JC Gardner Speaks and The Gardner House Inc Booklet

JC Gardner Speaks and The Gardner House Inc. Presents

The First Annual Legislative Summit Policy Briefing on Wrongful Incarceration, Forensic Evidence and Criminal Justice Reform and Fundraiser and Silent Auction to Support The Gardner House Inc., for Returning Citizens.

Order of Programme Welcome, Greetings and Occasion by Host - Jimmie C. Gardner Greetings and Remarks - U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, (GA - 2). Introduction of Jason Flom, Emcee for the Policy Briefing - Jimmie C. Gardner Introduction of the Panelists - Jason Flom Panelists Remarks - Tiawana Brown Brian Ferguson Jimmie C. Gardner Tyra Patterson Emcee Follow Up Questions and Discussion - Jason Flom Audience Q&A Closing Thoughts - Jimmie C. Gardner, Host

JIMMIE C. GARDNER

JIMMIE C. GARDNER BIOGRAPHY Jimmie C. Gardner is a motivational speaker who draws on the values and life lessons he acquired through his childhood, professional baseball career, and wrongful conviction to help others make the most of the challenges and opportunities granted to each of us. By sharing his story, Jimmie encourages others to live their best lives through spiritual, mental, and physical health. Born in Dawson, Georgia, Jimmie was raised by his great aunt in Tampa, Florida. Growing up in Tampa provided numerous opportunities to excel, both academically and athletically. Jimmie was a member of the famed Belmont Heights Little League Team and graduated from the academically competitive Tampa Bay Vocational Technical High School. In 1984, Jimmie was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played with them in the minor leagues for 4

seasons, while studying business management at Tampa College during the off-season. Jimmie’s blessed life took an extraordinary turn in 1987 while he was playing with the Charleston Wheelers in Charleston, West Virginia. Two elderly white women were sexual assaulted by a black male, and over 140 black men in the city, including Jimmie, were rounded up by the police. Because there was no forensic evidence connecting him to the crime and because he did not match the description of the attacker, Jimmie was cleared and went on with his life. Two years later in 1989, Jimmie was back in Tampa when he was arrested, extradited to West Virginia, and charged with sexual assault, robbery, burglary, and assault during the commission of a felony. In January of 1990, after a travesty of a trial with an inexperienced public defender, blatant prosecutorial misconduct, false testimony from the forensic expert, and numerous trial errors, Jimmie was

acquitted regarding one victim and convicted regarding the other—despite evidence that the same person committed both crimes. He was sentenced to 110 years. While in prison, Jimmie continued to pursue his education, earning three Associates Degrees and numerous certificates. He taught himself the law and worked tirelessly to secure his freedom, while serving as a representative for other prisoners during legal proceedings. Twenty-seven years after his wrongful conviction, the US District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia held that Jimmie’s conviction was a total miscarriage of justice and that he had been held in legal purgatory for 27 years. The court vacated the conviction, and he was released from custody on April 1, 2016. It would take another five months, but prosecutors formally dropped all charges against Jimmie on September 7, 2016.

Since his release, Jimmie C. Gardner has become an advocate for other wrongfully imprisoned and over-incarcerated men and women. He is an advocate for criminal justice reform and inmate rights. As a motivational speaker, Jimmie has shared his message of positive thinking and resilience with students in secondary school and college, sports teams, churches, and community organizations. Jimmie also visits prisons, offering insight, hope, and encouragement. One of Jimmie’s passions is the development of Gardner House, a reentry home designed to help returning citizens who might not have the family support and resources necessary to make a successful return to society Jimmie C. Gardner's positivity and endurance are a testament to his faith, his upbringing, and his unconquerable spirit. He sees every day as a blessing from God and lives his life to help others attain the spiritual, mental, and physical health that are the keys to happiness and success. Jimmie continues to live life to the fullest. He recently married US District Court Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner and joined the illustrious brotherhood of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. For more information, please visit https://www.jcgardnerspeaks.com

Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.

CONGRESSMAN SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR. BIOGRAPHY Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. is serving his fourteenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Georgia's Second Congressional District, which covers 29 middle and southwest Georgia counties: Bibb (in part), Baker, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Macon, Marion, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee (in part), Peach, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Terrell, and Webster. The middle and southwest Georgia legislator seeks to use the legislative process to create a higher, better quality of life for all citizens by promoting jobs and a stronger, more diversified economy, better education, safe and secure communities, a clean environment, affordable and accessible health care, sustainable agriculture, energy independence, and a strong national defense -- all within the context of a balanced budget.

LEGISLATIVE RECORD Congressman Bishop is a leader among the fiscally responsible Democrats in Congress. He believes that the most important way the nation can reduce the federal budget deficit and grow the economy is to get Americans back to work. He endorsed legislation to increase small business lending, extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts to provide tax relief to Americans at all income levels while the economy recovers, eliminate the burdensome estate tax, and close tax loopholes that send American jobs overseas. In order to restore the nation’s economic security, Congressman Bishop has supported a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment; legislation to require any new spending by Congress to be offset by spending cuts and/or enhancing revenues; caps on discretionary spending; and reforming defense procurement and weapons acquisition. Since 2003, Congressman Bishop has served on the House Committee on Appropriations. At the start of the 116th Congress, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug

Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee as well as a senior member of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Bishop has worked to ensure that the Second Congressional District gets its fair share of federal dollars to create and maintain jobs, rebuild its infrastructure, strengthen its schools, bridge the digital divide, fund innovative agriculture research, promote national security, and develop communities. Prior to 2003, Congressman Bishop served on the House Committee on Agriculture; the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Congressman Bishop has spearheaded a wide range of initiatives that benefit the Second Congressional District. He has introduced the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act, which would permit retired service members who have

a service-connected disability rated less than 50% to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation. In the 112th Congress, he was the lead House sponsor of the Hiring Heroes Act, which improves programs helping individuals make the transition from service member to civilian employee. The measure was signed into law in November 2011 (P.L. 112-56). In the 111th Congress (2009-2010), Congressman Bishop successfully fought to prevent the U.S. Department of Transportation from banning peanuts on airlines. He also helped over 700 military spouses at Fort Benning keep their career advancement tuition assistance. In addition, Congressman Bishop was instrumental in securing estate tax relief. In 2009, he successfully fought for House passage of legislation to expand the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains, Georgia. He also worked to promote healthy eating and reduce obesity among the nation’s youth considering military service. Congressman Bishop promotes the values and morals of Southwest Georgians – \"God, country, work, family, and guns.\" He has co-sponsored

amendments to the U.S. Constitution protecting the U.S. flag against acts of desecration; ensuring a balanced federal budget; and allowing voluntary, nondenominational prayer in schools and other public places. He also supports the Second Amendment. Congressman Bishop has pushed through many other initiatives of special concern to the Second District, including legislation to name the U.S. Courthouse in Albany for civil rights leader C.B. King and legislation to rename the main post office in Albany for Dr. Walter Carl Gordon, Jr. He has supported bills to expand and improve the Andersonville Historic Site, as well as efforts to sustain and build new structures at the Second District's military installations, including Fort Benning and the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany. He supported the minting of a commemorative coin honoring the United States Army Infantry, and helped fund the construction of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. Finally, he has secured well over 10 billion dollars in federal grants and loans for communities throughout the Second District, making the area one of the nation's leaders in qualifying for federal community and rural development funding.

PUBLIC LIFE Bishop was first elected to Congress in 1992 after serving in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1977 to 1990 and in the Georgia Senate from 1991-1992. Bishop holds a number of leadership positions. He is currently the Senior Democratic Whip, a position he has held since the 112th Congress. He earlier served as Chairman of a Democratic House Task Force on Homeland Security and the Working Group on Defense of Physical Infrastructure and Natural Resources. In addition, Congressman Bishop serves as a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally- conservative House Democrats. He is the Co- Chairman and Co-Founder of the Congressional Military Family Caucus. He serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Peanut Caucus and the Congressional Working Forests Caucus. He is also a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a member of the No Labels Problem Solvers group, \"a grassroots movement of conservative, liberal, and everything in between dedicated to promoting the politics of problem solvers.\"

His caucus memberships also include the Congressional Caucus on Coal, Congressional Caucus on Community Health Centers, Congressional Caucus on Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy Prevention, Congressional Caucus on Taiwan, Congressional Diabetes Caucus, Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Congressional Fragrance Caucus, Congressional Fraternal Caucus, Congressional Glaucoma Caucus, Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, Congressional HUBZone Coalition, Congressional Humanities Caucus, Congressional JOBS NOW! Caucus, Congressional Kidney Caucus, Congressional Pro-Sports Caucus, Congressional Real Estate Caucus, Congressional Robotics Caucus, Congressional Rural Caucus, Congressional Scouting Caucus, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, Congressional Steel Caucus, Congressional Sudan Caucus, Congressional Vision Caucus, Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus, Friends of Job Corps Congressional caucus, House Agriculture Energy Users Caucus, House Army Caucus, House Biotechnology Caucus, House Military Industrial Facilities caucus, Impact Aid

Coalition, International Conservation Caucus, Law Enforcement Caucus, National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus, Out of Poverty Caucus, Rural Housing Caucus, Rural Working Group, Textile Caucus, USO Congressional Caucus, Water Caucus, Heart and Stroke Caucus, and the U.S. – Japan Caucus. Congressman Bishop has held leadership positions at the community, state and national levels, including serving as Georgia's representative on the Southern Growth Policies Board and on the Governor's Advisory Council on Drug Abuse. For the last several years, he has been named by Georgia Trend magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. PERSONAL BACKGROUND Bishop was born February 4, 1947, in Mobile, Alabama, and is the son of the late Dr. Sanford D. Bishop, Sr., the first president of Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Alabama, and the late Mrs. Minnie S. Bishop, a librarian. He is married to the Honorable Vivian Creighton Bishop, who serves as the elected Clerk of the Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia (court

administrator). They have a daughter, Aayesha J. Reese, and a granddaughter, Londyn. Bishop graduated from Morehouse College in 1968 and from Emory University Law School in 1971. He enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and successfully completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He then enrolled in Advanced Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) training and later received an Honorable Discharge in 1971. He resided in Columbus, Georgia from 1972 to 1996, where he was the primary partner in the law firm of Bishop and Buckner, P.C. He is an Eagle Scout, a 33rd Degree Mason (PHA), and a Shriner. He is a resident of Albany, Georgia, where he is a Deacon and Trustee of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. Congressman Bishop has received numerous awards including the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, given to Eagle Scouts for distinguished career achievement; the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; the Georgia Peanut Commission’s “Work Horse” Award; the Man of the Year Award from the Men's Progressive Club of Columbus, Georgia; the Friend of the Children Award from the Child

Advocacy Coalition; the Charles Dick Medal of Merit from the National Guard Association of the United States; The Order of St. Maurice from the National Infantry Association; and commendations from the Georgia Association of Educators, Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia School Bus Drivers Association, Georgia Council for the Arts, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and the American Legion.

JASON FLOM

JASON FLOM BIOGRAPHY Jason Flom is the Founding Board Member, NY Innocence Project, Founder and CEO, Lava Records, Lava Music Publishing and Lava Media, LLC. Flom previously served as Chairman and CEO at Atlantic Records, Virgin Records, and Capitol Music Group, and he is personally responsible for launching acts such as Katy Perry, Kid Rock, Lorde, and Greta Van Fleet. He is a leading philanthropist and expert on criminal justice issues and an internationally recognized and celebrated public speaker. Flom is the founding board member of the Innocence Project and serves on the boards of numerous criminal justice reform organizations. He is the host of the hit podcast, Wrongful Conviction, now in its ninth season, which features interviews with men and women who have spent decades in prison for crimes they did not commit, some even sentenced to death.

Flom’s love for animals inspired his latest project, the children’s book Lulu Is a Rhinoceros, co-written with his daughter Allison Flom and released in June, 2018. The book explores social themes addressing individuality, tolerance, and most importantly, acceptance, and launched with partnerships including Bonobos, Zappos, and the African Wildlife Foundation.

TIAWANA BROWN

TIAWANA DELING BROWN BIOGRAPHY Tiawana Deling Brown, born June 12, 1971, is an American activist, peacekeeper, criminal justice/community engagement expert, and character builder, best known for her organization Beauty After the Bars, which is one of the most well-renowned programs of its kind in America and was nationally recognized by the White House October 5, 2018 at its Social & Criminal Justice Reform conference. She is among the best recognized formerly incarcerated women and is an executive board member of the National Council for Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls and Men and Boys. She has also been sometimes referred as the most influential formerly incarcerated women, after having her daughter while in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and successfully getting federal legislation passed on ban the box and no handcuffed and shackling of pregnant women during childbirth.

Brown was born into poverty in inner city Charlotte to a 16-year-old single mother. She has stated that she is a domestic violence survivor and became pregnant at 19 while being an honor student at Livingstone College in Salisbury N.C.; her second daughter was born while she was serving a 42-month federal sentence for fraud in Alderson, West Virginia. Brown was then selected to pilot the MINT (Mothers Infants Nursing Together) prison program, which was designed to help incarcerated pregnant mothers’ bond with their newborn babies. By 24 she was released from prison without access to any meaningful reentry resources, which led to her recidivating within 6 months and serving an additional 17 months. Brown's often emotional, extemporaneous delivery eventually led to her becoming a reentry advocate for formerly incarcerated women and girls, and after becoming a global communications trainer for T Mobile and Sprint in 2014, she filed for 501(c)3 tax exemption status and became a frontline force in the criminal justice reform movement.

Credited with being a voice for the voiceless, she created school-to-prison pipeline programs Believe Academic Success Belongs to you & Re-entry Based Program for Women Looking Beyond the Bars, simplified and modernized criminal justice reform by educating the educated. Through collaborative partnerships, which includes, but is not limited to, the Real Women, Real Voices Symposiums at Google Headquarters & NYU School of Law in New, York, NY, JLUSA (Just Leadership USA NY), CAN-DO Clemency (LA), Justice Roundtable (DC), CUT50,with Van Jones, and A New Way of Life (LA), Alabama Justice Initiative, of Birmingham, Alabama. Brown broke 20th-century taboos and partnered with police and prison officials nationally in an effort to make returning citizens reentry ready instead of recidivism ready. In 2018, she was selected by the Governor of NC Roy Cooper to sit on the North Carolina State Reentry Council Collaboration (SRCC) and the NC Women Incarceration Work Group.

Today, Brown has reinvented herself with a focus on criminal justice reform policy, enrolled as an on-line student at Johnson C. Smith University Studying Criminal Law & Social Work. She prides herself with mentoring her students with self-improvement, character education and spirituality. Though she was criticized for working for the Securus Foundation, she has also been praised for being a part of the solution rather than peddling the problem. She was featured in Community Based Pride Magazine for Women’s Month this year April 2019 for the work she is doing in the community with and through her organization. Brown also emerged as a political force in the 2018 Mecklenburg County NC Sheriff race, helping Garry L. McFadden win in a landslide.

BRIAN FERGUSON

BRIAN FERGUSON BIOGRAPHY Brian Ferguson is a native Washingtonian. In 2002, while an honors student in college, he was wrongfully convicted of a homicide. Brian was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. It took over a decade, but after an 11- year fight from the inside of a maximum security penitentiary, his conviction was overturned and he was finally released in late 2013. Brian returned home with a new purpose, to serve as an example to others who have experienced and overcome great hardships in their lives by living as an example and by striving to make a qualitative difference in the lives of many, including other returning citizens. In 2014 Brian was awarded the prestigious Halcyon Fellowship for entrepreneurship for the founding of a nonprofit which created an online resource tool to aid in the successful reintegration of previously incarcerated persons back into society. In 2015, Brian began work at

the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR). Then, in September of 2016, he was appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser to be the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA). Humbled by the honor and responsibility of such an appointment to the Mayor’s cabinet, Director Ferguson leads the office in its mission to support returning citizens and serves as the Mayor’s senior advisor on the District’s reentry issues. While leading MORCA, Brian also attended and graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in Government. He was subsequently honored with being awarded the esteemed Marshall Scholarship to the University of Oxford, where he will earn a Master’s (MSc) Degree in Comparative Social Policy.

TYRA PATTERSON

TYRA PATTERSON BIOGRAPHY Tyra Patterson was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. On December 25, 2017, she walked out of prison after serving 23 years for crimes she did not commit. Today, Tyra travels all over the country speaking at law schools, colleges, prisons, conferences and high schools, leveraging her story to educate people on social justice, mass incarceration and wrongful convictions. She currently lives in Cincinnati and works at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, where she serves as their Community Strategy Outreach Director. Tyra also maintains paralegal duties at OJPC working on cases on behalf of people, both guilty and innocent of the crimes for which they have been convicted. Tyra is involved in the arts community of Cincinnati, specifically using art to educate people on the issues of social justice.

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