In this first installment of And Still We Rise, host Nandini Rainikindi explores one woman’s experience with the Nebraska criminal justice system. Desiree talks about the challenges she faced as a triracial woman living in Minnesota. She discusses the conflict between being part Native American and part of the Christian community. Desiree mentions feeling as though people perceive her as unapproachable. She discusses her perspective on aging and accepts that she does not know all the answers. She feels joy in many aspects of her life, appreciating her freedom, knowledge, and accomplishments.

This episode was produced by Jessica MacDonald.

This episode includes information from RISE about LB920. LB920 is a bill before Nebraska legislature that can help minimize barriers to successful reentry, strengthen parole processes, and tailor punishments more closely to the offense. For more information, visit https://www.seeusrise.org/policy-advocacy/advocacy-tips-tools.html.

To hear more podcasts and other audio media created by the students of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, visit https://krnu.nebraskanewsservice.net/.

To volunteer, donate, or learn more about how you can help current and formerly incarcerated individuals in Nebraska, visit https://www.seeusrise.org/.

And Still We Rise is written and produced by 165 students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as part of the Social Justice, Human Rights, and the Media course. The show features discussions with both formerly and currently incarcerated women whose lives have been adversely impacted by the Criminal Justice System in America. Special thanks to graphic designer Hannah Timm, composer Anne McConkey, producer Terry Keef, writers Kate Aleknavicius, Landon Brown, Emerson Gilfry, Sadie Ingram, Nick Karas, Paige Kotik, Brynn Novotny, Caitlyn Thomas, and Emily Whitney.