Emancipate NC’s Kerwin Pittman recently shared a powerful moment in his journey toward transforming the criminal legal system: a conversation with renowned civil rights attorney and Just Mercy author Bryan Stevenson.
For Kerwin, who first read Just Mercy while incarcerated, the conversation was a full-circle moment. The two discussed Kerwin’s work with RREPS (Recidivism Reduction Educational Programs and Services), the Recidivism Reduction Campus, and his groundbreaking effort to become the first formerly incarcerated person in U.S. history to purchase a prison and transform it into a space for healing, rehabilitation, and opportunity.
During their conversation, Stevenson told Kerwin, “You’re building a blueprint for the country.”
Kerwin described the exchange as deeply encouraging and affirming, reinforcing his vision of creating opportunities for thousands of formerly incarcerated people to rebuild their lives.
“The goal has never been to just change one state,” Kerwin shared. “It’s to help change [the] country.”
We’re proud to celebrate Kerwin’s leadership and his continued commitment to turning lived experience into meaningful, lasting change.