Hanif's Story

In episode 3 of Hiding in Plain Sight: the Neighbors You Never Hear From, Host Tia Ryans speaks with Hanif Parker, who explains the effects of an addiction that lead to his incarceration and the social ills in urban spaces that challenged his identity.

Hanif Parker is certified as a drug and alcohol counselor and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Justice Studies from Rutgers University- Newark.  He minored in Philosophy and Mathematics. Hanif Parker is passionate about justice. Thus, he worked as a proxy for Rutgers’ Law School and The New Jersey Institute of Social Justice to restore voting rights to people on probation and parole. His work in reentry includes spearheading a correlational study that highlights the adverse effects of parole-mandated reentry groups; that work is being used to pass legislation today. Additionally, Hanif worked in conjunction with the Union County Prosecutor’s office on parole reform. Today, Hanif is a community organizer with the largest community-organizing group in the United States: The Industrial Area Foundation and the online senior Tutor Coordinator at Swarthmore College.

Hanif's Book Recommendations:
[Books that help one map a pro-social identity]
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goldman

Social Intelligence by Daniel Goldman

A Rational Guide to Emotive Behavior by Albert Ellis and Ron Harper

The Art Of Living Consciously by Nathaniel Brandon

Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

To support the continued work of NJ F.O.R.T.E House and learn more about the organization, visit: njfortehouse.org
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Hiding In Plain Sight: The Neighbors You Never Hear From is produced by Tia Ryans, Brit Harley, and Dionysus Augus.

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This series is part of the Newark News, and Story Collaborative made possible with funding support from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the Victoria Foundation. The Newark News and Story Collaborative is committed to elevating community-driven storytelling to fill information gaps in local and national media. The Collaborative trains community members in storytelling, media-making, and other creative art forms to share and amplify their experiences. It’s laying the groundwork for a collaborative network that will address longstanding information inequities in Newark, New Jersey. For more information and to hear local stories, visit newarkstories.com.