The theme for the 12th Annual Tom Tom Festival is TOGETHER, and it’s all about our community’s interconnection and shared future. This theme could not be more appropriate considering one of the major topics of the Festival this year, creating a dignified and supportive “welcome” for those re-entering society from jail and prison.
On Wednesday April 17 and Thursday April 18, the 12th Annual Tom Tom Festival will present two days of ReEntry themed programs that assemble the regional stakeholders who are helping individuals re-enter society from prisons and jails, as well as raise empathy and public awareness for the barriers encountered when re-entering society. These programs is created with the UVA Law Decarceration and Community ReEntry Clinic, the Fountain Fund, Equal Justice USA, Second Chancer Foundation, Home2Hope, Uhuru Foundation, and OAR will be an impactful day of connection, empathy, and resource sharing.
If you are actively involved in the work of ReEntry, or a member of the public interested, please read below about how to be join these impactful programs.
Special thanks to fiscal sponsors: UVA Law Decarceration and Community Reentry Clinic, an Anonymous Gift, Chris Little & Tori Goodloe, The Paramount Theater, and Vault Virginia.
ReEntry Summit
Vault Virginia (9:30am - 11:30am)
A connection event for those working in the Criminal Justice Reform and re-entry space, for all those working to create a dignified, supportive "welcome" to returning citizens. Each individual or group will have a chance to share their work and what resources they need to better serve our city, and thus catalyze an ecosystem map that better supports regional efforts. Presented with the Fountain Fund & Equal Justice USA
ReEntry Simulation
Carver Recreation (1pm - 3pm)
An interactive experience for the public that showcases the challenges one encounters when exiting prison, often when barred from housing, transportation, banking, and other financial services. Presented with UVA Law Decarceration and Community ReEntry Clinic, the BUCK Squad, the Fountain Fund, Second Chancer Foundation, Home2Hope, Uhuru Foundation, and OAR
Film Screening: A Bridge to Life
The Paramount Theater (7pm - 9pm)
From celebrated director Chris Farina comes a documentary about the power of overcoming hardship, and remaining resilient. A Bridge to Life is a portrait of the ministry of William Washington, who works to change the lives of men dealing with life-threatening addiction issues, providing intensive job-training skills along with psychological and spiritual mentoring to give them a chance to return to society as successful community and family members.
Responding to Harm: Reflective Jail Tour and Intro to Restorative Justice - Wed 4/17
Presented with Central Virginia Community Justice and Equal Justice USA
If you have never been in your local jail, now is the time. This tour, led by Col Martin Kumer, superintendent of the jail, will offer a glimpse at conditions in the jail. Following the tour, Central Virginia Community Justice will facilitate a reflection on the experience, and an introduction to restorative justice as an alternative to incarceration. Jail Tours Require Direct RSVP.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Questions? Please contact info@tomtomfoundation.org or any of the hosts listed below for more information.
Paul Beyer, Tom Tom Foundation, Paul@tomtomfoundation.org
Derek Rush, Uhuru Foundation, drush@theuhurufoundation.org
Gary Spry, OAR, gspry@oar-jacc.org
Herb Dickerson, BUCK Squad, herb.locust@gmail.com
Jamey Rush, jamey@thehaven.org
Jean Knorr, jeanknorr@gmail.com
Jesse Crosson, Second Chancer Foundation, jesselcrosson@gmail.com
Kelly Orians, UVA Law, kelly@first72plus.org
Bryan Page, BUCK Squad, mylife4cees@gmail.com
Rob Gray, Uhuru Foundation, rgray@theuhurufoundation.org
Sam Heath, Equal Justice USA, samh@ejusa.org
Stacey Washington, Home2Hope, washingtonsl@charlottesville.gov
Martize Tolbert, the Fountain Fund, mtolbert@fountainfund.org
William Washington, The Bridge Ministry
Jay James, The Bridge Ministry