THE SAFE RETURN PROJECT
TAMISHA WALKER TORRES
Executive Director
Tamisha Walker is a founding member and Executive Director of Safe Return Project, a campaign to secure the freedom and liberation of formerly incarcerated individuals. She has been a Richmond- based community organizer and well-respected advocate on issues related to mass incarceration and racial disparity in the criminal legal system since her release from incarceration in 2009. Tamisha organizes and coordinates the Safe Return Project and its campaigns at the local, state, and federal level. As a formerly incarcerated woman, she shares a powerful personal story about the journey to healing and successful reentry into society. Tamisha has years of community organizing experience in a city impacted by trauma and economic inequality, including her own personal experience with trauma and poverty growing up in Richmond, California. Her educational credentials include professional training in research and advocacy for the formerly incarcerated and their families, violence prevention strategies, and conflict mediation to reduce urban gun violence.
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Contact: (925) 335-6738
CHALA BONNER
Civic Engagement Organizer
Chala Bonner is a Civic Engagement Organizer at Safe Return Project. Her passion for helping others in her community shines through her work with SRP. She works hard to level the playing field for formerly incarcerated people of color. Her goal is to build equity in the community by helping folks overcome the obstacles and challenges that come with incarceration and reentry and bring healing to those who have had traumatic and stressful experiences. Her motto is “Don’t let your past dictate your future.”
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Contact: 510-497-1538
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BOARD MEMBERS
ADAM KRUGGEL
Director of Strategic Initiatives at People's Action
JEN LOY
Assistant Director, Local Government and Community Relations
ELI MOORE
Program Manager, Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society
DEWANDA JOSEPH
Founder, Ya-Neema Healing Circles
PASTOR QUINTISHA DAVIS-WYLES
Pastor, United Methodist Church in Oakland, CA
REV. EUGENE JACKSON
Pastor, The Church of God & Holy in Antioch, CA
REV. KAMAL HASSAN
Designated Pastor, Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond, CA
ZAIRA SIERRA
Richmond Resident
RICHARD BOYD
In Richard's Memory
Richard Boyd saw things in people that they didn’t yet see in themselves and invited them to embrace their potential. He never counted anyone out, he focused on the good and built from there. Richard was a people builder – if you wanted to grow, to reach a new level of realizing your potential, he would be there with wise words, opening doors to new experiences. Even after he got someone off to college, he didn’t wipe his hands, he kept investing in the relationship. He made lifetime commitments to people. Richard Boyd was a bridge builder. He was a genius at connecting one person’s needs with another person’s gifts. He had an ability to place people in positions where they could use their talents to help people. This came from the deep, authentic value he had for each person he knew. He built relationships taking the time to get to know people for who they really were.