11/25/2025
Every now and then you get to meet your heroes. Yesterday in Chapel Hill, our Executive Director had that honor.
Eleanor Kinnaird, age 94, served in the North Carolina General Assembly for 16 years. She proudly represented the people of Orange and Chatham counties from 1997 to 2013.
Throughout his incarceration, Brian wrote several members of the General Assembly to bring to their attention matters inside the prison system that he believed needed their oversight. Only one ever wrote him back. Yesterday he got to meet her at the Peace and Justice Forum at Carol Woods Retirement Community, where he spoke about his personal journey and OurJourney.
"I still have her letters," Brian said. "I wasn't one of Ellie's constituents, couldn't vote, and was locked up, yet she took the time to respond thoughtfully, affirming my humanity in the process."