Trinity Commons Speaker Series with Yusef Salaam
Join us for an online keynote speech on Dr. Yusef Salaam’s lived experience with the US Justice System as it relates to his work as a prison reform activist. Dr. Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five, was only 15 years old when he was wrongly convicted in the infamous “Central Park jogger” case, along with four other Black and Latinx young men.
The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. They have been profiled in award-winning films, including The Central Park Five documentary and most recently the Emmy award-winning Netflix limited series When They See Us. Dr. Salaam will give a keynote speech followed by a 15-min Q&A session with the audience.
Over the past two decades, Dr. Salaam has become a family man, father, poet, activist, speaker, and author. He uses his platform to advocate for criminal justice reform, prison reform, and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment. He is also a New York Times bestselling author, and recently released his memoir, Better, Not Bitter.
Note: Clips of this event will be shared online after the event has passed; however, the only way to watch the speech in its entirety and participate in the Q&A session is to attend the live event online.
“When you find yourself in dark places, there's always a light somewhere in that darkness, and even if that light is inside of you, you can illuminate your own darkness by shedding that light on the world.” -- Punching the Air, Dr. Yusef Salaam
Join us for an online keynote speech on Dr. Yusef Salaam’s lived experience with the US Justice System as it relates to his work as a prison reform activist. Dr. Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five, was only 15 years old when he was wrongly convicted in the infamous “Central Park jogger” case, along with four other Black and Latinx young men.
The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. They have been profiled in award-winning films, including The Central Park Five documentary and most recently the Emmy award-winning Netflix limited series When They See Us. Dr. Salaam will give a keynote speech followed by a 15-min Q&A session with the audience.
Over the past two decades, Dr. Salaam has become a family man, father, poet, activist, speaker, and author. He uses his platform to advocate for criminal justice reform, prison reform, and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment. He is also a New York Times bestselling author, and recently released his memoir, Better, Not Bitter.
Note: Clips of this event will be shared online after the event has passed; however, the only way to watch the speech in its entirety and participate in the Q&A session is to attend the live event online.
“When you find yourself in dark places, there's always a light somewhere in that darkness, and even if that light is inside of you, you can illuminate your own darkness by shedding that light on the world.” -- Punching the Air, Dr. Yusef Salaam