Day of Empathy

Did you know that the US hosts 25% of the world’s prison population? I think we’re doing something wrong.

Today, I joined the Day of Empathy, organized nationally by #cut50 and locally by MassINC, the Massacushetts think tank. #Cut50 is part of Van Jones’s Dream Corps and is trying to catalyze legislation to safely reduce our prison population. MassINC organized this event at the State House to tell stories about people affected by the criminal justice system. At this Day of Empathy event, we heard just how difficult it is to break out of the cycle of poverty and incarceration, messages of how, in effect, we have systemically criminalized poverty. Powerful and moving. One speaker asked us to break out of our comfort zone and help. It’s not clear how I can make a difference, however, which seems to be a recurring theme of my exploration so far.