Being Free

Insights From The Film

&gt;&gt; Speaker 1: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? &gt;&gt; Cordero: [SOUND] I can't tell you where I'm gonna be at in five years, cuz five years ago, I was in prison. [MUSIC] The anxiety about being released back into the streets is there. Am I good enough? Am I gonna make it? &gt;&gt; London: Reintegrating back into society, unfortunately, it's not that easy. It's a little traumatizing after being pulled away from it so long. Where am I going to live? Where am I going to work? &gt;&gt; Hugo: That was my prison ID. That's what I was known for for the last 18 and a half years while I was in there. There is no way that I could just rewind and somehow some way make everything better again. The option that I'm left with is starting today, being in the moment, being present. &gt;&gt; Cordero: So we are formally incarcerated individuals going around the southern region of the US interviewing folks who have been affected or are affecting formerly incarcerated population. &gt;&gt; London: Media has placed this stigma on us that people inside prison, they're thugs, they're uneducated, all these misconceptions, so maybe just bringing awareness to that. &gt;&gt; Marcus: It's such a hard thing to do, to do time in prison, right? &gt;&gt; Vonya: It's easy to become discouraged. &gt;&gt; Ken: There were moments when I thought maybe I would never get out of prison. &gt;&gt; Vonya: Folks in prison are telling you that your life is over, that you're never gonna be anything, don't believe any of that. &gt;&gt; Shermond: I felt like I was wronged with all that time because I had 33-year sentence for five ounces of marijuana, but you can either get bitter or better. &gt;&gt; Steven: We know that our legislation is outdated, and we just know that more has to be done. It won't just come if we're mad about it, it won't just come if we're hopeful about it, we gotta be intentional and deliberate. &gt;&gt; LaTonya: Because we can sit here and reimagine how we want community to be, how we want the world to be. But in order for that to happen, we got to be that change, because we wanna keep our people out of these systems. What are we going to do to turn this pain into purpose? &gt;&gt; Hugo: Down so we can really get the full effect. &gt;&gt; Cordero: I don't really do these selfies, bro. &gt;&gt; Hugo: There's many individuals that I've met that are still in prison that also deserve to be here with me and feel the warmth of freedom. Because I didn't think I was gonna have that. &gt;&gt; Vonya: We shouldn't be anomalies. It shouldn't be, you're a formerly incarcerated attorney, how interesting, how great. Let it be inspiring, but let it become the norm. &gt;&gt; Ken: Get out of that box that society has placed you in. And when I say box, I'm not talking about the prison cell. I'm talking about that psychological, spiritual, mental block that all of us went through at some point in our life and gave up hope about having something better. &gt;&gt; Cordero: Hearing these people's stories, they all have come from similar circumstances that I have come from. &gt;&gt; London: Man, some beautiful things can happen when you just believe in people and give them tools and resources. &gt;&gt; Vonya: And that's really what the movement work is about, how do we move the needle? How do we change people's ideas about who formerly incarcerated people are? We've got some work to do, and you all are equipped to do it. &gt;&gt; London: Three weeks on this RV, we can help change the narrative. &gt;&gt; Hugo: It's an opportunity to really be true and real with one another, be human, be free. &gt;&gt; [MUSIC] 

Three formerly incarcerated people meet with others who've gone on to build inspiring careers and live fulfilling lives after incarceration.

Being Free Trailer

Follow three system-impacted individuals as they navigate societal reentry, seek purpose in their lives and careers, and meet others who've been through the same process.

Your past doesn’t have to determine your future—a comeback is possible. Follow three system-impacted people as they gain insight from others who’ve left the carceral system and found fulfilling career paths.

Photo of the roadtrippers standing near the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL

Headshot photo of LaTonya Tate, a Birmingham, AL city council member, taken in her office

Headshot photo of roadtripper Hugo smiling in front of a city intersection

Photo of roadtrippers Hugo, Cordero, and London smiling for the camera

Roadtrippers Cordero, London, and Hugo smile and point backward at Shermond Esteen, Jr. and his restaurant (Nonno's Cajuin Cuisine & Pastries)

Headshot photo of Jamie Elwood, founder of Nice and Clean, LLC, taken outside the green RV

A post-interview photo of roadtrippers London, Hugo, and Cordero, alongside Flikshop CEO Marcus Bullock

Headshot photo of Chris Young, senior fellow of the Buried Alive Project, taken in front of a brick wall

Headshot photo of Kelly Garcia-Chavez, a voting rights advocate with the ACLU New Mexico, in front of a suburban street

Justin Allen, a voting rights advocate from America Votes

Photo of roadtrippers Cordero and Hugo taking a selfie with Justin Allen, a voting rights advocate from America Votes

Headshot photo of Maxima Guerrero, a community organizer for the Puente Human Rights Movement

Photo of Rafael Tapia, Jr., the Vice President of Programs for Partnership with Native Americans, taken during an interview with the roadtrippers

Headshot photo of Vonya Quarles, executive director of Starting Over, Inc., taken in her office

Photo of roadtripper Hugo looking outside the window of the green RV

Photo of roadtripper London in profile as she scans the open road while sitting in the green RV

Headshot photo of Richie Reseda, the CEO of Question Culture, in front of the green RV

Headshot photo of Scott Budnick, founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), taken in his office

Portrait photo of roadtripper Cordero smiling in the green RV

Headshot of Ken Oliver, the executive director of Checkr

Photo of roadtrippers Hugo, London, and Cordero take a selfie in front of the Grand Canyon

Formerly incarcerated people find purpose

Photo of roadtripper Hugo in front of a city street

Headshot of roadtripper Hugo in front of a brick wall

Photo of roadtripper London as she stares out the window of the green RV

Headshot of roadtripper London in front of a brick wall

Photo of roadtripper Cordero looking at a garage sign that reads "Education is the Key to Control Our Destiny"

Headshot of roadtripper Cordero in front of a brick wall