A man, woman, or child attempting to cope with a traumatic experience may seek solace in alcohol or drug use to deaden the physical and emotional pain of the traumatic event. When substance use devolves into the disease of addiction, incarceration almost always follows.

Rather than resolving the pain of trauma or addiction, involvement in the justice system may cause other traumatic events, both physical and psychological, resulting in further threat to the mental health and well-being of the individual.

Join Project 180 and our partner The Boxser Diversity Initiative in the eighth season of the Strong Voices Lecture Series to explore the nature of trauma, why and how well substance abuse and addiction act as coping mechanisms, the inherent trauma of incarceration, and the complex ways in which these three factors intersect.

March 5, 2021. Keynote speaker Hank J. Brightman, Ed.D.'s unique background and inquisitive mind make him one of the most fascinating speakers in the field: criminologist, psychotherapist, research professor at the United States Naval War College, certified clinical trauma professional in private practice, and graduate of the Assisi Institute’s Archetypal Pattern Analyst Program.

April 2, 2021. John Annis, Senior Vice-President for collaboration and impact at the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation moderates a panel of local experts in trauma, addiction, and incarceration.

May 7, 2021. A formerly incarcerated citizen shares the ways in which trauma, addiction, and incarceration have affected his life journey

With deepest gratitude to our 2021 Sponsors

The Breakers of Chains: Presenting Sponsors

• Koski Family Foundation
• Palm Avenue Wealth Advisory Group at Raymond James
• Bank of America

The Game Changers

• Gulf Coast Community Foundation
• Wendy & Jim Cox
• The Boxser Diversity Initiative
• Cadence Bank

The Change Agents

• Robert C. and Pamela Gore Meade
• CareerSource Suncoast

The Innovators

• Jeff Weinberger
• Barbara Richards
• Judith Gee/Individual Literacy Training

Other: Publix