Partners in Freedom Fundraiser and Awards Presentation

Posted by I'm FREE (Females Reentering Empowering Each Other) on June 20, 2016

I’m FREE Celebrates 5 Years and cordially invites you to attend

PARTNERS IN FREEDOM
Fundraising Event and Award Presentation

Honoring
Rev. Michelle Anne Simmons
Founder/CEO, Why Not Prosper, Inc.

Keynote Speaker – Lynn M. Burke, Esq.
Special Presentation to I’m FREE Champions

Thursday, June 23, 2016
5:30-8:30 PM
The African American Museum – Philadelphia
701 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19106

Museum Exhibit, Hors d’oeuvres, Live Performances,  Award Presentations and Prize Drawings

Tickets $50 – RSVP by June 17

The PARTNERS IN FREEDOM Award honors individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the freedom of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men, women and juveniles ~ freedom of the mind, body and spirit.

Past Recipients: 2014 – Artist Mary DeWitt, inaugural recipient
2015 – Activist Chaplain Phyllis B. Taylor, R.N.

2016 Honoree
Rev. Michelle Anne Simmons
Rev. Michelle is the CEO/Founder of Why Not Prosper, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping females in prison make a smooth transition back into society after their incarceration. Her motivation to launch Why Not Prosper came from living through much adversity in her adolescent and early adult years, including abuse, legal problems and substance use. She became inspired to turn her life around and to help others by giving women a hand up, not a hand out. Rev. Michelle is currently enrolled at a local university in pursuit of a Ph.D in Psychology and is due to graduate in June 2017.

Keynote Speaker
Lynn M. Burke, Attorney at Law
Lynn M. Burke earned her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2010. The road to a law degree was less than smooth when Lynn was released from prison, broken and broke after serving almost two years of a sentence for false pretense. Lynn had little reason to be optimistic about her future when she was released and reunited with her children, until her son reminded her that he believed in her . In 2003, Lynn returned to college and gradually found her self-esteem that was taken from her in prison. Today she dedicates her time and efforts to telling her story so that others might find the courage to try and follow their dreams too.

To purchase tickets or to sponsor an I’m FREE participant or volunteer to attend, please click here or mail checks to I’m FREE at the below address.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/partners-in-freedom-awards-2016-tickets-24933590039

Invitation artwork by Temple University Student, Laura Godshalk

Museum Exhibit: ” Arresting Patterns: Perspectives on Race, Criminal Justice, Artistic Expression, and Community ” presented in collaboration with Artspace. The exhibition addresses impact of pervasive patterns of racial bias in our judicial system and includes multi-media installations, photography, paintings by Former Partners in Freedom Honoree Mary Dewitt and prints by some of the country’s leading contemporary artists including Dread Scott, Titus Kaphur, Andy Warhol, and Adrian Piper among others.

Parking: Discounted surface parking is available on Arch Street at the Parkway Parking Lot, located directly behind the Museum.

I’m FREE
4700 Wissahickon Ave, Ste 126
Philadelphia, PA 19144