From Prison to Purpose: Leading with Conviction

Joseph in Prison in Egypt and his remarkable story of return mirror that of modern “leaders with conviction”—formerly incarcerated leaders who transform their lived experience into advocacy and change.

In the last 20 years, most of the criminal legal system “reform” across the nation has been inspired and informed by or led by formerly incarcerated leaders. As Glenn E. Martin, the founder of JustLeadershipUSA, stated: “Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution….” (I have heard this mantra recited again and again, even by players in law enforcement, including prosecutors, without crediting Glenn, and as Glenn has stated, they leave out this important part, “…but furthest from power & resources.”)

Glenn commissioned the study, “Leading With Conviction: The Transformative Role of Formerly Incarcerated Leaders in Reducing Mass Incarceration,” by Susan Sturm & Haran Tae, of Columbia Law School, which demonstrates how these leaders leverage social capital to drive reform. Like Joseph, they embody the practice of “Encouraging the Heart”: leading by testimony, resilience, and the courage to be remembered.

👉 Who are the modern Josephs in your community, and how can we amplify their leadership?

Postscript: This reflection bridges a sermon I proclaimed, “The Moral Imperative of the Cupbearer” (Click the link to listen to the Sermon: The Moral Imperative of the Cupbearer), at Rye Presbyterian Church; “Leading with Conviction: The Transformative Role of Formerly Incarcerated Leaders in Reducing Mass Incarceration” (Click the link to read the Report: Leading With Conviction); and “The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations,” by Kouzes & Posner.

See the previous blogs in this series: The Leadership Challenge of Remembering; Joseph, Cupbearers, and Ethical Memory.