Milwaukee-based The Community, a nonprofit organization working to help incarcerated Wisconsinites prepare to re-enter their lives after release, will host its annual “Correcting the Narrative” conference to shed light on the realities of carceral experiences in early November.
The Community hosts an annual conference to give the reality of those impacted by the justice system. This year’s theme will be “Learning is Liberation” with sessions across four days, Nov. 3-6, with simulations on giving birth in prison, a re-entry type simulation, solitary confinement experience and a reflection and panel discussion from those impacted by the carceral system.
The organization started as a newsletter in 2014 by Shannon Ross while he served a 17-year prison sentence. The Community’s newsletter grew to be read by over half of Wisconsin’s prison population. Later, upon Ross’ release, The Community formed into a nonprofit.
Its annual conference is now in its fifth year as it looks to advance discussions and change how others see people affected by the carceral system.
“We’re hoping that people see this as an opportunity to really learn more about the system and how we can do better, either for themselves or somebody else,” Ross said. “We’re really trying to lean into creating opportunities for people going forward that can let them better understand this issue in a way that’s more immersive, that’s more engaging, that’s different than the norm.”
The Community hopes to move conversations and perceptions on how we interact with the system. The conference platforms those impacted by the carceral system — directly and indirectly — to share their journeys, successes and struggles in their life.
“No matter where you go in this country, it’s going to be relevant,” Ross said. “Stories are so important. You can’t really go where you’ve never seen somebody else go.”
Sessions to accomplish The Community’s vision will give first-hand experiences to under-realized issues in the carceral system.
One of its main features will be a prison birth simulator held at Alverno College and Mount Mary University. 
It is partnered up with the Ostara Initiative, an organization that works towards meeting the needs of pregnant and parenting women in prison and trains currently incarcerated women in how to be doulas.
Ostara Initiative is currently working with women in Taycheedah Correctional Institute — Wisconsin’s largest women’s prison.
“They do a simulation to help people understand what it’s like to be a woman giving birth in prison, and how that then ties to the dehumanization of people inside, especially women, and what that leads to,” Ross said. “If the birth is unhealthy, if the birth is done in a dehumanizing fashion that starts out the child’s life, it’s already a one hand behind their back type of scenario.”
Other sessions include a simulator for solitary confinement and its re-entry simulator — “criminal legal simulations.” The former gives a harrowing look at what it feels like to sit alone in solitary confinement, if only for a moment, to give attendees a taste of the experience.
The latter deals with the trials and tribulations often felt after being released. It will deal with having attendees deal with frequent stigmatization post-incarceration.
Its final session will honor formerly incarcerated individuals and host a panel discussion reflecting on experiences with the carceral system.
“People that are impacted, we really try to double down on inspiring and encouraging and inspiring folks to see those who made it that are doing well,” Ross said. “How they’ve done well is inspiring for people that might be struggling, or that they have a loved one coming home, or they have a loved one that’s home now, and don’t know how to help them.”
The Community’s Correcting the Narrative conference will be held Nov. 3-6 in Milwaukee. Tickets are currently on sale. A full schedule of events can be found on its website.
