WEBVTT

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John E. Wetzel: You know,
when I got this job, four long years ago,

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(Laughter)

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I had never set foot
inside of state prison.

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I was literally running

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a 400-bed little county jail.

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That's a whole other story.

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But one of the things I had
the biggest misconception about

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was the role of lifers

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in the day-to-day life inside prisons,

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and literally in the soul
of the department.

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And so let's jump forward
from 2010 to 2014

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when we did our first TEDx event,
at Grateford,

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probably the male prison
that has the largest lifer population

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that's engaged and part
of the day-to-day operation

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from a programmatic standpoint.

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Who literally improve
the quality of life inside the prison.

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So, it's not a coincidence,

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that we're here for our second event

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at a female prison
that has the same dynamic.

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That has a strong,
vibrant lifer population

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that adds to the quality of life
of inmates and staff

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and our organization.

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And so there's literally no other way

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that we could wrap this up

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than to hear from The Lady Lifers.

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(Applause)

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(Music)

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Dannielle Hadley: Life
in Pennsylvania means just that:

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life without the possibility of parole.

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For us lifers,

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as we call ourselves,

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our only chance for release

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is through commutation,

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which has only been granted
to two women since 1989,

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close to 30 years ago.

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Our song, "This Is Not Our Home,"

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it tells of our experiences

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while doing life
without the possibility of parole.

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(Music)

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Brenda Watkins: I'm a woman.

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I'm a grandmother.

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I'm a daughter.

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I have a son.

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I'm not an angel.

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I'm not the devil.

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I came to jail

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when I was so young.

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I spend my time here

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inside these prison walls.

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Lost friends to death,

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saw some go home.

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Watch years pass,

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people come and go,

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while I do life without parole.

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I am a prisonerfor the wrong I've done.

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I'm doing time here.

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This is not my home.

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Dream of freedom, hope for mercy.

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Will I see

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my family

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or die alone?

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As the years go by,

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I hold back my tears,

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because if I cry I'd give in to fear.

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I must be strong, have to hold on.

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Gotta get through

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another year.

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I am a prisoner for the wrong I've done.

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I'm doing time here.
This is not my home.

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Dream of freedom, hope for mercy.

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Will I see

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my family

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or die alone?

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I'm not saying that I'm not guilty,

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I'm not saying that I shouldn't pay.

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All I'm asking is for forgiveness.

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Gotta have hope I'll be free someday.

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Is there a place for me

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in the world out there?

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Will they ever know or care
that I'm chained?

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Is there redemption for the sin
of my younger days?

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Because I've changed.

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Lord knows I've changed.

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I am a prisoner for the wrong I've done.

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I'm doing time here.
This is not my home.

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Dream of freedom, hope for mercy.

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Will I see

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my family

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or die alone?

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Will I see

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my family

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or die alone?

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I'm known to you as Inmate 008106.

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Incarcerated 29 years.

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My name is Brenda Watkins.

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I was born and raised
in Hoffman, North Carolina.

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This is not my home.

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(Applause)

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Thelma Nichols: Inmate number 0B2472.

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I've been incarcerated for 27 years.

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My name is Thelma Nichols.

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I was born and raisedin Philadelphia, P.A.

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This is not my home.

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(Applause)

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DH: 008494.

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I've been incarcerated for 27 years.

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My name is Dannielle Hadley.

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I was born and raised
in Philadelphia, P.A,

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and this is not my home.

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(Applause)

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Theresa Battles: Inmate 008309.

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I've been incarcerated for 27 years.

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My name is Theresa Battles.

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I'm from Norton, New Jersey,

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and this is not my home.

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(Applause)

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Debra Brown: I am known as Inmate 007080.

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I've been incarcerated for 30 years.

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My name is Debra Brown.

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I'm from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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This is not my home.

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(Applause)

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Joann Butler: 005961.

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I've been incarcerated for 37 years.

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My name is Joann Butler,

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and I was born and raised in Philadelphia.

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This is not my home.

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(Applause)

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Diane Hamill Metzger: Number 005634.

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I've been incarcerated for 39
and one half years.

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My name is Diane Hamill Metzger.

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I'm from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

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and this is not my home.

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(Applause)

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Lena Brown: I am 004867.

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Incarcerated 40 years.

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My name is Lena Brown,

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and I was born and raised
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,

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and this is not my home.

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(Applause)

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Trina Garnett: My number is 005545.

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My name is Trina Garnett,

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I've been incarcerated for 37 years,

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since I was 14 years old.

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Born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania,

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and this is not my home.

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(Applause)

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Will I see

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my family

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or die alone?

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Or die alone?

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(Applause)