PANELISTS

FRI. 02/03

Moderator Charles Moore is the first fulltime alumnus to be hired by Rehabilitation Through the Arts as RTA’s Director of Operations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Mercy College, Master of Professional Studies from New York Theological Seminary.

Tara Diaz has been with Rehabilitation Through the Arts ( RTA) for the past 4 years. Tara is a Harm Reduction Peer Educator, and works part-time in construction.

Partnership. She has special training in Gestalt Pastoral Care, coaching and conflict transformation. She helps to raise awareness in faith communities about intimate partner violence and has created opportunities for people to connect through Katonah SPACE (Spirituality, Arts, and Community for Everyone).

Darrian Bennett has been with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) for the past 10 years. A Visual Artist, Darrian now works for Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison.

SAT. 02/04

Moderator Rev. Melissa Boyer is the pastor of Katonah United Methodist Church. She has served in a variety of ministry settings including a chaplaincy at Columbia University. Community involvement and organizing are central to her calling. Academic coordinator and instructor for Rising Hope offering college-level courses in correctional facilities. She is co-chair of Methodists In New Directions (MIND) a grassroots organization advocating for equality for LGBTQIA persons. She has organized rallies and teach-ins for racial justice, working with Appalachia Service Project or the Emergency Shelter

Greg Mingo, Westchester Community Leader, RAPP: Greg was released from prison in 2021 after 40 years of incarceration for a wrongful conviction. During his incarceration, Greg became a certified paralegal and respected jailhouse lawyer who has helped numerous men obtain their freedom or sentence reduction. He has worked on programs around domestic violence, communications, fatherhood, and many others. Greg is a champion for racial and social justice, clemency, freeing our elders, and parole reform.

Roslyn D. Smith is a Program Manager for V-Day, a nonprofit organization that has vowed to end violence against women and girls. She uses her personal experience of long term incarceration as a vehicle for her work as a criminal justice reform advocate. Roslyn obtained her Bachelor’s degree while incarcerated and created curriculum and taught parenting classes for and with other mothers in prison. She has collaborated with the Osborne Association, Columbia University, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Reentry Program and other criminal justice reform groups.

Jose Saldana, Director, Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) was released from NYS prison in 2018 after 38 years of incarceration and four parole denials. During his decades in prison, he committed himself to organizing and advocating for racial justice and meaningful changes to the criminal legal system, including transformative changes to parole and sentencing.

SUN. 02/5

Charles Moore, Moderator. (See bio at left—Friday 02/03).

Tallulah Gillespie (Ty) has been with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) for the past 15 years. Ty works for a homeless shelter, and Human Resources Administration part time.

Jermaine Archer has been with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) for the past 15 years. Jermaine serves on RTA’s Board of Directors and is a Program Associate with Schusterman Family Philanthropies.