Finding Radical Acceptance and Communal Courage with Micheal Nelson

Restorative Works!

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Michael Nelson, cast member of The Prison Within documentary, to the Restorative Works! Podcast.

Micheal speaks with us about his work with incarcerated individuals who committed crimes in their youth at Kid C.A.T. Through restorative practices, Michael engages these individuals to explore radical acceptance and accountability for their past, present, and future actions. He describes the power of communal storytelling by laying witness to the collective courage of participants to be self-reflective, beginning their healing processes and journey towards being of service to others.

Michael Nelson serves as the Executive Director of Kid C.A.T. As a co-founder of the original prison program, Kid C.A.T. of San Quentin, Michael is responsible for replicating the program at the California Men’s Colony of San Luis Obispo, which he has overseen since 2018. The goal is to be able to provide access to the program throughout prisons across California and beyond, creating a space where folks can safely discover internal freedom, no matter their circumstances in life.

During his 20-years of incarceration, Michael learned the skill of being a Circle Keeper through the Victim Offender Education Group (V.O.E.G.), and created Acting with Compassion and Truth (ACT), now known as ALIGHT Justice, a program originally aimed at creating a supportive space for LGBT incarcerated persons, and their allies. In addition, he became a certified crisis counselor, completing his A.A. degree through Mt. Tamalpais College (formerly Prison University Project), and a service dog trainer.

As a person with lived experience of being directly impacted by the prison system, Michael believes in advocating for the integrity of prison programs created and designed by and for the incarcerated. Since his release from prison in 2018, Michael has continued to facilitate discussions on restorative justice and circle keeping with various communities of folks - including law enforcement, incarcerated individuals, college students, youth, and families. His commitment to contributing to the healing around him is rooted in his sense of obligation, as someone who is responsible for committing harm in the world.

Tune in to learn more about Kid C.A.T. , Micheal’s perspective on healing in youth and adults, and check out his story - featured in the documentary, The Prison Within.