Eugene Youngblood was arrested in 1991 at 18 years of age and released in March of 2021 at the age of 48 after serving 29 and a half years. He was set to spend the rest of his life in prison but in June 2019, the clemency and pardons board voted unanimously to recommend release after finding that his personal transformation and the work he did with other prisoners was extraordinary. Currently Eugene is employed at the freedom project where he is a community engagement specialist and is part of the regional peacekeepers of king county where he is a violence interrupter as a community first responder to gun violence. Eugene is also highly sought out speaker who will be the keynote speaker at the Seattle Clemency Project fundraiser this year. “It can be harder to heal from having harmed others than from all the harm done to us. No matter how difficult the task, I’m up for the challenge because I know… people don’t change, we HEAL!”

Ellis Hopkins is an Army veteran and trained light wheel mechanic. While incarcerated at the Washington Correction Center for Women (WCCW), he advocated for and successfully began his gender transition. He used this experience to help other trans and nonbinary incarcerated individuals establish a pathway for gender-affirming care that includes surgery. Alongside his partner, he facilitated gender identity education workshops and built a community of support for the growing gender non-conforming population housed in prisons in Washington State. He works directly with Disability Rights Washington to inform and establish best practices for legally and legislatively supporting trans people while incarcerated. He has also done extensive outreach for trans and nonbinary people releasing from WCCW, and helped compile an extensive resource guide that covers name and gender marker change processes for all government documents. Most recently, Ellis has served on multiple presentation panels for the Transgender Health Program at Oregon Health and Science University, informing how both present and future healthcare providers view the healthcare needs of incarcerated transgender people. In his free time, Ellis enjoys making music and is currently learning to play the electric guitar. He spends the sunny season exploring the outdoors with his wife and friends, and the rest of the year working on his Jeep and learning new tech. He loves graphic novels and anything to do with artificial intelligence. Ellis served 17 years at WCCW and was released in 2021. He continues to focus on the reentry needs of gender nonconforming people, especially in regards to safe housing and workforce navigation.

Carolina (she/her) identifies as a Mexican-American woman. Carolina currently works at the Washington State Democratic Caucus as an Equity & Policy Analyst. She is a graduate of the Evergreen State College with a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree with a focus on political science and policy. Her four areas of specialized work are social justice, disabilities, immigration, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices. In addition to her work at the HDC, Carolina was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve as a council member on the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council. Carolina serves on three Advisory Committees, the Sustainability in Prisons Project, Community and Parenting Alternative program, and Arrest and Jail Alternatives program. She believes that people with lived experience have the most power to make effective change in our communities.

Shelley Winner is a Surface Specialist and Global Sales leader of Surface Products at Microsoft. Shelley is also A Restorative Justice Activist whose goal is to change the world, reduce crime and advocate for justice involved people. Shelley is very active in the restorative justice movement in San Francisco and loves to spend her time educating the public about the benefits of hiring people with conviction records. As someone who has had to challenge the societal stigma that prevents companies from hiring people with criminal records Shelley has taken up that mantle. She has done so by inspiring the world through her Ted talk and being featured on PBS’s documentary series about the challenges and success of reentering society after incarceration. Shelley is a sought-after speaker on issues of workforce development, closing the digital divide, proximate leadership, and criminal justice reform.

Alyssa Knight is a UW alum with a degree in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. She is the co-founder and co-director of the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (FEPPS), a non-profit organization that offers a rigorous college education to people housed at the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW). She is also the co-founder of Beyond Bars and Binaries, a small organization that facilitates gender education and allyship workshops as well as support groups for gender non-conforming folks in Washington prisons. She has worked extensively with Disability Rights Washington to advocate for and craft new prison policies that guarantee gender-affirming care and privacy protections for trans and nonbinary incarcerated individuals. Alyssa is newly a member of the Incarceration, Gender and Justice committee under the Washington State Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys being outdoors. She is an avid hiker and paddleboarder, and is working on her skills as a rollerskater. She is a certified trauma-informed yoga instructor, and teaches classes at the Green Hill School juvenile detention center and the Helen B. Radcliffe work release center as a volunteer for Yoga Behind Bars. Her life mantra is, “Time is precious…use it wisely.” She infuses both her work and her daily practices of self-care with this intentionality, recognizing that time matters regardless of where you are living it. She served 17 years at WCCW and was granted clemency and released by Governor Inslee in 2021.

Jeramia Dupre, is the driving force behind Fair & Square Construction and a key Partner in a prominent window treatment enterprise. Beyond his business roles, he stands as a tireless advocate for restorative justice, investing his time in volunteering within California's prisons. Jeramia's objective is to empower the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, propelling them towards their untapped potential, all while championing the invaluable advantages for companies in hiring formerly incarcerated who are seeking a fresh start.

Matthew Hearn is a personal trainer, coach, and entrepreneur in Oakland, California. Matthew spent 13 years incarcerated and is a testament to the power of resilience, determination and the power of community. Matthew attests his success to how he channeled his time while incarcerated towards personal growth and healing. Through his commitment to lifting weights Matthew developed a deep mindful awareness of his body and connected to his power. He quickly set himself apart as a leader and elite athlete. Defying the odds after his release, Matthew created a successful thriving business. With an unwavering commitment to his clients' success Matthew uses his unique blend of mindfulness, weight lifting, and coaching to support and transform his clients. He is committed to giving back and sharing his experience to support system impacted people.