Free. Registration required online in advance.

The United States imprisons 2.2 million citizens, the highest incarceration rate in the world, by far. With an incarceration rate higher than the national average, Philadelphia is a community at the heart of this statistic.

Do you live in the Greater Philadelphia area? Want to add your voice to the conversation about criminal justice reform? Join Reem Cotton, Supervisor, Education and Community Engagement at Eastern State Penitentiary, for a small-group discussion about the history and current impact of mass incarceration in Philadelphia and beyond. All participants will meet over lunch at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site and engage in conversation about how incarceration affects our community, and how we can work together to address its impact.

This event is part of On the Table Philly 2019. On the Table Philly is a region-wide initiative to explore the ways in which we have the power to collaborate in order to make our communities stronger, safer and more dynamic. On Oct. 17, 2019, Philadelphia area residents are invited to again gather in small groups across the region to share a meal and discuss the opportunities and issues we face in our communities.

Registration is free, but required to attend. This small group discussion will be limited to 16 participants.

About Reem: Thomas Reem Cotton joined Eastern State in 2019 as Supervisor of Education and Community Engagement. In this role he is tasked with connecting and engaging with the general public and community partners on initiatives that advance Eastern State’s mission.