We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits 365. Good Humans of 2022: Jon - Adrian "JJ" Velasquez
Meet JJ. He’s worked tirelessly to redefine the humanity of incarcerated people . Even while spending 24 years incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, he seized every opportunity to learn, lead, support and give to others. This fierce advocate for justice holds many titles including son, dad and grandpa. He’s co-founder of Voices From Within, an educational program addressing gun violence in New York City as well as Program Director at The Frederick Douglass Project for Justice. From Sing Sing prison to the West Wing. From a prison classroom to Columbia University. JJ will quiet your shock and bitterness and replace it with hope and belief in second chances. This is a conversation about humanity. About redemption. About chasing justice rather than vengeance. And about how each of us have a role to play in equalizing and humanizing each other. Thank you for modeling it first, JJ.
Episode Highlights
- JJ’s childhood growing up (3:30)
- Re-defining the humanity of men inside the system (26:00)
- Redemption + Where he’s found hope (45:00)
- A powerful moment of philanthropy in JJ’s life (56:20)
- JJ’s One Good Thing: What defines me is not the time I lost, but the time I donated. (1:02:20)
- JJ’s favorite human quality: humility. (1:03:40)
- How to connect with JJ (1:04:00)
For more information and episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/365.
About our Good Humans Week Presenting Sponsor, Goodworld
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