Los Angeles, CA – The inaugural Unchained Voices Restorative Justice Festival is set to take place at UCLA Ackerman Union, hosted by the Ben Free Project and UCLA's RAP Lab. This groundbreaking event aims to bring together a diverse community dedicated to the principles of restorative justice.
Attendees can expect a day filled with engaging discussions, enlightening panels featuring Directors of many prominent restorative justice organizations such as PEN America, the Prison Education Program, Underground Scholars, and dozens more. Enjoy captivating performances highlighting the transformative power of, art, and literature. One of the festival's highlights includes the Barz Behind Bars Poetry Contest winners having their work read aloud onstage by esteemed writers, such as two-time American Book Award winner Dr. Randall Horton and New York Times bestselling author and UCLA Professor, Dr. Adam Bradley.
"This festival is an opportunity for individuals to immerse themselves in the stories of resilience and learn how they can make a positive impact in their own communities," said Benjamin Frandsen, Founder of the Ben Free Project and the organizer of the festival.
Emceed by the renowned Aaron "Showtime" Taylor, whose voice has graced the Chase Center during a Warriors home game, the festival promises to deliver an unforgettable experience. Attendees will have the chance to hear from brilliant speakers, jazz musicians, and musical performers, including three-time Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Garren, known for his collaborations with industry icons Nas, Nipsey Hussle, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar.
"We invite everyone to join us in breaking the chains of injustice and giving voice to the unheard," added Elisa Plata, who will be speaking at the event about the unique experiences of incarcerated women.
The Unchained Voices Restorative Justice Festival is scheduled to take place on March 4, 2023, from 2 - 9 p.m., at UCLA Ackerman Union in Los Angeles, CA.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit
Media Contact:
Lydia Morgan
Treasurer
612-562-5836.
About Unchained Voices Restorative Justice Festival:
The Unchained Voices Restorative Justice Festival is an annual event dedicated to promoting restorative justice principles and empowering communities to create positive change. Through engaging discussions, impactful performances, and inspiring panels, the festival aims to amplify the voices of those affected by injustice and inspire future college student activists to help us wage war on the drivers of mass incarceration.
