EAVS - Kemba Smith Event #4 Power of Storytelling: Changing the Narrative

Kemba Smith Pradia is an accomplished advocate for criminal justice reform. Her life story, marked by a highly publicized legal battle and eventual presidential clemency, has inspired many across the nation.

Kemba’s story has been featured on a several television networks and media publications. She is the author of her memoir Poster Child: The Kemba Smith Story and recently, Kemba has taken on a new role as an award-winning executive producer of the powerful film, KEMBA. As an advocate, she has worked with Members of Congress and led training for Federal and State Probation organizations across the country. As a consultant, Kemba was part of an NAACP Delegation that traveled to Geneva Switzerland on multiple occasions to give testimony before high officials on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Her participation highlighted the implications of mass incarceration and the protection of human and voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals. Through these efforts, Kemba Smith has helped to raise awareness on an international scale about the injustices within our legal system in the United States. Kemba also frequently liaises and advises senior officials from state houses to the White House.

She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the NAACP and the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice. As founder of The Kemba Smith Foundation, its mission is to raise awareness on today’s most important social issues facing youth and women—including domestic violence, law enforcement and policing in black communities, voter empowerment, drug policy, sentencing, reentry, mass incarceration and its impact on families.

The Power of Storytelling: Changing the Narrative and Second Chances and Healing" Wednesday, April 2nd

Event Description: Leading into Second Chance Month, panelist from the formerly incarcerated community share their stories and the work that they are doing today. Kemba Smith will lead the discussion and share her perspective as a former Virginia Parole Board Member. She was appointed by Virgina Governor, Ralph Northam in 2019 and served for over 2.5 years.

Event Length: 2.5 hours (Discussion and Q&A)

Host or Publisher The Office of Social Equity and Community at Penn