In the Beautiful Social Research Collective class, our group partnered with Free Mind Network to create a community-driven storytelling project centered on the experiences of formerly incarcerated individuals. We focused on using storytelling as our main tool to help participants define their own narratives and challenge harmful public perceptions. Through a series of interviews with Stacey Torrence, Joel Steiker, Anneliese Ashley, and Scott Emerick, we gathered firsthand perspectives about the realities of reentry, the barriers people face after incarceration, and the types of support that truly make a difference. Our work followed a community-led approach, meaning the direction of the project was shaped by the voices of those most affected. Rather than focusing only on fundraising, our goal was to build understanding, shift public attitudes, and amplify the voices of returning citizens so they could define their own challenges, solutions, and impact within the community.
