Meet The Team

Founder & Executive Director - Ben Free

Benjamin Frandsen is a poet, essayist, memoirist, podcaster, and advocate whose work centers on incarceration, redemption, and the transformative power of storytelling. A 2026 Writing Freedom Fellow, his writing has appeared in PEN America prison writing anthologies, Columbia University’s exCHANGE Magazine, UCLA Magazine, The Massachusetts Review, Open Campus, the Prison Journalism Project, and the Vera Institute of Justice’s The Human Toll of Jail. His poem “To Be Heard” was performed at the 2019 PEN World Voices Festival, and “Time In” was published in Iconoclast.

Benjamin is also the creator and host of the Ben Free Podcast, a weekly true‑crime and reentry‑focused series featuring interviews with people who survived life sentences, overturned wrongful convictions, and rebuilt their lives. Drawing from his own 18 years of incarceration, the podcast explores the emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of surviving extreme punishment and returning home.

As the Founder and Executive Director of the Ben Free Project, Benjamin leads a creative‑literacy initiative that amplifies the voices of formerly incarcerated people and delivers arts programming inside California prisons. Under his leadership, the project has secured multiple contracts to support writing, mentorship, and media‑based education for justice‑impacted communities.

Benjamin’s forthcoming memoir, Some Mother’s Darling, carries a deeply personal legacy. The manuscript was first begun by his mother, Robbie Frandsen, before she lost her battle with cancer while Benjamin was still incarcerated. After her passing, he continued the work she started—shaping the book into a meditation on grief, survival, and the enduring power of a mother’s belief in her child.

A military veteran and former life‑sentenced prisoner, Benjamin rebuilt his life through education, earning his UCLA English Honors degree and completing his MFA at San Diego State University in 2026. Today, he mentors emerging writers nationwide and leads Ben Free with a commitment to dignity, narrative power, and the belief that every person deserves the chance to rewrite their future.

Explore more of Benjamin’s work at www.benfrandsen.com 

Director of Carceral Mental Health Programming – Ben Free

Dr. Brashani Reece is a forensic psychologist, survivor‑advocate, and nationally recognized leader in the movement to end extreme sentencing. As Co‑Founder and Executive Director of Drop LWOP New England, she brings more than a decade of expertise studying violence, trauma, and human transformation. Her work is grounded in both rigorous forensic scholarship and lived experience: after surviving an attempted murder, Dr. Reece chose a path rooted in healing, accountability, and the belief that redemption is real.

A trained facilitator who has worked extensively inside prisons, Dr. Reece has witnessed firsthand the profound capacity for change among incarcerated people. She uses forensic evidence and trauma‑informed practice to educate policymakers, shift public narratives, and build coalitions dedicated to ending “death by incarceration.” Her leadership includes Project North Star 2030, a national initiative reframing how communities understand extreme sentences and the human potential for transformation.

As Director of Carceral Mental Health Programming at Ben Free, Dr. Reece designs and leads trauma‑informed, evidence‑based programs that support emotional growth, accountability, and psychological resilience for system‑impacted individuals. Her work strengthens Ben Free’s mission by ensuring that mental health programming—both inside and outside carceral settings—is grounded in humanity, science, and the belief that every person deserves the chance to heal and rebuild.

Dr. Reece’s broader advocacy and nonprofit leadership can be explored through Drop LWOP New England, where her story, mission, and national work are featured in depth.

Learn more about her work at  www.droplwopnewengland.org

  Director of Performing Arts Programs – Ben Free

Dr. Randall Horton is an award‑winning poet, memoirist, performer, and educator whose work bridges lived experience with artistic innovation. A Professor of English at the University of New Haven, he is the recipient of major national honors including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Literature, the Creative Capital Award, and multiple American Book Awards. His writing and performances explore identity, justice, and transformation, establishing him as one of the most influential voices in contemporary American literature.

Dr. Horton is also the Executive Director of Radical Reversal, a national creative‑justice organization that builds state‑of‑the‑art recording studios inside detention centers and marginalized neighborhoods. Radical Reversal’s mission is to dismantle cultural and structural barriers that silence justice‑impacted communities by expanding access to music production, storytelling, and creative education. Under his leadership, the organization recently received a $600,000 Mellon Foundation grant to expand digital media, music production, and narrative‑based programming for youth in detention.

His own journey—from incarceration to academic tenure—shapes his commitment to possibility and radical transformation. Dr. Horton is the only person in the United States to hold both seven felony convictions and academic tenure, a testament to his belief in redemption, creative agency, and second chances. His life’s work centers on amplifying voices that have been historically silenced and creating artistic pathways for people navigating the carceral system.

As Director of Performing Arts Programs at Ben Free, Dr. Horton brings this visionary approach to our community—using music, performance, and narrative to help system‑impacted individuals reclaim voice, build confidence, and engage in creative practices that support healing and liberation.

Learn more about his national creative‑justice work at www.RadicalReversal.org

 Director of Business Affairs & Media Partnerships – Ben Free

Kasey Stinson—widely known as Maca—is an entrepreneur, media producer, and justice‑impact advocate whose work spans business development, creative media, and community transformation. An accomplished producer, Maca is known for his work on West Comedy Jam, where he serves as Executive Producer, and for developing multiple media properties for licensing, distribution, and national partnerships.

A California native, Maca built a decade‑long career as a highly sought‑after tax professional and business consultant before expanding into media production and social‑impact work. His entrepreneurial drive began early, fueled by a deep interest in business strategy and financial literacy inspired by publications like Forbes. That curiosity led him to launch several ventures—one of which resulted in an eight‑year prison sentence. During his incarceration, Maca founded Men of Change, a transformative group designed to help incarcerated men shift from illegal hustles to sustainable, legal business pathways.

Since returning home, Maca has become a leader in reentry‑focused innovation. He is the Co‑Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Victory Starts Now, a nonprofit that provides community‑based restoration services for Los Angeles County’s Office of Reentry and Diversion. Under his financial and operational leadership, the organization expanded from one facility serving 20 clients to 21 facilities serving thousands, becoming one of the region’s most impactful alternatives‑to‑incarceration programs.

As Director of Business Affairs & Media Partnerships at Ben Free, Maca brings his expertise in entrepreneurship, media strategy, and community restoration to strengthen the organization’s partnerships, creative initiatives, and long‑term sustainability. His work is driven by a lifelong commitment to helping people—whether through business consulting, media storytelling, or building systems that support justice‑impacted communities. His mission remains consistent: to leave individuals, organizations, and neighborhoods better than he found them.

Learn more about his nonprofit leadership at www.victorystartsnow.org

Director of Carceral Programs & Workshop Development – Ben Free  

Michael D. McCarty is a master storyteller, cultural griot, and nationally respected educator whose life embodies transformation, resilience, and the healing power of narrative. For more than three decades, he has shared stories rooted in African and African‑American traditions, multicultural folklore, and his own lived experience—bringing humor, wisdom, and connection to audiences across the country.

A former member of the Black Panther Party and a U.S. Army veteran, McCarty’s path has taken him from activism to martial arts instruction, from acupuncture to international storytelling. Since 2014, he has been a key educator in California’s Arts in Corrections movement, teaching incarcerated individuals to reclaim voice, process trauma, and build emotional resilience through narrative. His life and impact are featured in the award‑winning documentary Belonging in the USA: The Story of Michael D. McCarty, which chronicles his journey from political organizing to becoming one of the nation’s most beloved storytellers.

As Director of Carceral Programs & Workshop Development at Ben Free, McCarty designs and leads trauma‑informed workshops that center dignity, creativity, and personal transformation. His programs help system‑impacted individuals discover the power of their own stories—turning lived experience into a source of strength, healing, and possibility. His work strengthens Ben Free’s mission by ensuring that narrative‑based programming inside carceral settings is rooted in humanity, cultural tradition, and the belief that every person has a story worth telling.

A full artist profile for Michael—including his storytelling background, teaching philosophy, and community impact—can be found through the ACTA Artist Roster.

Explore his profile at: https://actaonline.org/artist_roster_item/michael-d-mccarty/

 Director of Re‑Entry Programming – Ben Free

Anthony Puthuff is an addiction treatment specialist, reentry case manager, and trauma‑informed group facilitator whose work centers on supporting justice‑impacted individuals as they rebuild their lives after incarceration. Known for his grounded leadership and person‑centered approach, Anthony brings lived experience, professional training, and deep empathy to every space he enters.

An alumnus of CDCR’s Offender Mentor Certification Program (2022), Anthony has developed extensive expertise in trauma‑sensitive practices that guide individuals toward holistic healing, emotional development, and sustainable personal growth. His background includes facilitating rites‑of‑passage youth programs, restorative‑justice circles, and reentry workforce development initiatives that help returning citizens secure stability and long‑term opportunity.

Anthony’s commitment to community transformation is reflected in his work with underserved populations across California. He has contributed to major reentry‑focused events—including the Fair Chance Housing Event in Oakland—and is a Formerly Incarcerated People’s Performance Project Fellow, recognized for his leadership in arts‑based and community‑centered reentry programming.

His academic achievements include earning six associate degrees in disciplines such as Communication Studies, Psychology, and Sociology, demonstrating his dedication to understanding human behavior and the complexities of personal change. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, further strengthening his clinical and therapeutic skill set.

As Director of Re‑Entry Programming at Ben Free, Anthony brings a rare blend of professional training, lived experience, and compassionate leadership. His work ensures that Ben Free’s reentry initiatives are trauma‑informed, culturally responsive, and grounded in the belief that every person deserves the chance to heal, grow, and reclaim their future.  Explore Anthony’s professional background at  www.LinkedIn.com/in/anthony-michael-puthuff

 Production Manager – Ben Free

Eric Hudson is a multimedia producer, graphic designer, and reentry‑focused creative professional with more than 25 years of experience in visual design, post‑production, and digital storytelling. As Production Manager at Ben Free, Eric oversees all aspects of promotional and documentary media—shaping the organization’s visual identity through compelling, human‑centered storytelling that amplifies the voices of justice‑impacted communities.

A highly versatile creator, Eric’s career spans graphic design, video editing, motion graphics, and brand development. Known for his ability to translate complex ideas into visually powerful narratives, he has produced work for diverse audiences across nonprofit, community‑based, and commercial sectors. His client‑centric approach and collaborative leadership style have made him a trusted creative partner for teams seeking clarity, impact, and authenticity in their media projects.

Eric is also a Fellow of the CROP Organization, where he specializes in UX and UI design, expanding his expertise into user‑centered digital experiences and emerging creative technologies. His commitment to personal and professional growth reflects his broader mission: using design as a tool for empowerment, accessibility, and social change.

In addition to his creative work, Eric serves as a Re‑entry Ambassador with the Excell Network, supporting individuals navigating the transition from incarceration to community life. His lived experience, combined with his artistic skill set, positions him as a powerful advocate for dignity, opportunity, and second chances.

Eric is currently completing his studies in Graphic Communications at Berkeley City College, further strengthening his technical foundation and expanding his creative toolkit.

Explore Eric’s professional background at: www.LinkedIn.com/in/eric-hudson-7a5a8b2a/

  Lead Instructor, Film/TV/Comic Book Writing & Curriculum Development – Ben Free

Rylend Grant is an award‑winning screenwriter, comic book creator, novelist, and Soto Zen Buddhist monk whose career spans Hollywood development, independent filmmaking, and high‑impact storytelling across multiple mediums. A Detroit native, Grant graduated with high honors from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Film and Art History before earning his master’s degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory.

Grant began his career working in development for filmmakers Oliver Stone and Hal Hartley, later emerging as a writer whose screenplays twice became finalists for the Academy Nicholl Fellowship (2003, 2004) and winner of the Final Draft Big Break Competition (2004). His scripts have twice appeared on The Black List (2005, 2009), and Total Film named his screenplay The Ghost and the Wolf one of Hollywood’s “Top 50 Unproduced Scripts.”

Over the past decade, Grant has worked as a Guild screenwriter developing film and television projects with industry leaders including Ridley Scott, Howard Gordon, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Johnny Depp, John Woo, Adam Wingard, Dean Devlin, Luc Besson, and Penélope Cruz. His fiction has been optioned for film and television by major studios, with projects set up for directors such as Justin Lin, F. Gary Gray, and Matt Shakman.

Grant is also a prolific comic book creator. His political action‑thriller series Aberrant was picked up for a ten‑issue run by Action Lab Comics, alongside additional titles including Circle of Death, Axiom, and Tokusatsu.

In 2026, Grant was named Head of IP Development at White Cat Entertainment, where he leads adaptation strategy for comics, animation, and cross‑platform storytelling. He continues his work as Managing Partner at Shoshin Creative Lab, developing projects for Amazon, Hulu, HBO Max, LEGO, and Funny or Die.

As Advisor for Film/TV/Comic Book Writing & Curriculum Development at Ben Free, Grant brings his extensive industry experience, narrative expertise, and cross‑disciplinary creative background to help shape curriculum that empowers system‑impacted individuals to develop professional‑grade storytelling skills across screenwriting, comics, and multimedia narrative arts.

Explore his full professional profile at: https://alchetron.com/Rylend-Grant 

Advisor, Internship Programs – Ben Free

Dr. Adam Bradley is a bestselling author, acclaimed scholar, and cultural curator whose work bridges literature, music, and the lived experiences of Black communities. A Professor of English and African American Studies at UCLA, Dr. Bradley is also the founding director of the Laboratory for Race & Popular Culture (the RAP Lab), where he leads innovative research at the intersection of art, identity, and social narrative. His scholarship has helped redefine how popular culture—especially hip‑hop—shapes collective memory, community expression, and American literary tradition.

A pioneer in the study of rap lyrics as poetry, Dr. Bradley has collaborated with leading artists in popular music and partnered with museums around the world to develop groundbreaking cultural exhibitions. His recent work includes co‑curating Hip Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum (2023–2025), a landmark exploration of hip‑hop’s artistic, political, and social impact. His curatorial practice blends academic rigor with cultural storytelling, making him one of the nation’s most influential interpreters of Black expressive culture.

As a writer at large for The New York Times’ T Magazine, Dr. Bradley crafts long‑form essays that illuminate creativity, culture, and community. He is the author of seven books, including Book of Rhymes, The Anthology of Rap, and the national bestseller One Day It’ll All Make Sense, written with the artist Common. His newest book, Air Jordan, examines the cultural legacy of Michael Jordan and the global influence of Jordan Brand.

Dr. Bradley brings this rich blend of scholarship, creativity, and cultural insight to his role as Advisor to Internship Programs at Ben Free. His leadership helps shape transformative learning experiences that empower system‑impacted students to build confidence, develop professional skills, and access meaningful pathways toward their futures.

Learn more about his work at www.AdamFBradley.com

Advisor, Creative Writing Curriculum Development – Ben Free

Caits Meissner is a writer, creative producer, and nationally recognized nonprofit leader whose work centers on building ethical, imaginative, and sustainable arts programs for justice‑impacted communities. From 2018–2023, she served as Director of Prison and Justice Writing at PEN America, where she transformed a small grassroots initiative into a nationally recognized department—expanding its annual budget from $50,000 to nearly $3 million and launching fellowships, mentorship programs, public events, and a monthly podcast and publication series that uplift incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers.

She is the editor of The Sentences That Create Us, an acclaimed anthology featuring more than 50 justice‑involved writers, tens of thousands of copies of which were distributed free of charge to incarcerated readers across the United States. Her nonprofit work also includes consulting for the Mellon Foundation’s Imagining Freedom Presidential Initiative, where she researches and facilitates national convenings focused on equitable compensation for incarcerated writers and ethical best practices for arts organizations.

Beyond her justice‑centered work, Caits has collaborated with major cultural institutions—including Lincoln Center, Tribeca Film Institute, the Guggenheim Museum, Urban Arts Partnership, and the Lower Eastside Girls Club—supporting program design, organizational strategy, and community‑centered creative development. Her cross‑sector experience positions her as one of the country’s leading architects of trauma‑informed, community‑rooted arts programming.

As Advisor for Creative Writing Curriculum Development at Ben Free, Caits brings her deep expertise in justice‑oriented arts education to help shape rigorous, accessible, and transformative writing curricula. Her work empowers system‑impacted individuals to reclaim voice, build confidence, and engage in creative practices that support healing, agency, and personal growth.

Explore her full body of work, publications, and nonprofit leadership at www.CaitsMeissner.com

   Advisor, Film & Journalism Programs – Ben Free

Adamu Chan is an award‑winning filmmaker, writer, and community organizer whose work centers on the lived experiences of incarcerated people and the urgent social issues surrounding mass incarceration. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Chan was incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison during one of the largest COVID‑19 outbreaks in the country, an experience that profoundly shaped his artistic voice and commitment to justice‑centered storytelling. 

While incarcerated, Chan produced numerous short films through FirstWatch, San Quentin’s media program, using his vantage point inside the prison to illuminate themes of humanity, resilience, and systemic inequity. His filmmaking approach blends intimate visual framing with narrative monologue, centering the perspectives of people directly impacted by the prison system. 

In 2021, Chan received the Docs in Action Film Fund from Working Films and went on to produce and direct What These Walls Won’t Hold, which won Best Documentary Mid‑Length at the 2023 San Francisco International Film Festival.  In 2022, he directed a documentary short for Bridge Builders, partnering with ITVS/Independent Lens, highlighting community members working at the intersections of immigration, incarceration, and gender justice. 

Chan is also a 2022 Stanford University CCSRE Mellon Arts Fellow and a 2023 Rockwood Institute Documentary Leaders Fellow, recognized nationally for his leadership in documentary storytelling and narrative justice.  His work is guided by the belief that those most affected by systemic harm must be empowered to reshape the narratives that define them.

As Advisor for Film & Journalism Programs at Ben Free, Chan brings his expertise in documentary filmmaking, narrative ethics, and community‑rooted media production to help shape trauma‑informed curricula that elevate system‑impacted voices. His leadership ensures that Ben Free’s film and journalism programs remain grounded in authenticity, dignity, and the transformative power of storytelling.

Explore his full body of work at www.AdamuChan.com

 Advisor, Literacy Programs – Ben Free

Reginald Dwayne Betts is a MacArthur Fellow, award‑winning poet, lawyer, and nationally recognized advocate for prison literacy whose work explores incarceration, transformation, and the power of reading. A gifted writer and legal scholar, Betts began writing poetry during his own incarceration as a teenager—an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to expanding access to literature in prisons. 

After his release, Betts pursued higher education with extraordinary determination, earning an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. He later served on President Barack Obama’s Coordinating Council for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, contributing to national conversations on youth justice and rehabilitation. 

Betts is the Founder and Director of Freedom Reads, a groundbreaking initiative that builds 500‑book Freedom Libraries inside prisons across the United States. Through this work, he has transformed access to literature for incarcerated people, emphasizing reading as a pathway to dignity, imagination, and self‑determination. His poetry and essays—including his acclaimed collection Felon—examine the emotional and social consequences of incarceration and reentry. 

A prolific author, Betts has published a memoir and multiple poetry collections, and his writing has earned major national honors including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Magazine Award, and a MacArthur Fellowship. His work continues to influence legal scholars, artists, policymakers, and justice‑impacted communities across the country. 

As Advisor for Literacy Programs at Ben Free, Betts brings his deep expertise in literature, justice reform, and trauma‑informed education to help shape reading‑based curricula that empower system‑impacted individuals. His leadership strengthens Ben Free’s mission by ensuring that literacy programming is rooted in humanity, intellectual freedom, and the belief that “freedom begins with a book.” 

Learn more about his work at www.DwayneBetts.com

  Advisor, Music & Engineering Programs – Ben Free

Garren is a 3× Grammy‑nominated singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, and recording artist whose work has earned 3 Platinum and 2 Gold RIAA certifications, along with more than 15 million independent streams.  A Los Angeles native, he has collaborated on projects with some of the most influential artists in contemporary music, including Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Nas, and the late Nipsey Hussle, appearing on the Grammy‑nominated track “Dedication” from Victory Lap.

Garren’s artistry spans R&B, hip‑hop, and soul, shaped by a distinctive vocal style and a multidisciplinary skill set that includes engineering, production, and full creative direction. His credits include contributions to Nas’s Grammy‑winning album King’s Disease II and J. Cole’s Platinum‑certified Revenge of the Dreamers III.  His music has been praised for its emotional depth, detailed lyricism, and cinematic storytelling, reflecting both his technical mastery and lived experience.

His justice‑impacted journey is chronicled in the biographical documentary short Normal, which received Official Selection honors at the NYC Independent Film Festival, Los Angeles Movie Awards, St. Louis International Film Festival, and DBFF.  This work underscores his commitment to using art as a vehicle for healing, reflection, and social transformation.

As Advisor for Music & Engineering Programs at Ben Free, Garren helps design and guide music‑based curricula that confront the carceral literacy gap and empower incarcerated creators through hands‑on tradecraft. He will deliver in‑person Subject Matter Expert sessions through the Barz Behind Bars (B³) Multimedia Workshop, providing system‑impacted youth and adults with access to industry‑standard tools, culturally relevant hip‑hop instrumentation, and professional mentorship.

Explore Garren’s professional portfolio and music catalog at his official Electronic Press Kit: https://allmediagroup.tv/garren-epk

   Advisor, Self‑Help & ILTAG Programs – Ben Free

Aaron “Showtime” Taylor is a nationally recognized mentor, facilitator, and community voice whose journey from incarceration to public leadership has inspired millions across the country. Raised in an underserved Los Angeles neighborhood, Taylor spent 26 years incarcerated, where he transformed his life through deep accountability, emotional development, and service to others.

During his time at San Quentin State Prison, Taylor became widely known for his booming, witty, and uplifting commentary during prison yard basketball games—an act of community‑building that earned him the nickname “Showtime.” His play‑by‑play announcing helped maintain peace, build camaraderie, and create moments of joy inside one of California’s most storied correctional institutions.

Taylor also served as a mentor and facilitator for incarcerated people, helping others develop coping skills, emotional insight, and personal accountability. His commitment to rehabilitation included writing letters to the victims of his crimes, engaging in intensive self‑reflection, and modeling the principles of restorative justice.

After earning parole in 2020, Taylor’s story reached national audiences when Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors invited him to serve as a guest Public Address Announcer at Chase Center—just six months after his release. His performance was celebrated by fans and players alike, marking a powerful moment of recognition for his transformation and talent.

Today, Taylor is the founder and CEO of Aaron Showtime Taylor, LLC, a Los Angeles‑based company focused on community engagement, motivational speaking, and youth mentorship. His work continues to uplift underserved communities and support individuals navigating reentry.

As Advisor for Self‑Help & ILTAG Programs at Ben Free, Taylor brings his lived experience, mentorship expertise, and unmatched ability to inspire others. His leadership strengthens Ben Free’s trauma‑informed curriculum by helping system‑impacted individuals build emotional resilience, develop accountability practices, and reclaim their sense of purpose.

Explore his story and advocacy work at: www.forthepeople.org/aaron-showtime-taylor

 Advisor, Poetry & Creative Writing Curriculum Development – Ben Free

Austin Alexander is a poet, educator, and justice‑impacted literary advocate whose work explores identity, memory, and the emotional landscapes shaped by incarceration. His writing has been featured in respected literary outlets including The Marshall Project, The Prison Journalism Project, and The Fire Inside, where his poems and essays illuminate the lived experiences of people navigating the carceral system.

A gifted storyteller, Alexander’s work blends lyricism with sharp social insight, often centering themes of transformation, vulnerability, and the search for meaning under constraint. His poetry has been recognized for its emotional clarity and its ability to translate personal experience into universal resonance. Through workshops, readings, and community‑based literary programs, he has helped emerging writers—both inside and outside correctional institutions—develop their voices and build confidence in their creative practice.

Alexander’s commitment to literary education is rooted in his belief that writing is a powerful tool for healing, agency, and self‑definition. He has facilitated creative writing circles, mentored system‑impacted youth, and contributed to curriculum models that integrate trauma‑informed pedagogy with accessible craft instruction. His approach emphasizes imagination as resistance and storytelling as a pathway to reclaiming identity.

As Advisor for Poetry & Creative Writing Curriculum Development at Ben Free, Alexander brings his lived experience, editorial expertise, and deep understanding of narrative craft to help shape rigorous, culturally responsive writing programs. His leadership ensures that Ben Free’s creative writing initiatives empower system‑impacted individuals to explore their stories, develop literary skill, and engage in transformative creative practice.

Explore Austin’s published work at: www.prisonjournalismproject.org/author/austin-

Advisor, Multimedia Curriculum Development – Ben Free

Sarah Baltazar‑Pinheiro is a cultural strategist, experience designer, and ecosystem builder whose work advances narrative change, collective healing, and multimedia education across arts, culture, philanthropy, and technology. With decades of experience leading cross‑sector initiatives, she specializes in designing transformative learning environments, creative curricula, and collaborative media projects that deepen community impact and expand access to storytelling tools.

Baltazar‑Pinheiro currently serves as Experience Designer + Portfolio Manager for the States of Incarceration project at the Humanities Action Lab at Hunter College (CUNY), where she provides strategic leadership for national partnerships involving organizers, scholars, artists, and institutions. Her work bridges vision and implementation—shaping narrative direction, coordinating advisory groups, and stewarding operational systems that support movement‑building around the histories and ongoing impacts of incarceration.

As founder of Lunarsol Studios, a full‑service art and culture studio, Baltazar‑Pinheiro designs strategic creative campaigns, multimedia curriculum, convenings, and brand experiences that center community storytelling and cultural transformation. Her portfolio includes work in product marketing, educational consulting, leadership development, and social impact design.

Known for her ability to translate complex social issues into accessible, emotionally resonant multimedia experiences, Baltazar‑Pinheiro’s approach emphasizes trauma‑informed design, narrative equity, and collaborative creation. She works across digital platforms, visual storytelling, and interactive learning systems to build curriculum that empowers learners to engage critically with media, identity, and systemic change.

As Advisor for Multimedia Curriculum Development at Ben Free, Baltazar‑Pinheiro brings her expertise in narrative strategy, cross‑sector coordination, and multimedia education to help shape creative programs that elevate system‑impacted voices. Her leadership ensures that Ben Free’s curriculum remains culturally responsive, technologically innovative, and grounded in dignity, imagination, and community transformation.

Explore her professional background at: www.LinkedIn.com/in/sarah-baltazar-pinheiro

 Advisor, Mentorship & Veteran Services – Ben Free

James L. DeBacco is a transformative social services leader, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and justice‑impacted advocate whose work bridges policy, practice, and lived experience to improve outcomes for vulnerable and justice‑involved populations. Paroled in 2019 after serving 28 years of a 17‑to‑life sentence, DeBacco has become a nationally recognized voice in veteran support, reentry innovation, and trauma‑informed care.

DeBacco serves as a Veterans Services Officer and Veterans Treatment Court Liaison for the Los Angeles County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, coordinating care for justice‑involved veterans across four Superior Court locations. His work sits at the intersection of behavioral health, probation, housing, law enforcement, and community reentry — navigating the fragmented multi‑agency systems that shape veteran outcomes.

A scholar‑practitioner, DeBacco earned his Master of Social Work, Summa Cum Laude, from the USC Suzanne Dworak‑Peck School of Social Work, where he is now completing his Doctor of Social Work (DSW). His doctoral research focuses on AI governance in cross‑agency human‑services systems, informed by his frontline experience coordinating care across more than a dozen public departments.

DeBacco is the founder of Bridges2Freedom, an organization dedicated to justice‑impacted veterans, reentry support, and evidence‑based transformation frameworks. He is the author of Bridges to Freedom, Positive Interventions, and The Transformational Accountability Ecosystem, a systems model credited with reducing recidivism by 32% and improving Veterans Treatment Court completion rates to 72%.

His leadership extends nationally through his role on the U.S. Department of Education’s Secretary’s Innovation Committee on Corrections, his service as a United Nations International Youth Conference delegate, and his work as President of USC’s Unchained Scholars, a support network for formerly incarcerated students. He has received Congressional Recognition for his contributions to justice‑involved veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness.

As Advisor for Mentorship & Veteran Services at Ben Free, DeBacco brings his expertise in trauma‑informed mentorship, veteran advocacy, and systems‑level reform to help shape programs that empower justice‑impacted individuals. His guidance ensures that Ben Free’s mentorship and veteran initiatives remain grounded in dignity, accountability, and the belief that transformation is possible at every stage of life.

Explore his full professional background at  www.bridges2freedom.org 

Advisor, Life Skills & Distance Learning Coach – Ben Free

Cheryl Armstrong is a life‑skills educator, distance‑learning coach, and justice‑impacted leader whose story of transformation has inspired audiences nationwide. Sentenced at just 16 years old, Armstrong spent 26 years incarcerated, an experience that shaped her deep commitment to personal development, accountability, and purpose‑driven living. Her powerful journey has been featured on national platforms, including the Nightmare Success In and Out podcast, where she shared how discipline, intentional mindset work, and radical ownership helped her rebuild her life from the inside out. 

Today, Armstrong is a two‑time international bestselling author, keynote speaker, and founder of Plant Your Energy, a personal‑growth initiative focused on helping individuals cultivate self‑awareness, emotional resilience, and sustainable life change. Her work centers on the belief that no one is defined by the worst thing they’ve done — and that every person has the power to choose a new mental state, rewrite their narrative, and create a future rooted in clarity and purpose. 

Armstrong’s coaching approach blends trauma‑informed practice with practical life‑skills development, guiding learners through mindset shifts, emotional regulation, healthy decision‑making, and personal accountability. She is known for her ability to connect authentically, speak truth with compassion, and help individuals confront the internal barriers that keep them stuck in cycles of fear, addiction, or self‑defeating behavior.

As Advisor for Life Skills & Distance Learning at Ben Free, Armstrong brings her lived experience, teaching expertise, and transformational coaching framework to help shape curriculum that empowers system‑impacted individuals. Her leadership ensures that Ben Free’s life‑skills and distance‑learning programs remain grounded in dignity, emotional growth, and the belief that change is always possible — no matter where a person begins.

Explore her story and work through her featured interview: “Sentenced at 16, Free at Last: Cheryl Armstrong” – Nightmare Success In and Out