Smoke Free Healing Zones: A National Vision Rooted in Lived Experience
Duration: 90 Minutes
Presenter: Amilton Dosouto, Mario Rodirigues, Supreme Hassan, Min. Randy, Nurrideen Alabi & Kevin Taylor
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Amilton Dosouto is a father, author, and survivor of gun violence who has published the second of four books in the YOUNG OUTLAWS series on Amazon. He is dedicated to making a positive impact in his community by sharing stories and struggles related to gun violence, to reach at least one, if not thousands, of the youth in Dorchester. In addition to his writing, Amilton serves as the spokesperson for Tudo Djunto, an organization founded within the walls of Norfolk Prison that promotes peace and community unity. Together with like-minded individuals, they share their narratives of survival, understanding that the pain of losing a loved one lingers until it is one’s turn to confront that loss.
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Mario Rodrigues has transcended the challenges of his upbringing in the violent neighborhood of Dorchester, Massachusetts. His journey has taken him from being a participant in the violence that plagued his community to becoming a non-traditional leader at a remarkably young age. During his turbulent youth, Mario found himself entangled in a cycle of violence that landed him in a youth detention center from the ages of 16 to 18. This period of reflection was a turning point in his life, prompting him to question the path he was on and the impact it had on both himself and his community. Tragically, he witnessed the loss of numerous friends to the same violence that had once ensnared him. It was the murder of an innocent young man that served as a wake-up call, igniting a fire within Mario to make a positive change.
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​Supreme Hassan is a restorative justice practitioner and the visionary behind the Building Community Through Restorative Justice Public Safety Initiative and Smoke-Free Healing Zones. Drawing from his own lived experience—having both taken a life and lost his younger brother to gun violence—Supreme advocates for community-based public safety rooted in healing, accountability, and transformation.
​Randy Muhammad, a native of Boston, MA, is an exemplary leader whose journey from a troubled past to a position of influence and service within the Nation of Islam and the community is both inspiring and transformative.
Born in the vibrant City of Boston, Minister Randy Muhammad embarked on a remarkable life journey that would ultimately lead him to a place of significant impact. His story is one of redemption, resilience, and unwavering commitment to community upliftment.
Nurrideen Alaibi is the personification of resilience and transformation. He went from impacting his community in the Academy Holmes project in Roxbury, to being the first ever formerly incarcerated person to graduate from Boston College on campus. Nurrideen is one of the founding facilitators of the Smoke Free Healing Zones initiative while incarcerated. He will be featured in the upcoming installment of the PBS docu-series, Road Trip Nation, where he will share his story of overcoming the US Carceral system.
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Kevin Taylor is a gifted artist (rapper) whose lyrics capture the depth of loss, grieving, and hopes of a generation of street soldiers fighting a losing war. He is a loving father and community leader. He leveraged his influence and relationships while incarcerated, helping to establish the first leadership summit for Smoke-Free Healing Zones, of which he’s a founding coordinator and facilitator.
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