Coffee, yogurt, and visionary leadership: A morning with Osborne Association
On Wednesday, October 13, Osborne celebrated its 2021 Lighting the Way breakfast at 583 Park Avenue in Manhattan. We weren’t sure what to expect after our previous breakfast was canceled due to Covid-19, but coming together again this year reignited our sense of community, hope, and transformation. We were deeply grateful to receive tremendous support from our donors, partners, and friends who joined us - both in person and via livestream - to learn about the incredible impact Osborne’s programs have on 12,000 men, women, and children each year. And while this year was different in many ways, we carried on the tradition of gifting each in-person guest a jar of honey, courtesy of the hard working bees who live on our Bronx office rooftop.
The morning’s program was a unique and engaging look into the work that Osborne does. We hope you will watch the recording, which you can access by clicking the play button on the video image below.
We had the pleasure of honoring three luminaries in the criminal justice reform movement: Neil Barsky, Founder of The Marshall Project, St. James’ Church, Partners in Mission: Children, and Chris Hayes, Emmy Award winner and MSNBC host of All In with Chris Hayes. Chris received the 2021 Thomas Mott Osborne Spirit Medal.
In addition, our panel of visionary, trailblazing journalists and changemakers was a thought-provoking event highlight. Facilitated by Katrina vanden Heuvel, editorial director and publisher of The Nation, panel members Chris Hayes, Neil Barsky, Lawrence Bartley, Director of News Inside, The Marshall Project, and New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado shared their insights on the relationship between the media and the criminal justice system. Their collective decades of journalistic work shine a light on the importance of recognizing the humanity of all people, including those incarcerated.
On behalf of our Board and staff, thank you for supporting our efforts to transform lives, communities, and the criminal justice system.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Gaynes President & CEO
If you were unable to attend or would like to experience the event a second time you can watch the recording here:
Junior board member Afaf Ibraheem Warren (top left) summarized the reasons that she supports Osborne is because it is “expert, enduring, and effective” in its work to serve and support individuals and families impacted by the criminal justice system.
Special thanks to Dr. Heather Ann Thompson for donating copies of her book, Blood in the Water, for the breakfast.
ABOUT OSBORNE Osborne Association serves individuals, families, and communities affected by the criminal justice system. Through our programs, we offer opportunities for people to heal from and repair harm, restore their lives, and thrive. We challenge systems rooted in racism and retribution and fight for policies and practices that promote true safety, justice, and liberation. Learn more.
We had the pleasure of honoring three luminaries in the criminal justice reform movement: Neil Barsky, Founder of The Marshall Project, St. James’ Church, Partners in Mission: Children, and Chris Hayes, Emmy Award winner and MSNBC host of All In with Chris Hayes. Chris received the 2021 Thomas Mott Osborne Spirit Medal. 
