Perspectives: Dignity Behind Bars with JJ Velazquez

The Stand Together Podcast

JJ Velazquez spent more than 23 years incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, a year after his release, he is on staff with the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice, working to enhance the dignity of individuals in the criminal justice system. In this episode, JJ joins Ty Spells to discuss how he is turning his “trauma into triumph.”

Host for this Episode: Ty Spells
Guest: JJ Velazquez, Frederick Douglass Project for Justice
Produced by Stand Together and BitterSweet Creative
Executive Producers: Obiekwe "Obi" Okolo and Robert Winship
Editing, Engineering, and Sound Design: Robert Winship
Special Thanks to Producers: Molly Ringel and Elgin Cato
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About Stand Together

Stand Together is a philanthropic community. We help America’s boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems. Our partners transform their results by accessing our capabilities including funding, tapping into our unique network including Fortune 500 CEOs, civil rights leaders, and hundreds of nonprofit leaders, and utilizing our playbook for applying principles that are proven to help people thrive. Together, we are driving solutions on economic opportunity, education, health care, bridging partisan divides, and dozens of other pressing issues.

About Stand Together Foundation and the Catalyst Program

Stand Together Foundation is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities. We are building a community of social entrepreneurs who believe in people, work from the bottom up, and unite with anyone to do right. Since 2016, we have committed over $120 million and counting to fuel the innovation of nonprofits throughout the country to build stronger, safer communities where all people can learn, contribute, and realize their full potential. Our goal is to help nonprofit leaders maximize their impact to transform more lives out of poverty.