Tough-on-crime policies have caused the US to have the highest rate of incarceration in the world. Despite extreme sentencing, most incarcerated people will return to the community. Returning members of society often find themselves stuck inside the “paper prison” that prevents them from securing adequate housing and employment. As many as one in three Americans have some kind of criminal record. So far, 12 states, including Delaware, have taken significant steps to help reduce some of the barriers preventing people from attaining financial stability.

Mike Brickner, the Executive Director of the ACLU of Delaware, will be our speaker on April 15. He will talk about some of the expanding pathways that could help Delawareans. Before joining the ACLU of Delaware as the Executive Director in 2020, Mike Brickner was the Ohio State Director of All Voting is Local. Brickner also previously served as the Senior Policy Director at the ACLU of Ohio, where he worked on a variety of critical civil liberties movements during his 14-year tenure. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hiram College and a master’s degree from Cleveland State University’s Diversity Management Program.

The Scholars Gild, a part of the Arden Club, meets on the third Tuesday of the month, September through June. We usually use a hybrid Live-Zoom model. There are sometimes technical glitches so your patience is appreciated.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89018127886?pwd=dIPlIZUmh3FYZ9dsUaNDq5mjxiDQRm.1
Meeting ID: 890 1812 7886 Passcode: 504221

There is no fee to attend Scholars Gild discussions.  We would like to encourage all to make a donation live or at http://ardenclub.org/donate/.  Your support helps keep the virtual and in-person lights on at the Club and makes possible dynamic programming like concerts, theater, dance, and of course, our Scholars Gild evenings. 

If you would like to receive email notifications about this or future Scholars Gild events, contact the Scholars Gild via ScholarsGild@gmail.com.  Plus, follow the “Arden Scholars’ Gild” on Facebook to get all the updates.