Leaders, Activists and now FILMMAKERS

Ambassador Stories
Leaders, activists, and now FILMMAKERS.
Check out the latest Ambassador class, who capped their year-long ambassadorship by using their stories to create impact in their communities!
By Kristel Cosio
A group of system-impacted students at Cal-Berkeley highlight the transformative power of higher education and their advocacy efforts to reform the punitive systems they have navigated.
By Armand Coleman
The healing journey of adults who were incarcerated as children empowers them to reconnect with their bodies, communities, and inherent worth through restorative justice practices.
By Eddie Ellis Jr.
A reentry advocate shares his personal journey from childhood incarceration to mentorship, urging community leaders to #ENDJLWOP and support those rebuilding their lives post-release.
by Thaisan Nguon
Follow along as two men travel the road towards redemption after their Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentences are commuted.
By John Pace
A portrait of Philadelphia that explores the intersections of race, class, incarceration, and healing for system-impacted individuals and their loved ones.
By JJ’88
This visual EP follows JJ’88 on a journey to bridge the understanding between system-impacted individuals and those deemed "free."
By Tabatha Trammell
An intimate story about the effects of undiagnosed mental illness at the intersection of—and compounded by—addiction and criminalization.
By Kareemah Hanifa
The Power of the Pen is a story about the power of manifestation and art to liberate individuals beyond confinement.
By Jessie Mabrey
The Candle highlights the often-overlooked trauma and anxiety faced by children of incarcerated parents, revealing the profound impact of confinement on both the children and their communities.

Turning Stories Into Action
At its core, Represent Justice is about using the power of media to engage audiences in reimagining the justice system, and creating real demand for change.
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Represent Justice’s mission is to turn stories into action by building narrative power within system-impacted communities and mobilizing audiences to transform the legal system.
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Represent Justice’s vision is a fair legal system for system-impacted individuals and communities and an end to extreme sentencing and mass incarceration.
A documentary visual album, Songs From the Hole follows James “JJ’88” Jacobs through a musical opus of hip-hop and soul, inspired by his innermost struggles as both a person who has committed and experienced violent harm.
A Million Dollar Cage, produced by Ambassador Kent Mendoza, follows his journey as he fights to transform L.A. County’s youth justice system and create alternatives to incarceration.
Little April follows April Grayson, a Represent Justice Ambassador whose traumatic upbringing in foster care led to her involvement in the justice system, highlighting the struggles faced by youth like her and envisioning a transformative path to justice.

Ambassadors
The Represent Justice Ambassador Program provides narrative power building training and opportunities to formerly incarcerated nonprofit leaders, advocates, and artists. Each Ambassador has a desire to grow their personal storytelling skills while also wanting to leverage those skills to disrupt harmful narratives and to advocate for change in the justice system.
From a childhood marked by hardship, Adam transformed his life through education and resilience, ultimately pursuing a master's degree in journalism to uplift underrepresented communities and advocate for social justice.
Angelique, Lead Coordinator of the Jefferson County Restore program and founder of the WE WIN Organization, passionately empowers at-risk teens and women through case management, mentoring, and therapeutic services, drawing on her own experiences to inspire change.
Autumn, a Certified Doula and Peer Support Professional, advocates for families affected by the criminal justice system, leveraging her own healing journey from incarceration to educate and empower them while actively participating in policy change and community initiatives.
Dena is a dedicated advocate for justice reform and community rebuilding in Alabama, serving as the Chief Operating Officer of the Offender Alumni Association and founding programs like "Heroes in the Hood" to empower those affected by institutional challenges.
Noble is a leader and activist with over a decade of experience in restorative justice, empowering people to embrace authenticity and vulnerability through his work with the Transformational Prison Project, teaching at prestigious universities, and engaging in community initiatives that promote healing and inclusivity.
Heather, a resilient advocate for women in the legal system and a survivor of addiction and incarceration, uses her powerful storytelling and advocacy work to inspire courageous self-change, while highlighting the need for transformative narratives in her writing and social work.
Overcoming a turbulent childhood marked by bullying and incarceration, John transformed his life through education and self-acceptance, ultimately earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work and now advocating for young adults in the justice system.
Marci leverages her experiences to advocate for justice reform and educate the public on the unique challenges faced by women in incarceration, all while promoting healing and empowerment within her community.
NaJei dedicates her life to advocating for incarcerated women and supporting their reintegration into society through volunteer programs, while also mentoring youth and promoting community education on self-advocacy and legislation.
Nicole champions social change and empowerment for marginalized communities as the CEO of the Talk2mefoundation and founder of The Sisters of Support house, leveraging her personal journey to advocate for justice reform and provide vital resources for justice-impacted individuals and their families.
Represent Justice is awarding its 2025 Open Call Impact Campaign to The Strike! This award-winning documentary tells the story of a generation of California men who endured decades of solitary confinement and, against all odds, launched the largest hunger strike in U.S. history.
Through this new program, we will continue to uplift the extraordinary ecosystem of system-impacted movement leaders, artists, campaign leaders, filmmakers, and film participants who work day in and day out with us to transform the legal system.
For the past 30 years, I have spent Mother's Days with my mom, Michelle West, in prison due to a mandatory federal life sentence that wouldn't be imposed today, and I urge you to support her clemency so she can finally come home.
Represent Justice's first-ever Open Call impact campaign will support the feature film "Kemba," which tells the story of Kemba Smith, a college student sentenced to over 24 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute drugs despite not handling them, highlighting the disproportionate impact of harsh drug laws on women of color and mobilizing audiences to support reform.
Represent Justice CEO Daniel Forkkio has been selected as a 2024 Elevate Prize Winner, recognizing his leadership in social impact alongside nine other global nonprofit leaders, and supporting their mission to transform the criminal legal system through storytelling and collective action.
Sansón, an individual currently incarcerated in Tehachapi State Prison, shares his life story in the new film "Sansón and Me," highlighting the harsh realities of the judicial and immigration systems, and encourages society to advocate for a more just and fair system.