Jondhi Harrell is the Founder and Executive Director of the TCRC Community Healing Center (The Center for Returning Citizens) in Philadelphia. TCRC-CHC offers comprehensive referall services for prisoners and formerly incarcerated people in the areas of re-entry, pre-entry, direct services, advocacy, healing from the traumas of mass incarceration and gun violence. TCRC-CHC through a partnership with sharefoodsprogram.org. serves the Philadelphia Community with a food pantry that feeds on average 12 to 14,000 individuals, 3,000 families monthly, TCRC-HC holds pop-up food giveaways, community clothing drives and book giveaways for children.
Jondhi is a veteran of 25 years of mass incarceration and plays a leadership role in numerous organizations.
Jondhi is a Political & Community Activist, working on the successful campaigns in Philadelphia & statewide.
He is a frequent guest lecturer on the topics of Mass Incarceration, Social Injustice, and Re-building Black America at universities, colleges, churches, organizations and community events.
Upon his release in 2009 Jondhi attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Service Management from the University of Phoenix (2012) and is a JustLeadershipUSA Fellow (2016 Cohort), member of the Policy Committee of FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation), and the Ujima Friends Peace Center. He also serves on the Board of “Beyond the Bars” a nonprofit organization that teaches music to urban youth that have been impacted by mass incarceration criminal injustice and gun violence
Why I joined the People & Stories Board
“My motivation to be on the board of directors for “People and Stories” is simple. I am and have always been a storyteller. I believe that telling stories is one of the most effective means of communication that exists. Stories captivate, entrance, illuminate and inspire the mind, soul and spirit. Storytelling is an art form that is accessible to virtually everyone if they organize their thoughts and deliver a narrative that strikes chords within others. Storytelling is an age old method of transferring knowledge, culture, living patterns and modes of survival. Through stories we glimpse the past, navigate and better understand the present, while preparing for the future. I am proud to be on the Board of an organization dedicated to storytelling.”
