Meet Cierra Cobb, a dedicated Prison/Jail Family Advocate for Emancipate NC. She works closely with incarcerated individuals and their families, particularly those struggling with mental health issues. Cierra is actively involved in various important projects, including Emancipate NC’s Black Light Mass Incarceration Podcast and statewide coalitions seeking the end of solitary confinement and decarceration of state prisons. Cierra is inspired by everyone living in North Carolina’s prisons and jails, but in particular, her husband, Jeffrey Cobb.
One of her current projects involves collaborating with partners from UNC Chapel Hill and Drexel University to address the lack of data about incarcerated individuals with autism. Cierra aims to identify those who are currently incarcerated and have autism, but have not been diagnosed or received appropriate care. Cierra’s project also seeks to create a method to identify such individuals through mental health assessments or surveys in collaboration with psychologists.
Additionally, Cierra is advocating for incarcerated individuals to receive the appropriate mental health services to help them cope with ongoing issues that interfere with their daily lives. Currently, she is working on implementing a program that focuses on mindfulness, yoga, and breathing techniques to self-regulate emotions for those struggling with PTSD. Her project is inspired by the polyvagal theory, which studies how our neurophysiology responds to situations and how different therapies can rewrite the impacts of previous trauma.
Finally, Cierra raises awareness about the poor conditions of confinement within jails and prisons in North Carolina. She is committed to making a difference in the lives of incarcerated individuals and their families by advocating for their rights and needs. Stay tuned to learn more about Cierra’s crucial projects and initiatives.