Andover's Temple Emanuel Welcomes Social Justice Advocate For Event

ANDOVER, MA — Temple Emanuel in Andover has announced details of the first event in its Topics Topics for Justice —Today and Tomorrow speaker series.

At 4 p.m. on March 12, the temple, located at 7 Haggetts Pond Rd., will host a program titled "Beyond Prison Walls — Finding Hope Through Literature and the Arts," featuring professor Jean Trounstine, a local educator, author and social justice advocate. Retired Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Kathe M. Tuttman will serve as the moderator.

The whole community is invited to the free program, which is presented by the temple's Social Action-Social Justice Committee. Those planning to attend the event can RSVP online. There also is an opportunity to watch the discussion on Zoom.

A wine and cheese reception will follow the program.

Trounstine is a professor emerita at Middlesex Community College in Lowell who has written several books, including "Boy With A Knife: A Story of Murder, Remorse, and a Prisoner's Fight for Justice." The 2016 book explores the true story of Karter Kane Reed and the practice of sentencing juveniles to adult prisons.

Additionally, Trounstine spent 10 years working at the Framingham Women's Prison, where she directed several plays with the prisoners. She chronicled some of those experiences in the book "Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women's Prison," which has been featured on NPR and in numerous print publications.

Trounstine also co-founded the women's branch of Changing Lives Through Literature, an alternative sentencing program that has been featured in The New York Times and on the Today Show.

"We look forward to welcoming Jean Trounstine to Temple Emanuel to share her remarkable work and share her insight with our community," said Temple Emanuel Rabbi Max Chaiken. "I applaud our Social Action-Social Justice Committee for developing this speakers series and especially want to thank Judge Kathe Tuttman for leading this effort. We invite the entire community to join us on March 12th."