Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series: Willard DeRouen Jr.
A ferry ticket is required to reach Alcatraz. Purchase tickets at Alcatraz City Cruises. We recommend the 12 PM boat or earlier.
The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories. Speaker events are offered on various Saturdays from May-September 2026, from 1 - 2 PM.
Willard will explore the deeply personal and often overlooked impact of incarceration on families, particularly the separation of parents and children. Drawing from lived experience as a formerly incarcerated father, this talk highlights the pain of family separation, rebuilding trust with children, navigating stigma after release, and the journey toward healing and accountability. It will also examine how systems can create barriers to reunification and stability for families affected by incarceration.
If you are part of a justice-impacted group and are interested in attending one of the days, please email us about community tickets for these events.
If you have any accessibility needs such as ASL translation, please contact goga_accessibility@nps.gov at least 5 days in advance.
Fees
This event is free to attend.
Location
New Industries Building
Latitude and Longitude 37.827748, -122.424827
Schedule
Date:
Time:
Duration:
Event Type
- Talk