As an artist, the mantra "we are the walking wounded" tremendously impacted Kaleigh Jo Atkinson's vision. The main influence on her work is one of selfless service. She believes documentary film, installation art and vulnerability through storytelling are powerful tools that advance the consciousness and compassion in humanity.
It's an honor to have long time friend and filmmaker Kaleigh on my podcast. She shares her (love)story of meeting her partner who was arrested and incarcerated. At the time of his arrest, she had no idea what she was about to embark upon, which lasted years of failed exit plans, screwed up paper work, multiple transfers, and COVID lockdowns.
"The Criminal Justice System today [in the United Staes] is like a bicycle stuck in one gear". There are 2 million people in the nation’s prisons and jails—a 500% increase over the last 40 years. Changes in sentencing law and policy, not changes in crime rates, explain most of this increase. These trends have resulted in prison overcrowding and fiscal burdens on states to accommodate a rapidly expanding system.
Kaleigh naturally found herself as her partner's advocate, which was essentially a full time job. It sparked a passion to be a "voice for the voiceless that no one wants to help", as she puts it.
To cope, she put her filming and documentary skills to work with Shannon Ross and The Community Now to portray stories of those who have been incarcerated to help correct the narrative that those in prison are not "bad" people. She also started working with Adam Procell and Partners in Hope, a prison re-entry program in Milwaukee. It also opened the doors to work with cacao and partner in One World Cacao.
In her time with her partner behind bars she had to lean into her faith, resiliency, and find hope in times of darkness. Her mission to is to create lasting change by helping people hear multiple perspectives and treat everyone with love and compassion. I truly hope you enjoy this episode.
Links for topics discussed in this podcast and how you can connect with Kaleigh:
The Community Now: https://thecommunitynow.us/
Partners In Hope: https://www.thecommunitywarehouse.org/partners-in-hope
One World Cacao: https://www.oneworldcacao.com/ Use discount code LESHA10
Connect with Kaleigh and to see her documentaries: https://www.kaleighatkinson.com/
Kaleigh's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleighjophoto/
ACE test: https://www.newmethodwellness.com/adverse-childhood-experiences-test/#:~:text=The%20ACE%20early%20childhood%20trauma,to%20conditions%20within%20the%20family.
To connect with me and my work:
Website: Leshanelson.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesha__nelson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesha.nelson11
Intimate telegram group: https://t.me/+wHFNZCIHxSI4ZjMx
Music is supplied for free by: Bensound.com track "Tenderness"
If you loved this podcast please consider leaving a review or sharing with your loved ones!
xx
Lesha
