Centre County’s prison system is the focus of Jana Marie Foundation’s next community discussion

Jana Marie Foundation will be joined by Cathy Brown, executive director of CentrePeace, to discuss the challenges and impacts of the prison system during its next Mokita Dialogues session on Thursday, July 28, from 11 a.m. to noon.

For the past five years, Jana Marie Foundation’s Mokita Dialogues series has highlighted a variety of topics of vital social concern that typically go unaddressed or unnoticed, often due to stigma or a subject’s polarizing nature. Fittingly, the word mokita comes from the Kilivia language, spoken near Papua New Guinea, and means a known truth left unspoken.

Held on the fourth Thursday of every month, these meetings include a brief presentation by a subject matter expert followed by engaging discussion questions that encourage introspection and conversation. Together, community members brainstorm ways to continue the conversation and spark positive change.

Brown will open Thursday’s session by reviewing the basics of our carceral system, providing a brief overview of the three facilities in Centre County, and giving participants an in-depth look at the issues with the current system and why many are reluctant to change it.

Through education, awareness and thoughtful conversations, we have the potential to spark change within a system that has a widespread impact on our community.

This virtual Mokita Dialogues meeting will provide an opportunity for individuals to come together, learn about challenges presented by the prison system, and engage in conversations about ways we can continue to shed light on this topic throughout the year. This dialogue is free and open to the public. Join the Zoom meeting on Thursday, July 28, at 11 a.m. by visiting www.tinyurl.com/MokitaDialogues.

Join us to learn, reflect and engage in seeking solutions to these important issues.