The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a biweekly program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Islan......More
The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a biweekly program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories.After serving over five years in prison for a wrongful conviction, Cedar Annenkovna was suddenly released by the Supreme Court with only 30 minutes’ notice. While incarcerated, she became a mentor and GED instructor, earned an associates degree, got involved in legislation, had her art and writing published and exhibited nationally and internationally. Now, as an artist, poet, and activist, she is an advocate for prison abolition. To purchase ferry tickets to the island, visit the Alcatraz City Cruises website. If you are a community leader working with the formerly incarcerated community and you would like to bring a group to an upcoming program in the series, please email us. If you have any accessibility needs such as ASL translation, please contact [email protected] at least 5 days in advance.For more information on the Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series, or other community outreach initiatives (including ranger-led programs), please contact [email protected]. 2025 Speaker Series Dates:May 17, 24June 7, 14July 12, 19August 2, 9, 16September 6, 13
