A Curiae’s 2026 Speaker Series: Conversations at the Intersection of Justice and Public Health
At A Curiae, we believe change begins with conversation. Our Speaker Series is part of our Collaborative Court programming, bringing us the latest research, practice, and trends from professionals across the country and a range of disciplines. This year’s lineup featured four engagements, each offering a distinct perspective on reform, care, and community.
Gender Responsive Care with Cynthia Chase of The Gemma Project
We opened the 2026 series in March with Cynthia Chase, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience in juvenile and criminal legal system reform. Cynthia is a recognized leader and tireless advocate whose work sits at the intersection of justice and gender. Our conversation explored what gender-responsive care looks like in practice and why it matters for the people the system serves.
Evidence Behind Recovery Housing with Dr. Meenakshi Subbaraman of the Public Health Institute
In this installment, Haley Neumann of A Curiae interviewed Dr. Meenakshi Subbaraman, a biostatistician and Program Director at the Public Health Institute, about recovery housing and its role in supporting people with substance use disorders. Dr. Subbaraman shared her research on how recovery housing provides critical social support and structure to help people stabilize in recovery, particularly those reentering society after incarceration. They discussed evolving definitions of recovery, including the acceptance of medications for opioid use disorder, and the challenges recovery housing faces around zoning policies and funding. The conversation also highlighted how recovery housing builds recovery capital through social connections, employment support, and structured routines, while addressing environmental factors like proximity to liquor stores that can affect long-term outcomes.
The Impact of Parental Incarceration with Natasha Blakely of Project Avary
Natasha Blakely, Training and Engagement Specialist with Project Avary, discussed how the organization supports children affected by parental incarceration through retreats, summer camps, and online sessions. She shared how Project Avary builds trust with youth through lived experience and creates paid leadership opportunities for them. She also spoke about the power of human-first language and her own experience witnessing her father’s arrest at age four. She closed with recommendations for judges, attorneys, and law enforcement on minimizing trauma for children and connecting families with resources.
Inside-Out Education and Reentry with the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Social Concerns
In our final session of the year, facilitator Haley Neumann spoke with Jim Cunningham and Mike Hebbeler of the Institute for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame about how education, relationships, and social connection shape incarceration and reentry. They discussed the Inside-Out model, where campus and incarcerated students learn side by side as classmates, and why reentry begins on the first day of a sentence rather than the last 90 days. They also shared how small acts like keeping a promise and using someone’s name build trust, and why college-in-prison programs must stay high quality as Pell Grant eligibility is restored. The conversation connects closely to A Curiae’s work on recovery capital and social connection in collaborative courts. Thank you to the Jesuit Prison Education Network for the introduction.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who shared their time, expertise, and lived experience with us this year: Cynthia Chase, Dr. Meenakshi Subbaraman, Natasha Blakely, Jim Cunningham, and Mike Hebbeler, along with our very own facilitator Haley Neumann. Thank you for helping us think more broadly about justice, health, and the power of human connection.
Keep the Conversation Going
Each of these engagements reflects our commitment to educating our community and cultivating the next generation of leaders in the field. Thank you to everyone who joined us.
Catch up on every talk and subscribe on A Curiae’s YouTube channel.
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