THE RISING

Hosted by The New Leaf Initiative Fund in Henrico, Virginia, The Rising brought together lawmakers, community leaders, advocates, and a remarkable group of ten currently incarcerated juvenile lifers who joined via Zoom to call for meaningful, evidence-based parole reform. Held at Dorey Park & Recreation’s Henricus Room, the event created a rare space where voices on both sides of the prison walls could speak directly to one another about dignity, second chances, and the moral and economic imperatives of updating Virginia’s stagnant parole system. With powerful testimonies, policy discussions, and commitments from legislators to continue this work, The Rising showcased TNLIF’s mission in action—connecting communities, uplifting long-interned citizens, and advancing smart, compassionate reforms that benefit public safety and strengthen families across the Commonwealth.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Dwayne Reginald Betts

Reginald Dwayne Betts is a poet, lawyer, and Founder & CEO of Freedom Reads, a national initiative bringing beautifully crafted libraries and transformative access to literature into prison cellblocks. An award-winning writer of a memoir and four poetry collections—including Doggerel, Felon, and Redaction—he has reshaped public understanding of incarceration through his art and advocacy. A 2021 MacArthur Fellow and recipient of Guggenheim and Radcliffe fellowships, he also won the National Magazine Award for his New York Times essay Getting Out and holds a J.D. from Yale Law School. Supported by a $5.25 million Mellon Foundation grant, Freedom Reads has installed more than 520 libraries in 52 prisons across 13 states, employing many formerly incarcerated people and creating spaces for imagination, dignity, and community.

Prof. Julie E. McConell

Julie E. McConnell is a Professor of Law and Director of the Jeanette Lipman Children’s Defense Clinic, where she and her students advocate for youth sentenced to prison, focusing on holistic, trauma-informed defense. With over 25 years in juvenile justice, she has helped secure early release for many adults sentenced as children and led landmark resentencing efforts, including reductions of life sentences. She testifies on juvenile justice reform, serves as an expert in high-profile youth cases, and trains attorneys nationally and internationally on best practices. Her work has earned numerous awards and recognition as a leading voice for second chances.

Jesse Simmons

Jesse Simmons is a former juvenile lifer turned advocate, entrepreneur, and Smart Justice Ambassador with the ACLU. After serving over 18 years in prison for a sentence he received as a child, Jesse returned home determined to make a difference. He is now a business owner and community leader, using his lived experience to support others returning from long-term incarceration. Jesse lives in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife, where he continues to build a life rooted in service, dignity, and hope—embodying what real second chances can look like.

Azeem Majeed

Azeem’s life story is one of resilience and transformation. At age 17, he was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole. After serving 26 years, he was resentenced and granted parole, making history as the first juvenile offender in Virginia to have his sentence vacated by a federal court. Since his release in 2021, Azeem has become a leading advocate for juvenile justice reform, reentry services, and problem gambling recovery, using his personal experiences as a foundation for his work.

WHAT GUESTS & ATTENDEES HAD TO SAY

“The Rising was more than an event—it was a bridge. We crossed imaginary aisles and very real barriers, including prison walls, to make this happen. This gathering represents the voices of men and women who have done everything asked of them—earned degrees, mentored others, started businesses, and rebuilt lives from within—and yet remain denied the redemption that justice and humanity demand.”
— Jesse Simmons, The New Leaf Initiative Fund

“I want to commend The Rising for their unrelenting commitment and work to support those young people incarcerated here in Virginia. I appreciate the never-ending efforts to shine a much-needed light on those who, while they made serious mistakes as children, have endeavored to turn their lives around and, even though incarcerated, have become scholars, mentors, artists, and constructive, productive members of their communities.
I join with The Rising to call on the Virginia Parole Board to support second chance legislation and to enact second chances for those who deserve and have earned opportunity.”
— Shannon Taylor, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Henrico, VA

“After thirty years inside for a crime I committed when I was 16, I’ve learned that redemption isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you work toward every single day. I’ve taken every program, mentored younger men, and helped organize this event because I believe our voices still matter. Even after four denials of parole, I hold on to hope—not just for my own freedom, but for a system that finally recognizes growth, humanity, and second chances.”

— Dameon Kyle Carter, Incarcerated Organizer and Founder of Transit Trucking Company