- a
- R
- S
We are raising money to help with our friend Tiana’s reentry to New York City after 14 years of incarceration. After surviving a traumatic childhood, Tiana was incarcerated at the age of 15 and served 14 years of a 15-year-to-life sentence. Tiana earned her release at her first parole hearing in November 2022 and is set to come home in March 2023. Her family is waiting for her, especially her younger brothers and sisters, who never had a chance to spend time with Tiana on the outside. Tiana’s youngest sister calls Tiana her favorite sibling and is eager to continue building their relationship upon her release.
I was fortunate to meet and work with Tiana through my law school clinic, which focused on incarcerated survivors of gender-based violence. I continue to learn and benefit from Tiana’s warmth, generosity, humor and friendship. In the past 14 years, she has healed from her past, accomplished incredible achievements, and formed meaningful relationships. She has grown up in prison and taken advantage of every opportunity to better herself. Where there are no opportunities, Tiana creates them.
Tiana is a marked example of resilience and survivorhood. She has a zeal for life, her education, and her future, and is noticeably different from the version of her that was painted at trial and in the media at the time of her prosecution.
Reentry anytime is an extremely difficult process, especially for someone who was incarcerated as a child. Tiana recognizes that a lot has changed since she was home. While she plans to continue her education and work with youth in similar situations to her own, she acknowledges that her transition will take time. In the meantime, she will need assistance covering rent, transportation, clothes, food, and other expenses while she establishes her new life and settles into her first months home.
Tiana is someone very near and dear to my heart. She has truly taken a tragic event and put together the pieces to create something beautiful. Tiana has been incarcerated since the age of fifteen. In that time, she has changed, matured, and thrived, not because of her circumstances but in spite of them.
Please donate if you can and share with your networks so that we can support Tiana’s reentry and welcome her home together!