Ismael Nazario
Criminal Justice Reformer | From Rikers Island to TED
About
Ismael Nazario overcame a turbulent childhood and incarceration at Rikers Island to become a powerful voice for criminal justice reform. As a former gang member and inmate, he now uses his personal experiences to advocate for rehabilitative approaches that address root causes.
Nazario's TED talks have reached millions, sharing his transformation from troubled youth to community leader. His keynotes provide a raw, first-hand perspective on the failures of the prison system and pathways for reform that create meaningful change.
Talks1
What I learned as a kid in jail
As a teenager, Ismael Nazario was sent to New York’s Rikers Island jail, where he spent 300 days in solitary confinement -- all before he was ever convicted of a crime. Now as a prison reform advocate he works to change the culture of American jails and prisons, where young people are frequently subjected to violence beyond imagination. Nazario tells his chilling story and suggests ways to help, rather than harm, teens in jail.
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