2019 Convening
Montgomery, Alabama
In celebration of our 10th anniversary, our 2019 Convening was held in Montgomery, AL, where we visited the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery.
FAQs about the Convening:
What are the goals of the National Convening?
CFSY’s annual National Convening is a cornerstone of our work. Over multiple days each fall, we bring together a diverse group of formerly incarcerated advocates, legislators, parole board members, national partners, and others to strategize about how to end extreme sentencing of youth under the leadership of those directly impacted by the issue. We offer attendees a robust agenda packed with informative plenaries, panels, workshops, and opportunities to connect with one another on both a personal and professional level. Over the past nine years, we’ve seen countless reform measures and so much movement-building that started with a simple connection at our convening.
When and where is the National Convening taking place?
The 2021 Convening will take place from November 8-10th in Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia, a city notorious for imposing life sentences on scores of children, is now home to many of those same individuals who are rebuilding their lives and are leaders in their communities. Our Convening will include visits to a gallery showing art by formerly life-sentenced children, a horse farm dedicated to healing and growth, and local food and sights.
What are sponsorship levels, and what do they include?
Information on sponsorships for our 2021 Convening are still to come.
What does a National Convening registration include?
A ticket gives you access to all programming. Registration has not yet opened for 2021.
What will programming include?
To stay up-to-date on information for our 2021 Convening, we encourage you to check back often on our 2021 Convening Event page for updates.
Honorees of the 2019 Convening
Verizon’s leadership team has gone above and beyond to use their platform and resources for positive social change and justice and has shown a genuine passion to learn and contribute to justice reform. Their commitment has set an important example of corporate advocacy and has elevated this issue to a new place in our societal discourse. Specifically, it has fortified the work to keep children from being subjected to extreme sentencing and provide a path to prosperity for those incarcerated as youth who are now returning home.
Condemned to die in prison as a child, Marshan Allen never gave up hope despite his cruel and barbaric sentence and became the first person to be resentenced and released after the landmark Supreme Court decision in Montgomery v. Louisiana. He is not only living proof that kids can and do change, but his resilience, courage, and perseverance are an example for us all. From joining ICAN, to serving on our board, to working with Restore Justice Illinois, he has demonstrated that he is an extraordinary person and talented leader.
From founding a ground-breaking non-profit organization to serve the needs of and build leadership among formerly incarcerated youth in California, to launching a film company dedicated to social change, Scott Budnick’s leadership on our issue is apparent. His deep devotion to children who commit violence and ability to leverage his platform to advocate for these young people are truly inspiring and we are excited to honor him at this year’s event.
From founding a ground-breaking non-profit organization to serve the needs of and build leadership among formerly incarcerated youth in California, to launching a film company dedicated to social change, Scott Budnick’s leadership on our issue is apparent. His deep devotion to children who commit violence and ability to leverage his platform to advocate for these young people are truly inspiring and we are excited to honor him at this year’s event.
Sponsors of the 2019 Convening & the CFSY at 10 Reception
Hosts
Chris & Crystal Sacca
Defenders
Leaders
Anonymous
Howard Conant and RJI Friends of Marshan Allen
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP and Paul Rosenthal
Rebecca Milliken
Paul & Melinda B. Pressler
Cliff Sloan & Mary Lou Hartman
Wendy Smith & Barry Meyer
Champions
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Christopher Finn & Anne Patterson Finn
The DLA Piper Foundation
Friends At Work
Glover Park Group
Holland & Knight LLP
King & Spaulding LLP
David Leiter & Tamera Luzzatto
Christine & Michael Puzo
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Starbucks
Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP
Advocates
Maya Ajmera & David Hollander
Jonathan & Joy Alferness
Kevin Buchanan & Cristallea Kang Buchanan
Creed & Gowdy
Deloitte
Alberto Fassinotti
Elizabeth Galvin
Alyssa Harper
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Lankler Siffert & Wohl LLP
Law Offices of Deborah LaBelle
Scott & Catherine Marquardt
Michele Coleman Mayes
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Sidley Austin LLP
Patricia & Steve Morgan
The Rock Creek Group
Supporters
George Clarke
Crowell & Moring LLP
Bernardine Dohrn
Susan Galbraith
Haley Griffin
Ben Lear
Alison Leal Parker
Josh Toll
USTelecom
Zak Williams
2019 Host Committee
Joy Alferness – Wendy Atrokhov – Bernardine Dohrn – Donna Epps – Angelyn Frazer-Giles – Haley Griffin – Kathleen Grillo –
Abby Kohlman – Gabrielle Kohlmeier – Jennifer Kroman – Rashida MacMurray-Abdallah – Rebecca Milliken – Josh Toll
2018 Summary:
The 2018 annual National Convening, hosted in Washington DC, offered a combination of touching testimonies, celebration of progress, and thought partnership. We saw firsthand the leadership of directly impacted and formerly life sentenced children, learned from their expertise and experience, and mapped out strategies for the work to come.
There were many inspiring plenaries and panels over the course of two days, including a conversation between educator and writer Clint Smith and CFSY staff member Abd’Allah Lateef, during which they unpacked the myth of juvenile superpredators.
We also heard compelling stories of forgiveness from victim family members, held sessions with directly impacted individuals focused on self-care, and challenged all attendees to carry the torch for the future of youth sentencing reform reform. We were thrilled to see attendees from all walks of life come together in support of ending life without parole and other extreme sentences for children.
You can watch the 2018 Convening in its entirety by clicking here.
It was a joy to witness the positive impact and amount of progress that The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing has made in the last decade. We cannot thank you enough for helping us make last year’s Convening such an unforgettable event, and we look forward to seeing many of you in Montgomery.
