Malachai on the left was a cellmate of Tony Hicks. What are the odds meeting up?
The 5th National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice took place Tuesday, June 2 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I participated on a panel discussion among victims of crime from several different faith backgrounds who came to restorative justice through their victimization and faith. There was an audience of about 550 people, and the panel was shared with Kate and Andy whose daughter Ann was murdered by her boyfriend Connor. They too have forgiven Connor, which is quite amazing. The panel was moderated by Sujatha Baliga who is an experienced and exemplary restorative justice professional.
A powerful conference and many highlights but the BIG ONE was meeting Malachai Scott, a man who shared a cell with Tony Hicks, the person who murdered my son. It’s amazing I met him. What are the odds? He is a likable kid doing good work in Oakland and was arrested for a similar crime as Tony. I was in tears! It was a highlight to meet him because it reaffirmed his and Tony’s positive character. I believe there is a lot of good character in our prisons, like the characters of Malachai and Tony and many other former offenders the Tariq Khamisa Foundation uses as panelists. We must only believe in the goodness deep down in all of us.
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