Core Team
Sarah
Shourd
Executive Producer and Co-Director of Documentary
Sarah Shourd is an award-winning playwright, trauma-informed investigative journalist, author, and former Stanford John S. Knight Fellow based in Oakland, CA. She is also co-founder of The End of Isolation Tour and author of The BOX. For over a decade, since being held as a political hostage by the Iranian government, her work has focused on exposing the impact of mass incarceration and using storytelling to promote healing centered around formerly-incarcerated people.
For more info see sarahshourd.com
Bobby
Field
Documentary Co-Director
Bobby Field is a multi–award-winning filmmaker whose career spans more than 30 years across directing, cinematography, and editing. He has received numerous honors, including the Jury Award at the Cannes Pan-African Film Festival for Before 1619: She Took Justice and the American Film Award for Dreams of Emmett Till, to name a few.
In recent years, Field has embraced a fully independent approach, serving as director, cinematographer, and editor on every project he creates.
Reflecting on co-directing The End of Isolation with Sarah Shourd—a documentary that confronts the realities of the prison system and its human impact—Field states:
“Thank you, Sarah Shourd, for inviting me on this incredible journey. Collaborating on the creation of this film took me deep into the reality of how broken our prison system is. I cannot see myself as separate from this injustice. I can no longer look away.”
Suotonye Emile Deweaver
Producer
Suotonye Emile DeWeaver, Producer and Film’s Central Guide, is a Black community organizer, literary writer, and journalist who co-founded prisonrenaissance.org while serving a 67-years-to-life sentence. His sentence was commuted by Governor Jerry Brown in December 2017 due to his community service, productivity, and transformative story. He is a 2022 Soros Justice Fellow and has been involved in the passage of California Senate Bills 260 and 261 as well as Proposition 57. Emile is currently working on his book Ghost in the Prison Industrial Machine, which will be published by The New Press in 2025. His personal essays have been published in Rumpus and The Seventh Wave, and his op-eds have appeared in the Mercury News and San Francisco Chronicle.
Robert Connell
Producer
Rob is a Bay Area and Toronto-based scholar-activist, educator, and organizer working at the intersections of environmental, economic, and racial justice.
As an interdisciplinary social scientist trained in anthropological and historical methodologies, as well as sociological theory and African diaspora studies, Rob aims to bring the best practices of academic research into the service of marginalized communities, social movements, and the radical arts.
Aleen
Stein
Producer
Aleen Holly Stein, Producer, is the founder of Criterion Collection-one of the most respected international multimedia publishers-and Organa LLC, a new media publishing company that seeks to bring the best in children’s animation from around the world to American families. Stein has been publishing, creating and selling interactive titles for more than 40 years.
Cinque Northern
Consultant
Cinque Northern, Consultant, is an Emmy-nominated, Peabody award-winning director and writer with over twenty years of experience as a documentary editor. He’s passionate about the intersection of cinematic artistry and social impact. As a fourth-generation artist, he’s drawn to pushing visual and cultural boundaries. Cinque is currently developing a feature film.
Community Distribution Partners
Inez Bordeaux
ArchCity Defenders
St. Louis, MO
Inez Bordeaux joined ArchCity Defenders in July of 2019 as the Manager of Community Collaborations. She believes in ACD’s holistic legal advocacy work and over the last 10 years, ACD’s efforts have inspired her to do more. Inez was first was introduced to ACD in 2013, when she was a going through a challenging time and was targeted by the racist criminal legal system. Her background is in healthcare, and she worked as an LPN for 14 years. In 2018, she volunteered as an Organizer for the Close the Workhouse campaign. In her current role, Inez works with partner organizations, advocacy groups, organizers, and activist to build relationships that allow ACD to reach common goals of community well being. Fun fact: I’m kinda obsessed with the Zombie Apocalypse. I’m absolutely prepared and know exactly what to do if it happens. I’m a nurse and the nurse never dies in zombie movies, so stick with me!
Dr. Craig Waleed
Disability Rights NC
Raleigh, NC
Craig Waleed,Dr. Craig Waleed, EdD, works with Disability Rights North Carolina. He is the Project Manager for Unlock the Box (UTB), End SolitaryNC Campaign Against Solitary Confinement. In addition, he is an educator, counselor, certified Restorative Practices group facilitator, author, and motivational speaker, dedicated to disrupting the community-to-prison pipeline. Dr. Waleed’s career has also included a post-doctoral fellowship at UNC-Chapel Hill in the School of Social Medicine, employment as a substance abuse counselor, Associate Director of a reentry initiative, and as an adjunct instructor at The College at Brockport State University of New York (SUNY) and Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY., and eight years as an incarcerated person in New York State’s prison system. In 2018 Dr. Waleed earned a doctorate in Executive Leadership. In addition, he is the author of three books, Prison to Promise: A Chronicle of Healing and Transformation (August 2020), Waleedism: A Book of Poetry Prose & Proverbs (October 2021), and The Journey Beyond: Post-Incarceration Success (March 2022).
Devin D. Smith
Ship and Anchor
Washington, DC
Devin D. Smith, founder and CEO of Ship and Anchor LLC, is a business consultant and strategist passionate about inclusion and working with other entrepreneurs and leaders to bring innovative ideas to life. Committed to employing his gifts and experiences to serve and build capacity in others, Devin has spent his career helping organizations align programs and operations with strategic goals. The breadth of Devin’s experience spans a variety of sectors – political, academia, government, small diverse business, and multinational corporations.
Devin began his career in academia, which remains a chief passion. However, after a twist of fate landed him in prison, Smith found himself unearthing latent gifts in business and entrepreneurship. Upon returning from prison and completing his degree from North Carolina State University, Devin migrated to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a business development consultant.
However, in recent years Devin has begun incorporating his creative and artistic nature into his work. As a participant in the spring 2020 class of Mayor Muriel Bowser Present 202Creates Residency Program, he launched the Letters from America’s 3rd World podcast; subsequently he released his documentary short, by the same name, through the Justice Arts Coalition’s JUSTstories program. Devin also serves on the board for Ally Theatre Company, which produces theater designed to engage audiences through acknowledging and confronting systemic oppression in America.
Natasha White
Solitary No More VA/Torture Free MD
Virginia/Maryland
Natasha White, Interfaith Human Rights Coalition, Director of Human Engagement, Maryland and Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement, is a formerly incarcerated survivor of solitary confinement. After serving fifteen years in the New York Prison System, Natasha dived right into the Close Rikers Movement as a campaign leader. Over the course of the next four years, Natasha participated in numerous fights for decarceration including bail reform, fair and timely parole, and the Less is More Campaign. During the height of the pandemic, Natasha became a community organizer for the HALT SOLITARY campaign making history in NY state with a win in March of 2021. After advocating in NY for four years, Natasha decided to relocate to Virginia in hopes of creating a better life for herself. As a Virginia resident for only thirty days, Natasha became the Coordinator for the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement with the goal of using her skills to bring change to the Commonwealth. Natasha has fought fearlessly alongside Coalition members since June of 2021. Natasha has thrown herself on the front lines of the Coalition’s Solitary No More VA campaign and has toured Virginia to meet with legislators and community members in their own districts to raise awareness of the effects of long-term confinement and isolation. Natasha has also presented at numerous universities across Virginia, educating about this topic, in addition to connecting with directly impacted families. This has resulted in the expansion of the Coalition by bringing in students and directly impacted individuals. In 2022, Natasha received the Citizen of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers, became a board member at OAR, and was appointed the Virginia Director of Community Engagement at Interfaith Action for Human Rights.
John Thompson Jr.
Abolitionist Law Center
Philadephia, PA
John Thompson Jr., is a social advocate, political organizer, and community organizer with the Abolitionist Law Center. He works and advocates to eliminate Death By Incarceration, End Solitary Confinement, and the release of Geriatric/elderly prisoners. He is the founder and Executive Director of New Hope Community Services. A grassroots community organization, advocating for both social and political issues. He is also the co-founder of Urban Inspiration, a community organization that provides resources and mentoring to children and young adults. He has organized political campaigns for candidates in both the state and national elections. John spent over 37 years in prison, after being convicted at the age of 17, and sentenced to Death By Incarceration. He has a degree in paralegal studies and worked as a jailhouse lawyer for over 20 years, held in solitary confinement for 15 years while incarcerated in state prisons. He currently sits on the Data & Safety Monitoring Board of the National Institute of Health/National Institute on aging, Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks, and a host of other Boards. He currently resides in Philadelphia Pennsylvania with his wife and young daughter.
Anthony Boyd
Re-entry Coaching Academy
Detroit, MI
Anthony Boyd is a native Detroiter. Following High School, Anthony then went on to serve in the United States Air Force where he was honorably discharged. Anthony has had first hand experience with the criminal justice system and is deeply passionate about improving the way inmates are treated while they are incarcerated. He has a special interest in creating preventive measures for young black males and seeing changes that make a difference. Anthony is currently involved with several groups aimed at addressing mass incarceration: ReCA (Re-entry Coaching Academy) with The U. S Attorney General Western District of Pennsylvania: Project PEACE (Universal Empowerment Center for Women, Children and Families Inc.); Washington Parks Academy Boys Mentoring; Prosper Us Recovery Park (Entrepreneurial Training for Returning Citizens). Anthony has worked with HOPE (Help Other People Evolve) as a Life Coach and Mentor. He has served as President for the National Lifers of America Chapter 125 (Sponsored by the Chance for Life Organization). During this time, he served as an advocate for restorative justice, team leader and mediation coach. He firmly believes that he has a responsibility and vested interest in the health and safety of our communities. As the Just Cities Lab Project Manager for The Detroit Justice Center he brings a real-life perspective as it relates to re-entry, criminal justice, restorative justice and second chances.
Yaacov Delaney
Justice, Equity and Opportunity Initiative
Chicago, IL
Yaacov Delaney is a native Chicagan, works for the Justice, Equity & Opportunity Initiative of the Office of Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, 15+ years of efficient experience as Law Clerk/legal assistant. He is formerly incarcerated and trained as a circle-keeper in the restorative justice tradition.
Zachary Crow
Director of DecARcerate Arkansas
Zachary Crow, Community Partner, is the Director of DecARcerate Arkansas, a grassroots coalition working to end mass incarceration in Arkansas. Crow spent two years living alongside homeless, incarcerated, and formerly incarcerated individuals in Atlanta, Georgia as a part of the Open Door Community. He is a radio personality, storyteller, filmmaker, and poet and serves as an ordained minister with New Millennium Church.