You may have heard stories about tragic outcomes related to the “school-to-prison pipeline.” In this discussion, Omari Amili introduces new possibilities and challenges fear-based narratives through his exploration of a potential new pipeline that runs from prison to college.

While sharing his story and exploring the history of mass incarceration, especially in Washington State, Omari explores how society as a whole benefits when people pursue higher education after incarceration.

Omari Amili (he/him) is an author, speaker, and community organizer. Since his release from prison in 2008, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Washington Tacoma, where his research focused on the benefits of college education for formerly incarcerated people. In 2018, he was named a Distinguished Alumni by Pierce College, and has been featured in the Seattle Times and the News Tribune.

Amili lives in Spanaway.