Bar None NOLA to host 2nd Conversational/symposium on Louisiana political prisoner MAC on Thurs

NEW ORLEANS - Feb. 18, 2019 - PRLog -- The panel will include MAC's mother, nationally recognized visual artist, Sheila Phipps, Michael "Mr. Meana" Patterson of the legendary music group "PNC",  international hip-hop artist and world-renowned cook, Mama Mia X, along with others who will discuss their thoughts on MAC's wrongful conviction and subsequent incarceration.

BAR NONE NOLA and its by DeSign initiative are well-known for the amazing work it has done the Greater New Orleans area addressing the issues plagued by the prison industrial complex . It is a grassroots-minded, nonprofit organization which offers people who are currently and formerly incarcerated, their families and friends, opportunities for entrepreneurship, education, healing, partnership, community-driven justice and the arts for social change. Their motto, "Transcending Incarceration Through the Arts" gives way to the fact that Arts is at the base of all of their work and successes. Services provided by Bar None include a residency program that emcompasses counseling, education, leadership development and advocacy, and fostering earnest, lasting partnerships, in addition to providing preventative measures to alternative and failing schools and incarceration when it comes to youth. The overall purpose of the organization is to reduce recidivism by providing impactful opportunities to current and former incarcerated people in Louisiana that will allow them to "step into their greatness" as artists, serve as "Lights" (mentors) to the youth they serve, advocate for  those who remain behind the wall; provide a preventive platform for youth that fall victim to the criminal justice system, and more importantly, be seen as people.

"A Conversation for Justice: Why McKinley 'MAC' Phipps?!" , is an open forum that will serve to start and strengthen the conversation about the wrongful conviction and wrongful incarceration of MAC. He is now being called a "political prisoner". The State of Louisiana has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. In fact, the figures are quite mind boggling. But MAC's case is different, in that his guilt was doubtful from the beginning - and now, decades later, witnesses have come forward to state they lied after being bullied, threatened and coerced by St. Tammany Parish investigators that were under the control of the crooked administration of Walter Reed and Sheriff Jack Strain. Both figures have been indicted on serious corruption charges. Reed was convicted of multiple charges of corruption while in office. Strain is under investigation for multiple corruption and molestation charges. MAC has been the subject of several well-respected, international television and investigative reports. Despite the obvious wrongdoing in his case, MAC remains incarcerated at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel, Louisiana.

Sponsored by Healthy Start and Don't Even Trip Dream Foundation, the event is free of charge to the public, although donations are encouraged and welcomed. Bar None NOLA is always seeking volunteers, as well as monetary donations to help continue its efforts to improve lives of those they serve. 2018 has seen a lot of changes for Bar None NOLA, especially with it Executive Director being diagnosed with a rare disease and having major surgery as a result. It is approaching its second anniversary (March), with plenty of success stories along the way. It is employing an innovative approach to securing a new Board of Directors, divinely seeking out those whom the prison industrial complex as truly and directly affected. This includes individuals who have served time, a wife and ex-wife, fiancé and best friend of incarcerated men, executive, educator, attorney, and a wrongfully accused incarcerated person, all of whom have humbly accepted and graciously offered their "heartwork" to BAR NONE NOLA. The organization has also increased volunteer involvement, including an education department that encompasses preventative measures, informing the community on quality education being a constitutional right, ensuring those returning to society received needed education, among other items of interest. BAR NONE NOLA is also expanding its residency program into prisons, by request. The event will be held at 8539 Willow Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. Tickets are available on the Eventbrite website and mobile app.

For more information on how to become a servant leader with BAR NONE NOLA, please visit Bar-None.net or email info@bar-none.net. For online donations, please visit https://bit.ly/2SedO9u. For interviews and media inquiries, contact Publicist Arlene Culpepper of MIKODreamz PR via email at mikodreamzpr@gmail.com. To RSVP for the event, visit https://aconversationforjusticefreemac.eventbrite.com. Ashe' Cultural Center/Efforts of Grace serves as the fiscal agent of BAR NONE, Inc.

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