Actors Danny Glover, Charles Grodin To Speak At Bridgeport Event

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- The Family ReEntry gala on May 6 at The Klein in Bridgeport reads like a "Who's Who" of national and local celebrities.

Danny Glover will speak at the Family ReEntry Gala in Bridgeport.
Photo Credit: *Twitter*

Wilton resident Charles Grodin will be on the panel of experts at the Family ReEntry event May 6.
Photo Credit: *John Videler, Videler Photography*

Jeanne Muchnick

04/30/2015 4:00 a.m.

Along with Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who will lead the welcoming remarks, and the Rev. Jeff Grant of the Progressive Prison Project, the event features actors and activists Danny Glover and Charles Grodin of Wilton.

Also on the panel with Grodin: Moderator Colin McEnroe, radio personality from WNPR, Steve Lanza, executive director of Family ReEntry, Superior Court Judge and former Family ReEntry Board Member Erika Tindill, Glenn Martin, founder and chief risk taker of JustLeadershipUSA, Bridgeport Chief of Police Joseph Gaudett Jr., and Fred Hodges, Family ReEntry FreshStart program manager.

For those who aren't familiar with Family ReEntry, the nonprofit's mission is to develop, implement, and share innovative, sustainable, cost-effective solutions to the unprecedented numbers of people involved in the criminal justice system.

It's a subject near and dear to Grodin's heart. Said the Wilton resident: "Having been an advocate for non-violent inmates going on 20 years, it is clear to me that our correctional facilities are just not equipped to deal with inmates' special problems. So many are dealing with mental illness or addiction. Family ReEntry is a crucial entity for those inmates, when they are released."

Glover, an outspoken critic of mass incarceration, is just as passionate. "As we look at mass incarceration, we have the privatization of the prison system and that movement has created a chasm between what we're capable of doing and what kind of voice we have as citizens," he said.

Added Lanza: "Given the United States’ costly and ineffective over-reliance on incarceration and the tragic racially disproportionate collateral damage to children, families, and communities, change across multiple systems is imperative."

"Family ReEntry’s upcoming event on May 6 featuring acclaimed actor and activist Danny Glover along with a panel of experts will call attention to the problems and the solutions."

The event is at 7 p.m.Go to www.familyreentryevents.org/ for more information.

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