Live event canceled: To limit the potential spread of respiratory viruses and safeguard those at highest risk of catching COVID-19, the University of Michigan has canceled all live events with estimated attendance of over 100 people.

As a result, live Penny Stamps Speaker Series events will not take place as scheduled. When possible, our weekly presentations will be available online: video presentations will be announced via email and on the Stamps website (https://stamps.umich.edu/stamps).

Shaka Senghor is a leading voice in criminal justice reform. His memoir, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison, was released in March 2016 and debuted on The New York Times Best Seller list as well as The Washington Post Best Seller list. Writing My Wrongs chronicles Senghor’s personal experience with the criminal justice system after being sent to prison at age 19 on second-degree murder charges. An unforgettable tale of forgiveness and second chances, Senghor’s book reminds us that our worst deeds don’t define who we are or what we can contribute to the world. Senghor’s story has inspired thousands and serves as a compelling testament to the power of hope, compassion, and unconditional love.

Senghor is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2016 EBONY Power 100 list and the 2016 NAACP Great Expectations Award. Senghor was also a 2014 TED Prize finalist for The Atonement Project (a program that aims to promote healing and understanding between victims of violence and violent offenders), is a former MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow, and is a current fellow in the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Community Leadership Network. He shares his story of redemption around the world through his company, Shaka Senghor Inc., dedicated to shifting societal narratives through storytelling with deep social impact.

Supported by the Prison Creative Arts Project at the University of Michigan, presenting the 25th Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners, on view at the Duderstadt Center Gallery March 18–April 1, 2020.