Impacted Leaders Initiative Fellows Visit D.C.

A week of connection, reflection, and inspiration for Louisiana justice leaders

Fellows from Parole Project’s Impacted Leaders Initiative traveled to Washington, D.C. for a transformative week of learning, relationship-building, and exposure to national advocacy work. The group of dynamic formerly incarcerated leaders, led by Program Manager Hannah Rose Groedel, met with partner organizations and explored their evolving roles in shaping the future of justice reform.

Building Bridges and Sharing Stories 

Throughout the week, fellows met with key partners in the social justice field, including Georgetown University’s Prisons and Justice Initiative, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, The Sentencing Project, and Life After Release. The visits offered fellows a platform to share their stories and draw powerful parallels between national efforts and the critical work occurring in Louisiana. Each meeting sparked rich dialogue about the value of directly impacted leadership, and gave fellows insight into how their personal stories, situated within a national context, led them to work towards systemic change.

A Broader Lens on Leadership

The D.C. experience gave fellows the opportunity to step back from their daily responsibilities and view their work through a wider lens. Fellows expanded their horizons and gained valuable perspectives on different ways of living, advocating, and leading. This shift in context enabled fellows to reflect – both individually and collectively – on what it means to be a leader within a social justice organization.

Experiencing Culture, History, and Place

In addition to personal and professional development, the cohort explored the cultural and historical richness of the country’s capital, including visits to the Jefferson Memorial, the White House, the Washington Monument, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Fellows strolled beneath the blooming cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin and explored vibrant neighborhoods like Georgetown, Chinatown, and The Wharf.

A particularly profound insight emerged after the visit to the African American History and Culture Museum, where the group reflected upon a resonant quote to carry forward as a thematic thread for the week: 

“Lift as we climb”

— Motto of the National Association of Colored Women

This phrase reinforced the idea that leadership is not just about individual growth, but also about uplifting others along the way.

A Reaffirmation of Purpose

Reinvigorated after the week, the fellows returned to Louisiana with a wider network, deeper relationships and a transformed sense of potential. The journey to Washington, D.C. reaffirmed the purpose driving each fellow and the powerful role they play as change agents – not only within Louisiana, but across the broader national movement for justice and human dignity.