Amistad Research Center and the Newcomb Museum of Art of Tulane University presents Becoming Danielle Metz: Life after Incarceration Created by the Amistad Research Center, Conversations in Color is a free public cultural series that features artists, educators, and community activists in talks about their work and its impact on social change. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are over 200,000 women and girls imprisoned for nonviolent crimes as a result of the criminal system’s war on drugs. In addition to those serving sentences, an additional one million are trapped in a system of probation and parole with very little support services available to assist them with transitioning back into society. On Tuesday April 2nd, we will hear from Danielle Metz about her experience in the criminal system, being granted clemency by President Barack Obama, and the reentry process. Carmen James Randolph, vice president of programs for the Greater New Orleans Foundation, will join Ms. Metz in conversation about her incredible journey. From 6:00 to 8:00pm, this event includes extended viewing hours of the exhibition “Per(Sister): Incarcerated Women of Louisiana” at Newcomb Art Museum. The show raises awareness of the issues impacting women within our local carceral system and features brand new artworks inspired by the stories of formerly and currently incarcerated women including a newly commissioned portrait of Danielle Metz painted by Sheila Phipps. About our presenters Danielle Metz is one of the 1,715 inmates President Barack Obama granted clemency before leaving the White House in 2017. On that particular day, a Tuesday in August, Obama commuted the sentences of a then-record 111 inmates. The early releases were the former president’s response to drug laws he deemed unusually harsh to nonviolent offenders like Metz. In 1994, this wife and mother of two was sentenced to three life sentences - plus 20 years - on four counts of drug dealing and conspiracy. Category 3 federal sentencing guidelines demanded the stiff punishment, although Metz had never been in trouble with the law before. Her husband, the alleged ringleader, is still in prison. Carmen James Randolph joined the Greater New Orleans Foundation in February of 2014 as Vice President for Programs. Carmen previously worked at the Washington-based Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer Foundation where she was for the past 15 years including three years as senior program officer in education. While at the Meyer Foundation, Carmen led various award-winning initiatives to support a wide range of work including education organizing, charter school improvement, and post-secondary education reform. About our partner The Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University builds on the Newcomb College legacy of education, social enterprise, and artistic experience.Presenting inspiring exhibitions and programs that engage communities both on and off campus, the Museum fosters the creative exchange of ideas and cross-disciplinary collaborations around innovative art and design. The Museum preserves and advances scholarship on the Newcomb and Tulane art collections.