A broken system does not excuse mistakes, but it does ensure that the punishment does not fairly fit the crime, particularly for individuals of certain communities, classes, and races. Ivelisse Gilestra knows this better than anyone.

Mental health is often the unsung trauma of incarceration. Any mental health problems before incarceration are exacerbated by prison and then further exacerbated by the hardships of reentry.

H.O.L.L.A, a New York based organization that helps young people challenge unfair norms in the prison system. The forces of racism and white supremacy manifest in mass incarceration. Without dismantling these driving forces behind injustice, black and brown people will continue to be disproportionately harmed.

It is easy to reduce formerly incarcerated individuals to their worst mistakes, however this paints an untrue portrait of a person. Marion is a creative soul, a loving mother and grandmother, and a woman of unparalleled altruism.