Iridian speaks straight in Singapore 2024

My name is Iridian Grenada and I just spent 10,399 consecutive days in the Canadian penitentiary system. Since my release on parole in February 2023, I have waged a sleepless campaign to educate the public on the value of resilience and community participation in an evolved 21st century criminal justice system. I've spoken at universities, on social media, and at justice conferences. I've published a report for the John Howard Society of Canada (https://johnhoward.ca/news/not-your-usual-report-how-to-reintegrate-prisoners/). And now I've been given an opportunity to speak to the very people who drive correctional policy internationally, at the International Corrections and Prisons Association annual meeting in Singapore from September 1-6, 2024 (https://icpa.org/events/icpa-s-annual-conference-2024.html). The theme of this year’s ICPA conference is “Enabling Desistance: Beyond Recidivism,” a subject I have considerable expertise in. My intention is to speak truth to power on the subject of the barriers to, and enablers of sustainable personal change for the justice involved citizen.

But to get there, I need airfare, hotel accommodation at the conference center of $340 (CAN) per night, and meals and transportation for the week. My current status as a student (2-year Professional Counsellor's Diploma program) and my employment with a Canadian charity make my attendance to and presentation at this conference all but impossible without your help! If I am able to participate in-person in Singapore though, I believe that my contribution - as one of the first ever lived-experience participants to present at this organization's annual conference - along with the contributions of my co-panelists (a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, a correctional services head of agency, an experienced technology solutions provider, the ICRC Head of the Persons Deprived of Liberty Unit and Canada's former Correctional Investigator Howard Sapers) in a 1-hour presentation to more than 500 international delegates will impact not only Canadian Corrections but also to those who who look to Canada to lead in this sector. Please help me to finally promote the voice of lived experience at the ICPA conference for the first time ever! If funds are not something you can donate, then perhaps you can contribute air miles, credit card rewards points - or other options you think would be helpful in getting me to Singapore and back with a place to stay and some food to eat while I'm there. If so, please contact me at this site and we will arrange further conversation. But time is fleeting. I have to have everything in place prior to July 30, 2024 in order to realistically be there. Any and all forms of help are welcome, and thank you so much in advance for whatever you can do!

Regards,

Iridian Grenada

(iridiangrenada.com)