Patrice Collins is an Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Africana Studies at Northeastern University. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Yale University. Patrice’s research lies at the intersections of race, urban inequality, poverty, mass incarceration, children, and family wellbeing. Patrice’s research has been used to inform and develop policies and protocols that aim to safeguard children during parental arrest and incarceration. Patrice has worked directly with children and families that experience disproportionate police contact, and with the FCC, has offered support for families to deal with the trauma and stigma of having an incarcerated loved one. Her work is centered on facilitating conversations with justice impacted families around healing. Patrice has worked closely with FCC co-founder, James to develop support groups which focus on workshops for healing and civic engagement. These workshops increase individual understanding on laws which impact parents and caregivers of children with incarcerated family members. Additionally, the workshops increase civic understanding on policies that influence the lived experiences of incarcerated people. While operating in a therapeutic capacity with a group of mothers with incarcerated children, it became apparent that crucial to emotional healing was the ability to find voice through social justice advocacy. As such, Patrice and James facilitated family workshops that focused on how policy shapes communities. Over time, the idea of partnering with the Unlock the Vote campaign became critical. The mothers wanted to learn public speaking. Families had something to say, and didn’t want to be held back by the insecurity they felt around their mastery of the english language. Thus, James arranged for the mothers to work with an undergraduate from Yale University who was in the debate club and involved with theatre. The mothers received training in public speaking and the basics of pronunciation, cadence, and breathing. The therapeutic work for the group was essentially fostered by self-empowerment and collective healing. By working with FCC, Patrice organized and mobilized  the support groups to engage with the Unlock the Vote campaign. As a result, mothers and caregivers of children with incarcerated family members have learned to canvass their communities and register their neighbors to vote. Civic engagement has been the foundation for families to understand the necessity for healing and social justice for disenfranchised communities.