05/16/23
Ep 9: Disrupting the Criminal Justice System’s Impact on Women with Dr. Topeka K. Sam
Hey, Disruptors! Our special guest this week is Dr. Topeka K. Sam, who shares her story of transformation and disruption and how her experience in federal prison inspired passion and purpose in her to advocate for women’s rights in and adjacent to the U.S. criminal justice system.
Dr. Sam is the CEO of @TheLOHM and founder and President of EPIC Financial, TKS Ventures LLC, and Faces & Voices Inc. She serves on the board of directors for The Marshall Project, Operation Restoration, Pure Legacee, and United Justice Coalition. She is a strategic advisor for RBIJ, FRSH, and HARP.
Since her release from federal prison on May 5, 2015, Dr. Sam has served as a 2015 Beyond the Bars Fellow and a 2016 Justice-In-Education Scholar both from Columbia University, 2017 Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow, 2018 Unlocked Futures Inaugural Cohort Member, 2018 Opportunity Agenda Communications Institute Fellow, Director of #Dignity for Incarcerated Women Campaign and Senior Advisor for NYUJ. She hosted “The Topeka K. Sam Show” on SiriusXM UrbanView Channel 126 for 3 years and is now developing scripted and unscripted series as an Executive Producer for TV & Film, inspired by her fight to change the many problems that plague female incarceration.
In 2020, the United Nations appointed Dr. Sam as the Goodwill Ambassador for Social Justice (Incarceration Reform) of the Global Festival of Creative Economy. In December 2020, Dr. Sam received a full presidential pardon for her dedication to helping women turn from a path of despair towards a path of redemption.
On May 5th, 2022, Google.org presented her with the first Social Impact Award at the Variety Magazine/Lifetime TV Power of the Women Summit and later that month she also received her Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from New York Theological Seminary.
Dr. Sam continues to work selflessly and relentlessly every day in her fight for the dignity, decriminalization, and decarceration of women and girls.
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Sam about:
- How she ended up in federal prison
- How hearing other women’s stories in prison inspired purpose in her and changed her life
- The importance of dignity, decriminalization, and decarceration for women
- The creation of The LOHM
- What The LOHM does and how we can all support the ending of incarceration for women and girls
Thank you for listening and supporting The Disruption Podcast! If you liked what you heard, leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend.
Connect with Michelle, Tracey, and Dr. Topeka K. Sam:
The LOHM website
Topeka Instagram
Tracey Instagram
Tracey LinkedIn
Michelle Instagram
Michelle LinkedIn
The Disruption Podcast TikTok
The Disruption Podcast Youtube