About SINCE I BEEN DOWN

Meet Kimonti Carter.

Joined a gang at age 11. At age 18, sentenced to 700 years in prison for his role in a drive by shooting in 1977. Against all odds, Kimonti became an inspirational role model within the prison system. As a leader of the Black Prisoner’s Caucus, at age 34, Kimonti founded TEACH (Taking Education and Creating History), a remarkably innovative prisoner education program.

Kimonti was part of a community profoundly impacted by the city’s disinvestment in housing, education, and employment as well as our policies in the 1990’s.

This film, told by the people who have lived these conditions, unravels why children commit violent crime and how these children – now adults – are breaking free from their fate by creating a model of justice that is transforming their lives, our humanity and the quality of life for all our children.

A Film, A Conversation and a Call To Action

Once you register for this event you will receive a private link to view the film, SINCE I BEEN DOWN at your convenience between October 16th and October 19th, 2021.

Then, we will come together on October 24th, 2021 for a conversation with multi-faith leaders to discuss SINCE I BEEN DOWN and identify ways to take action to transform our justice system

After a conversation with the featured panelists, attendees will will come together for a call to action. We will leave with a better understanding of the criminal justice laws in Washington State and concrete ways we can all take action towards a system of transformative justice.

Featured Panelists

• Gilda Sheppard, Director/Executive Producer/Writer of Since I Been Down
• Tonya Wilson, Re-entry Outreach Coordinator, The Freedom Project
• Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, Herzl-Ner Tamid
• Dr. Mark Jones, The Sunyata Group
• Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum , Kavana Cooperative
• Rev. Kelle Brown, Plymouth Church Seattle

Event Partners: American Civil Liberties Union, Anti-Defamation League, Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue, Byrd Barr Place, Center for Children and Youth Justice, Church Council of Greater Seattle, Circle Faith Future, Congregation Beth Shalom, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME), Goodwill Baptist Church, Herzl Ner Tamid Congregation, IF Project, Interfaith Community Sanctuary, Jewish Community Relations Council, Hillel UW, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Meaningful Movies Project, Northwest Interfaith, Kavana Cooperative, Pioneer Human Services, Plymouth Congregational Church, Skyway United Methodist Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Stroum Jewish Community Center, Temple Beth Am, Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Temple Beth Or, Temple B’nai Torah, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, The Holocaust Center for Humanity, Urban League, Youth Chaplaincy Coalition

Multi-faith Team: Dr. Marcia Arunga, Rev. Paul Benz, Rabbi Jill Borodin, Justice Bobbe Bridge, Rev. Kelle Brown, Audrey Covner, Justice Mike Heavy, David Israel, Dr. Frank Jameson, Dr. Mark Jones, Karen Lee, Yaffa Maritz, Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum, Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, Dr. Gilda Sheppard, Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Rabbi Zari Weiss

The multi-faith team was initiated by Blacks and Jews Building Beloved Community.