“Real Pictures of Reentry” Photo Exhibit

MEDIA ADVISORY: "Real Pictures of Reentry" Photo Exhibit

What: What is it like to return home after spending decades in prison? This public photography exhibit, brought to you by the Detroit Reentry Photovoice Project, visually explores the reentry realities of 11 metro-Detroiters who collectively experienced over 300 years of incarceration. The project, initiated by Dr. Michelle R. Jacobs, associate professor of sociology at Wayne State University, uses photovoice, an innovative, grassroots approach to research, to illuminate the priorities of people experiencing community reentry after long-term incarceration. Over several months, participants took photographs to document their reentry realities and then came together to reflect on and explore common themes in their collective experiences. This public photo exhibit is the forum through which participants chose to share their stories of reentry with members of the metro-Detroit community. Please show your support by joining us for our opening night reception on Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 6-9 PM. All are welcome!

When: Opening reception from 6 to 9 pm on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Exhibit open from Saturday, November 23 - December 3, 2024.

Where: Oloman Café + Gallery, 10215 Joseph Campau Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212

Why: "Real Pictures of Reentry" visually conveys powerful truths that disrupt stigmatizing narratives about justice-impacted people. Attendees are invited to see reentry through the eyes of people experiencing it, enabling deeper understanding of the challenges, triumphs, complexities, and possibilities of community reentry. This visual storytelling event will spark critical conversations about the US criminal legal system, the practice of imposing long-term prison sentences, the quality and availability of reentry services, and the broader societal consequences of mass incarceration.

Interview Opportunities:
· Associate Professor of Sociology, Michelle R. Jacobs
· Study participants:
o Darrell Siggers (exonerated after 34 years of wrongful incarceration)
o Floyd Hampton (served 25 years of a 30-100 year sentence)
o Yusuf "Q" Qualls (served 28 years; sentenced at age 16 to juvenile life without the possibility of parole)

Media Contact: Michelle R. Jacobs
Associate Professor of Sociology, Wayne State University
E: [email protected]
P: 330-612-5993