2017

Humanize, not Criminalize 

Friday, January 13, 2017

at the Ala Moana Hotel 

Agenda 

Morning Plenary – Poverty & Civil Liberties with Carl Hart, Professor of Psychology & Psychiatry – Columbia University, and Researcher in drug abuse and drug addiction and Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu – Kumu, cultural practitioner, and community leader

10:10 AM Sessions 

B. Beyond Prison, Mainstream Media and Narratives of Erasure: Justice for Native Hawaiians. This session dealt with the history of incarceration in Hawai‘i and its effects on Native Hawaiians. Speakers included RaeDeen M. Keahiolalo, Director – Educational Research and Postsecondary Success at Kamehameha Schools and Carrie Ann Shirota – Lecturer, UH Maui College and Facilitator, PACT (Parents and Children Together)  

C. Social Services to Sex Workers – Best Practice Guide This panel discussed methods for dealing with sex worker social issues. Speakers included Tracy Ryan – Arresting Prostitutes is Legal Exploitation,  Pam Vessels – Arresting Prostitutes is Legal Exploitation, and Deborah Smith – Youth Outreach Project

D. Prenatal Care, Not Prison This panel discussed why traditional approaches to addiction during pregnancy don’t work, and what successful approaches and programs look like. Speakers included Tricia Wright, Director – PATH Clinic, Jacqueline Tellei, Clinic Manager – PATH Clinic and Erika Warner, Residential Clinical Supervisor – Salvation Army Family Treatment Services' Women's Way

E. Harm Reduction Heroes: Communications tactics to inspire media & lawmakers. This was an interactive workshop to help build skills. Speakers included Mandy Finlay, Advocacy Coordinator – American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i. Rui Kaneya, Investigative Reporter – Civil Beat, James Anthony, Attorney at Law, and Jeff Gere, Storyteller

Session II

A. Overview of Harm Reduction & Beyond. This presentation covered basic concepts in harm reduction and will involve interactive learning.  Speakers included Peter Silva, Epidemiologist – Hawai‘i Department of Health and Heather Lusk, Executive Director – The CHOW Project

B. Harm Reduction, Homelessness & Housing This workshop focused on the role of harm reduction in housing and homelessness. . Speakers included Joy Rucker, Director of Housing – Ka Aale A Keola, Heather Pierucki, Director of Behavioral Health – Helping Hands Hawai‘i, Jean Mooney, Community Liaison & Housing Case Manager – The CHOW Project

C. Public Health, Public Safety: Enhancing the network of care for medical marijuana patients. This panel discussed the roles of the stakeholders in this issue and how to collaborate. Facilitator: Colin Moore, Director of Public Policy – Center at Univ. of Hawai‘i Manoa, with Scottina Ruis, Program Coordinator – DOH MMJ Registry Program, Wendy Gibson, Community Outreach Organizer – Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i ,  Chris Garth, Executive Director – Hawai‘i Dispensaries Alliance, amd Lieutenant Patricia Wilson  Narcotics/Vice Division, A.O.G. – Honolulu Police Department

D. “The Young and the Restless” -Youth Issues, Moderator: Kunane Dreier, Director of HIV Prevention Services – Life Foundation with Josh Holmes – Chronic Disease Evaluation Specialist, Hawaii State Department of Health Lance Ching, Researcher – Epidemiologist, Hawaii State Department of Health, Carla Houser, Program Manager – Youth Outreach, and Cathy Kapua, Transgender Service Coordinator – Life Foundation

E. Immigrants & Harm Reduction. This session  addressed the unique obstacles faced by immigrants, both documented and undocumented, in Hawai‘i. Moderator: Khara Jabola-Carolus – Hawai'i Coalition for Immigrant Rights with Dominic Inocelda, Clinical Administrator – Susannah Wesley Community Center, and John R. Egan, Attorney at Law –  MigrationCounsel.Com & University of Hawai'i Richardson School of Law

Afternoon Plenary – Legalize Everything! Challenges and Opportunities of Decriminalization and Legalization Movements.Facilitator: Kat Brady, Coordinator – Community Alliance on Prisons, with Kris Nyrop, National Support Director – LEAD. 

Sessions III

A. How to Be a Better Advocate: Skills and Resources to Effect Local Change.  This session provided tips and techniques to affect policy and to be a better local advocate. Facilitator: Paige Heckathorn, Senior Manager, Legislative Affairs – Healthcare Association HI, with Jocelyn Howard, Program Director – We Are Oceania, Laurie Temple-Field, Hawai‘i Legislative Director – Planned Parenthood, Becky Gardner, Legal Analyst – Office of Language Access, and Cathy Betts, Executive Director – State Commission on Status of Women

B. Restorative Justice This session was be an interactive Restorative Circle. Session participants played roles in the circle that the group discussed. Kat Brady, Coordinator – Community Alliance on Prisons and Lorren Walker, Restorative Attorney were leaders.

C. Harm Reduction and the continuum of care for addiction and substance abuse, was a  panel discussion on harm reduction and recovery with Eddie Mersereau, Division Chief – Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, Hawai‘i Dept. of Health, Alan Johnson, President & CEO – Hina Mauka, and Stacy Lenze, Research & Linkage to Care Coordinator – The CHOW Project

D. Harm Reduction at the State Legislature and City Hall. This session explored varied policy solutions that help humanize rather than criminalize community members, focusing on affordable housing, criminal and racial justice, and the decriminalization of drug use and possession. Moderator: Carl Bergquist, Executive Director – Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘I, with Mandy Finlay, Advocacy Coordinator – American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘I, Gavin Thornton, Co-Executive Director – Hawai'i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, and Kamaile Maldonado, Public Policy Advocate – Office of Hawaiian Affairs