Saturday, March 2
6:00 – 8:00 pm EST
Indianapolis Liberation Center
1800 N. Meridian St., Suite 305
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Focus Families Initiatives, a member organization of the Indianapolis Liberation Center, invites you to a pivotal gathering spotlighting the systemic injustices within the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC). Three courageous mothers, Queene Lewis, Sheila Arnold, and Rosalind Goodman, united by the severe mistreatment and murder of their sons by the racist mass incarceration system in the U.S., will lead an essential dialogue on the urgent need for radical reforms and ultimately the abolition of the carceral state.
Their powerful narratives reveal the oppressive role of mass incarceration and highlights the power of and need for women’s leadership in the current era of the prison abolition movement. Listen, learn, follow their leadership, and join the fight for a world without cages. As part of a long legacy of Black women’s leadership, this event foregrounds the necessity of transforming individual grief into a force of organized resistance.
Speakers
- Queene Lewis is a field organizer for Focus Families Initiatives. Based in Evansville, Indiana, she advocates for families with loved ones caught up in the prison system. Queene received critical support from IDOC Watch when her three sons were incarcerated which empowered her to now take the lead in providing support for families threatened by isolating despair, the brutality of the carceral state, and a lack of access to material resources. Currently, as the Evansville Director and House Manager for Focus Initiatives, LTD, she provides resources, information, and opportunities vital to starting again and staying out.
- Sheila Arnold is the devoted mother of Brandon Lewis who was murdered by IDOC guards who then attempted to cover up his murder. Arnold, who is flying out from Dallas, Texas for this event, is also a founder of Cornerstone City Mission. She was featured in State vs. us, a magazine that speaks out against corruption and wrongful convictions and showcases success stories of the resilience of individuals who have made it out of prison, where you can read more about her son’s narrative that serves as a beacon for her activism.
- Rosalind Goodman has faced the harsh reality of her son Kevin’s 28-year imprisonment, enduring the harsh conditions of the IDOC. Restless nights and concerns for Kevin’s safety made her a vocal advocate for justice and systemic reform. Her activism demands accountability and seeks to restore the lost time and opportunities for her son and her brother, imprisoned for nearly four decades on dubious charges. Rosalind’s story testifies to a mother’s resilience and unyielding love in the fight for change.
Program
6:00 pm: Doors open
6:30 pm: Program starts
6:40-7:30 pm: Panel
7:30-8:00 pm: Q&A and discussion
8:00-8:30 pm: Socializing and planning for next steps
