Update

We’re still buzzing from Love Above Bars. 

A huge thank you to everyone who supported, sponsored, and celebrated with us! It was a truly unforgettable evening filled with community, connection, and shared passion for our mission.

There were many standout moments throughout the night. We were honored to recognize Bradley Bridge as our 2024 Human Rights Champion of the Year, surrounded by peoplewhose freedom he helped secure—it was a powerful and emotional tribute. Virginia Hammond, our Volunteer of the Year, and Andrea Rivers, mother of our Incarcerated Person of the Year, Tyreem Rivers, moved us all with their personal and heartfelt stories. We also celebrated Jim Bright our Correctional Employee of the Year and Dr. Rosemary Gido for her 25 years as editor of The Prison Journal, honoring her incredible contributions to criminology.

Thank you to our community partners who joined us to support the event and educate us about their vital work: Committee of Seventy, Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, Your Part-Time Controller, Pennsylvania Innocence Project, and Eastern State Penitentiary. 

Special thanks to our amazing co-chairs Speaker Joanna McClinton, Rep. Emily Kinkead, and John Pace for their leadership,to our fantastic emcee,Prison Society board member Raheem Manning for keeping the night flowing smoothly, and to Ron and the Hiptones for their fantastic musical performance, which added an extra layer of joy to the evening.

Thanks to your generosity, we exceeded our fundraising and attendance goals! 

Love Above Bars will be back at World Cafe Live on September 17, 2025. Mark your calendars—we can't wait to see you then!

Click here for photos and information about next year’s event.