Parish's Story

In episode 6 of Hiding in Plain Sight: The Neighbors You Never Hear From, Host Tia Ryans speaks with Parish King, who spoke about his personal reentry troubles and physical health struggles that began with the lack of a proper diet during his confinement and medical care. The conversation included civic engagement, family loss, and therefore a loss of reentry support. He is currently attending Rutgers University-Newark where he will be a 2021 graduate with a degree in Psychology. Parish is also a proud student of the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJ-STEP) initiative.

Show Notes

In episode 6 of Hiding in Plain Sight: The Neighbors You Never Hear From, Host Tia Ryans speaks with Parish King, who spoke about his personal reentry troubles and physical health struggles that began with the lack of a proper diet during his confinement and medical care.

Parish King was born in Brooklyn, NY, raised in Far Rockaway Queens, and currently lives in Newark, NJ. After graduating High school, Parish attended Baruch College CUNY and worked in local church ministry, where I taught Sunday school. He received his Associate's degree in Liberal Arts and is currently attending Rutgers University-Newark, where he will be a 2021 graduate with a degree in Psychology. Parish is also a member of the Rutgers-Newark Honors Living and Learning Community. Parish plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology.

Parish is also a proud student of the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJ-STEP) initiative, an association of higher education institutions in New Jersey that provide college courses inside correctional facilities.

Parish's Book Recommendations
The Water Dancer by Ta Nehisi Coates
Love by Tony Morrison
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

To support the continued work of NJ F.O.R.T.E House and learn more about the organization, visit: njfortehouse.org
Get involved: All of us or None-Northern NJ

Hiding In Plain Sight: The Neighbors You Never Hear From is produced by Tia Ryans, Brit Harley, and Dionysus Augus.

Theme music provided by Vacation Collective, Bright Ideas Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!) || https://uppbeat.io/t/fe77a/vacation-collective || License code: 4HIKHJVTF3RTDLGW


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.

What is Hiding in Plain Sight: The Neighbors You Never Hear From?

"Hiding In Plain Sight: The Neighbors You Never Hear From" is an audio series that will take you on the reentry journey through the first-hand experiences of 6 people and where they are today. The series is hosted by Tia Ryans, Founding Executive Director of NJ F.O.R.T.E House. NJ F.O.R.T.E House provides access to a healthy and transparent living environment and assists with academic readiness for formerly incarcerated students transitioning through post-secondary education. The organization takes meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness, autonomy, accountability, and economic self-sufficiency for our participants. Devising and implementing a supportive housing strategy upon reentry and maintaining strategic partnerships with community institutions to maintain retention and minimize felon disenfranchisement. Support the work of NJ F.O.R.T.E House by visiting www.njfortehouse.org.

The series is part of the Newark News & Story Collaborative made possible with funding support from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the Victoria Foundation. The Newark News and Story 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 stories, visit newarkstories.com.