March 24, 2023, Ship and Anchor Founder and CEO Devin Smith (center) facilitated a panel discussion highlighting the research of Dr. Craig Waleed (right) and Dr. LaVerne Mattocks-Perry (left) about the influence of emotional intelligence on recidivism; and the effectiveness of social emotional learning to disrupt many outcomes in youth linked to incarceration, respectively.
The Panel: Reimagining America's 3rd World
The 50-minute session explored the lived-experiences and researched-back practices that inform Ship and Anchor Justice Initiatives, including our Letters from America's 3rd World project and ANCRD Voices program (pronounced "anchored voices"). Each utilizes interdisciplinary principles from the arts, social sciences, and education and instruction in their approaches to transform the criminal legal system and the lives of those directly impacted by it.
Student Networking Reception
Following the Panel, Smith participated in the Student Networking Reception hosted by the Black Male Initiative to discuss his journey from NCSU undergraduate student, to operating his own business within 3 years. It was a welcome opportunity to encourage the upcoming generation of Black leaders from NC State University.
Smith (second from left) pictured with NCSU undergraduate students and Associate Vice Chancellor Kesha Read (right)
"It's interesting because so many people never use the degree they graduate college with," Smith noted. "I, on the other hand, am using everything I studied at NC State - middle grades education, sociology, and nonprofit studies with a concentration in social entrepreneurship," he continued. "This is why our mission is to get all of our Impact Groups ANCRD - I've found it to be an invaluable personal and professional development framework."
What's Next: Documentary Premiere, College Tour
Friday, March 31, 2023 at 6:00 pm we will be premiering the Letters from America's 3rd World documentary short. The self-produced film is an artistic, somewhat abstract take on Devin's journey to uncovering the reality of "America's 3rd World," and how it informs our work at Ship and Anchor. REGISTER HERE for the virtual screening event!
While the purpose of the film is to define and provide context to the term "America's 3rd World," and Devin's journey to this work, the college tour is intended to explore research-backed, community-based approaches to transforming the criminal legal system and the lives of those directly impacted by it.
NC State's Black Research Symposium is the second stop along the tour, which focuses on Washington, D.C., North Carolina's Research Triangle Area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), and Eastern N.C. CLICK HERE to learn about attending or participating in the Reimagining America's 3rd World college tour.