In America, 80 million people in America have an arrest record. That’s 1 in 3 working age Americans. Most people want to work and thrive in America. Yet a conviction background carries thousands of collateral consequences that create massive barriers to equal employment and participation in society.&nbsp; Millions of people carry this scarlet letter through life each day, facing a “civil death” that inhibits their ability to contribute to the economy and society. Collectively these factors form one of the leading civil &amp; human rights issues of our time. America has invested in a structural and cultural system that relies on punishment. What if we invested in people not punishment? In BACKGROUND, we learn about how we got to the current crisis point, and meet a diverse group of people who are leading the fair chance movement to transform the future of work. We meet business leaders, policymakers, and justice-impacted advocates who are disrupting conscious biases and outdated practices to create new narratives, opportunities and models for success. Our guide through this exploration of the fair chance movement is Ken Oliver - who served nearly 24 years of a life sentence in California and is now a business leader in San Francisco. Ken leads us behind the decisions and motivations that each person has faced in order to create a more equitable workplace and community. Ken offers us a part of a blueprint for how to change the system, narrative and mindsets around the future of work for the country. Ultimately, the project reminds us of the core American values of redemption, that each person’s life is valuable and that we all carry a responsibility to give people an equal chance.

Background

An exploration into the growing crisis caused by America’s obsession with arrests and background checks, and what it takes to build a fairer future of work for all.

Becoming Forward This

Dying Alone is a story of three incarcerated men who discover that they have serious health issues; two of them are terminally ill. As a result, they are forced to file a “Compassionate Release,” which could get them out of prison before dying. Racing against time, they must convince the prison officials of San Quentin and the court system that they are worthy of release.

Dying Alone

Dying Alone offers an important look into the lives of those afflicted with terminal illnesses behind bars.

A film produced entirely by incarcerated people. Incarcerated men striving to reconnect to culture and reach their ceremonial Makahiki. Despite the toxic environment, ideals of American masculinity, and their personal struggles, will they succumb to the pressure or will they persevere and reach their zenith and celebrate Makahiki.

Healing Through Hula

A film produced entirely by incarcerated people. Sāle, an incarcerated man, seeks redemption and discovers it in a surprising place, a group of men practicing hula.

Home For Good is a short documentary film series produced by the nonprofit For The People in collaboration with filmmakers Lucas Guilkey and Thanh Tran. The vignettes depict the journeys of people who were released from prison through an unexpected law: the same prosecutor who asked to imprison them later requests their release. Through this series, For The People aims to grow the second look movement and expand support for second look policies across the country.&nbsp; This film follows Troy Dunmore, who was convicted to 65 years-to-life. He was released through this new law, Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing (PIR), in 2021. At&nbsp;58 years old, Troy had served 26 years in prison and had 39-years-to-life remaining on his sentence. This film was co-produced by Thanh Tran, who was also released through PIR, and was created following ethical storytelling guidelines he helped establish at our organization – ensuring Troy was able to tell his story on his own terms.&nbsp;

Home For Good: Troy's Journey Home from Prison through PIR

Once sentenced to life in prison, Troy is released thanks to the same prosecutor’s office that put him behind bars. Now back home, this film offers a glimpse into a day in his new life.

Ny Nourn is the Co-Director of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC), a Bay Area coalition that provides direct support to incarcerated Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Ny works to dismantle the prison to deportation pipeline and bring community members home.

How We Heal Each Other: Ny Nourn

Ny Nourn is the Co-Director of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC), a Bay Area coalition that provides direct support to incarcerated Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Ny works to dismantle the prison to deportation pipeline and bring community members home.

"Return From the Dead: People v. Stephen Joseph Bennett" is a gripping documentary that follows Stephen Bennett's transformation from a Super Bowl Sunday 2006 crime to his extraordinary legal odyssey for freedom. Witness his journey from four life sentences to freedom, amidst a defining battle within America's legal system, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit against a backdrop of law and redemption.

Return from the Dead

"Return From the Dead: People v. Stephen Joseph Bennett" is a gripping documentary that follows Stephen Bennett's transformation from a Super Bowl Sunday 2006 crime to his extraordinary legal odyssey for freedom.

Unhoused &amp; Unseen is a short documentary produced in collaboration with students of the University of California, Berkeley highlighting the paths of Kolby Southwood and George “Mesro” Coles-El. It explores the stigma of being unhoused, the unhoused-to-incarcerated pipeline, and their formative years.

Unhoused and Unseen

Unhoused & Unseen is a short documentary produced in collaboration with students of the University of California, Berkeley highlighting the paths of Kolby Southwood and George “Mesro” Coles-El. It explores the stigma of being unhoused, the unhoused-to-incarcerated pipeline, and their formative years

The film is based on the transformation of two former gang members who share how they changed their lives through Christianity .We get an opportunity try to understand how systemic racism helped to create a culture of violence but also to see the power of God, his mercy and his grace.

BLUE+RED=PURPLE

An attempt to try to heal the years of decay of miserable urban life after red-lining, racial policing, and no economic stimulus in Black communities.

Like April, 90% of youth who come to be involved in the justice system have had prior traumatic experiences. April’s life virtually began in the foster care system, and spent her formative years in households and spaces where she was abused and mistreated by those entrusted with her safety and wellbeing. At so many points in April’s journey, an adult could have intervened and altered the course of her life for the better. Weaving together documentary and fiction elements, the film shows us those moments to illuminate a cinematic and ultimately magical path to transforming our youth justice system.

Little April

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