Justice Reform Activists Shaka Senghor and Deanna Van Buren Announced as 2019 Clio Cloud Conference Keynotes

Shaka Senghor (left) and Deanna Van Buren (right) will inspire attendees with a two-part presentation on why your worst deeds don’t define you—and how we can transform our prison system for the better.

San Diego, CA—Today, Clio, the leader in cloud-based legal technology, announced that Shaka Senghor and Deanna Van Buren will be the second keynote speakers at the 2019 Clio Cloud Conference. 

Senghor—who spent 19 years in prison before transforming his life, is the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir Writing My Wrongs, an extraordinary tale of forgiveness, hope and second chances, one that reminds us that our worst deeds don’t define who we are. Since his release from prison, Senghor has become a leading voice for criminal justice reform.  He will share his powerful firsthand experiences and vision for a more equitable justice system.

Van Buren—the only architect to receive a Rauschenberg Artist as Activist fellowship, a TED Talk star, and the co-founder of Designing Justice + Designing Spaces—will talk about how and why she’s using her expertise to reimagine America’s prisons and open redemptive possibilities for prisoners, victims, and communities. 

“We are excited and honored to have Deanna Van Buren and Shaka Senghor speaking at the Clio Cloud Conference,” said Jack Newton, CEO and Co-founder of Clio. “Last year, our speakers shed light into the difficulties of our justice system—this year, Deanna and Shaka’s presentation will continue this vital conversation to help realize the opportunity we have to change the system.”

This keynote will share new perspectives on how legal issues have the power to dramatically shift the outcomes of peoples’ lives—while shedding light on some of the inspirational approaches taken by today’s most innovative leaders in justice reform. 

Senghor, whose 19 years in prison included seven in solitary confinement, has reached millions as an author and speaker. He is the President and Co-founder of #BeyondPrisons, an initiative designed to uplift the voices and experiences of those impacted by the criminal justice system. He has received numerous accolades—including the 2016 Ford Man of Courage Award and the 2016 NAACP Great Expectations Award—and he is a former MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow. He has helped mothers of murder victims find forgiveness, inspired young men in the streets to choose college degrees over prison numbers, and shifted the thinking of tough-on-crime advocates to believe that people can be redeemed.

Van Buren is an international leader in developing a radical transformation of the entire criminal justice pipeline. As the Design Director and Co-founder of Designing Justice + Designing Spaces (DJ+DS), an Oakland-based architecture and real estate development nonprofit, she works with governments and organizations to develop the infrastructure needed to end mass incarceration. Her widely acclaimed projects include peacemaking and restorative justice centers, mobile classrooms, and re-entry housing for people coming out of incarceration. Her work has been featured on TEDWomen and honored by the American Institute of Architects San Francisco. She is a pioneering activist dedicated to exposing the social inequities that manifest in traditional justice architecture such as courthouses and prisons.

“These are two special people who are doing incredible work, and I couldn’t be more proud to have them speaking at the conference,” said Newton. “Clio’s mission is to transform the practice of law, for good—and having these conversations is central to understanding how we can continue to support legal professionals as they make an impact with their work.”

The 2019 Clio Cloud Conference will take place on October 21 to 22, 2019, in San Diego, CA. Now in its seventh year, the Clio Cloud Conference will attract over 2,000 attendees who want to learn and be inspired by legal and technology leaders from around the globe. Those interested in attending are encouraged to purchase their 2019 passes soon, as space is limited.

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About Clio:

Clio, the leader in cloud-based legal technology, empowers lawyers to be both client-centered and firm focused through a suite of cloud-based solutions, including legal practice management, client intake and legal CRM software. Clio has been transforming the industry for over a decade with 150,000 customers spanning 90 countries, and the approval of over 65 bar associations and law societies globally. Clio continues to lead the industry with initiatives like the Legal Trends Report, the Clio Cloud Conference, and the Clio Academic Access Program. Clio has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, a Deloitte Fast 50 and Fast 500 company. Learn more at clio.com.

For more information please contact:
Sasha Perrin
Senior Manager, Brand and Communications
1-800-347-8314
[email protected]