Eastern State to Host Justice 101 Conversation on Faith, Reentry, and Prison Reform

Philadelphia, PA (May 19, 2026) — As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site will host Justice 101: Faith, Reentry, and Prison Reform on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. both in person at Eastern State and online via Zoom and YouTube.

Presented as part of America250PA’s Lecture250 series and The Aaron Reichlin Restorative Justice and Faith Conversations, the free public program will explore how faith traditions have shaped American approaches to justice, rehabilitation, moral responsibility, and reintegration since the nation’s founding.

Two hundred and fifty years after the Declaration of Independence proclaimed liberty as both a right and a responsibility, communities across the nation continue to wrestle with how justice, accountability, forgiveness, and restoration are lived in practice. Rooted in Eastern State’s Semiquincentennial initiative, A Time for Liberty, the conversation will examine the role faith communities continue to play as enduring civic institutions where people returning from incarceration can find belonging, support, accountability, and pathways toward rebuilding their lives.

The evening will begin with an introductory conversation at 6:00 p.m. with Michael Moreland, J.D., Ph.D., Professor of Law and Religion and Director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law at Villanova University. Moreland will set the stage for an interfaith dialogue on faith, reentry, and prison reform featuring faith leaders from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities, including Quaker voices whose tradition helped shape early ideas about incarceration and rehabilitation at Eastern State.

Dr. Moreland’s discussion will be followed by a panel conversation featuring:

• Imam Quaiser Abdullah, Ph.D., Director of the Mayor’s Office of Muslim Engagement in the City of Philadelphia
• Damone B. Jones Sr., DMin, Senior Pastor of Bible Way Baptist Church
• Dr. Yehuda Pryce, DSW, LCSW, Psychotherapist and Senior Director of National Mental Health and Well-Being Programs at Defy Ventures
• Lewis Webb Jr., U.S. Peacebuilding Director at the American Friends Service Committee

The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Kerry Sautner, President and CEO of Eastern State.

“Faith has long shaped conversations around justice, dignity, and restoration,” said Sautner. “We are grateful to America250PA, the Reichlin and Tuck Families, and our partners for supporting this work at a pivotal moment for our Commonwealth and our country. Eastern State was founded on principles of justice, liberty, and human dignity — ideals that continue to shape public conversation today. Through A Time for Liberty and our Justice 101 series, we hope to create space for meaningful civic dialogue examining how these ideas have evolved over time as part of the broader 250th anniversary commemoration.”

“Programs like this create opportunities for Pennsylvanians to reflect on the ideals at the foundation of our country while engaging in important conversations about the future,” saidCassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA.. “We are proud to support organizations like Eastern State that are using the Semiquincentennial to foster dialogue, education, and community engagement across the Commonwealth.”

From abolitionist movements and prison chaplaincy to modern reentry advocacy and restorative justice initiatives, the dialogue will explore how faith traditions continue to influence public life, public policy, and the evolving meaning of justice in American democracy.

This event is presented as part of Lecture250 — a series of free, public educational lectures related to Pennsylvania and Declaration of Independence-era history made possible by a grant from America250PA. The program is also presented as part of The Aaron Reichlin Restorative Justice and Faith Conversations, made possible by a generous grant from the Reichlin and Tuck Families. Registration for in-person attendance or virtual viewing via Zoom and YouTube is available at /events/series/justice-101/justice-101-faith-reentry-and-prison-reform.

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About Eastern State
Eastern State preserves America’s first penitentiary, advancing public understanding of the criminal justice system and its impact on the lives of those affected by it, to inspire a more just future. For more information, visit EasternState.org and follow Eastern State on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.