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Lee Weston, Care experienced and prison reform advocate on Care, Prison and Transformation
Manage episode 465446451 series 3409809
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Opening Discussion: Teaching & Activism
Conversation with Lee: Care Experience, Prison, and Activism
Lee’s Background:
- Grew up in care, moving through 28+ placements.
- Entered the justice system at 17, receiving a 5-year sentence
Lee talks about:
- The Impact of the Fellowship & Retreat
- Reflects on the Justice System & Care Experience
- Describes the cycle of placement breakdowns leading to further instability.
- Critiques the justice system for failing to recognize trauma and providing inadequate mental health support.
- Notes how prison officers often viewed him as “a problem” rather than exploring underlying issues.
Reflections & Closing Thoughts:
Rich: Shares personal insights from retreat experiences, including the significance of eye contact in developing intimacy and emotional connection.
Tim: Celebrates Lee’s resilience and activism, highlighting his drive to influence change at both a grassroots and policy level. Emphasizes the importance of mutual support, professional collaboration, and finding strength in lived experience.
Eckhart Tolle Reflection:
“When you make friends with the present moment, you feel at home, no matter where you are.”
Key Takeaways:
- Care & Stability Matter: Placement moves impact trust and stability for young people.
- Prisons Need Trauma-Informed Approaches: Labeling and pathologizing behavior without support fuels further harm.
- Lived Experience is a Powerful Force for Change: People like Lee bring invaluable insights to reform efforts.
- Connection Heals: Simple, human interactions—whether in public living rooms or through eye contact—can be transformational.
Links:
Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/
Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programme
Rich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/
Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/
Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/
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