Tonight, Brandis worked as a reporter and anchor for WBBM Newsradio 780, and as a producer/reporter for WJLA-TV/ABC-7 in Washington, DC. In addition to earning multiple regional Emmy Awards for her work, she has earned multiple Peter Lisagor Awards, recognizing excellence in journalism, from the Chicago Headline Club.

Originally from Mississippi, Brandis’ work has taken her to numerous cities including Kansas City, Missouri, Little Rock, Arkansas and Wichita Falls, Texas. She has served on the board of the Chicago Headline Club, which is the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and is a member of the Education Writers Association and National Association of Black Journalists. Brandis is a graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans, where she earned a degree in Mass Communications, and Columbia University in New York City, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Journalism. Brandis lives in Evanston with her husband and two sons.

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Congratulations to door prize winners Maria Garza and Cathy Cava!

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It’s not too late to donate in support of JHA’s event! All revenue will support our Prison Monitoring & Advocacy work.

We were pleased to recognize the following individuals at this year’s event - be sure to watch their acceptance videos (linked below):

• Volunteer of the Year: Caitlin Van Ort, Data Scientist, Guerrilla Games

• Excellence in Oversight: Joanna Carns, Risk Management Officer, Office of Independent Investigations

• Changemaker of the Year: Orlando Mayorga, JEO Initiative/McCormick Reentry Policy Coordinator at Office of the Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton

• Partnership Award: Patrick Griffin, Deputy Director Policy & Communications, Center for Criminal Justice at Loyola University Chicago

JHA thanks the following event sponsors for their generous contributions:

Platinum: Bluhm Family Foundation; Project 1-11; Regenia Stein; Paul & Sarah Jane Titterton/GATX Corporation

Gold: Anonymous; Ariel Investments; Exelon; Terry & Annette Faulk; John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Brian Massengill/Mayer Brown; Kevin McCall/Jenner & Block; Jennifer Steans; Patricia Unsinn

Silver: ASU+GSV Summit and Pearlmark; Clune Construction; John & Bozena McLees; Deb & Rens Sherer; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Dick Sullivan; T5 Data Centers; Susan Warso; Wintrust

Bronze: Jane Addams College of Social Work; The Chicago Community Trust; Arthur Don & Arlene Don; Craig & Rebeca Huffman; Jawanza & Preeya Hughes; Rebecca Janowitz; Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC; Loyola University Center for Criminal Justice; SAFER Foundation; Winston & Strawn LLP; Joseph Vosicky, Jr.

JHA appreciates your generous support!