Back to the Start Intern Spotlight: Criminal Justice Reform Advocates Dharaa Upadhyaya and Amani Williams

Back to the Start is honored to have worked with Dharaa Upadhyaya and Amani Williams on our mission to empower incarcerated people to tell their stories and rewrite the narrative. During their internships, Dharaa and Amani took on work across all sectors from policy advocacy, to communications, to grants and funding; they served as the keepers of our workshop participants’ stories. We are grateful for their leadership and initiative, and are thrilled to have been part of their journey as justice advocates.

What called you to working in the criminal justice space and with Back to the Start?

Dharaa: As a dual degree student earning my Master’s in Public Health and medical degree, I have always been passionate in centering my future medical practice in health equity. Through my public health education and concentration of Criminal Justice and Health Equity, I became passionate about mass incarceration as a determinant of health and systems level change through advocacy. I was drawn to BTTS for my public health field study because of its commitment to narrative work and strong collaboration with incarcerated stakeholders at every step.

Amani: My purpose is legislative advocacy and I believe to write accurate legislation I must understand the population the bill is supposed to serve. I think the majority of crime is a result of systemic failures and incarceration is not a remedy to those problems. I wanted to gain experience working with incarcerated people because I believe that the population is often overlooked and underserved. I was called to Back to the Start because of its mission of investing in upstream solutions through policy and raising awareness through childhood narratives to inspire systemic change and create a better future for children.

What is your favorite memory from your time at Back to the Start? 

Dharaa: I loved attending policy meetings with our incarcerated co-leads at San Quentin. It was a privilege to hear from team members with lived and learned experiences in advocacy, and be involved in active legislative priority policy agendas. Honorable mention to the Reflections of Freedom dual film screening event; being a part of the experience and feeling the strong sense of community from the attendees was so special.

Amani: I love our workshops. The first time I went into San Quentin to listen to stories, I was overwhelmed with empathy and was reminded of compassion and community can be found anywhere. The depth of reflection and hearing what people have been through, inspires me to continue to work towards righting those wrong. 

What is a project you worked on that you are most proud of?

Dharaa: I gained so much from all of my projects, but being able to help with the Reflections on Freedom film screening event, from material creation, promotion, and support was very rewarding. Specifically, being able to showcase Jessie Milo’s, an incarcerated co-lead, art at the event and curate artist cards for him was a highlight.

Amani: My main project was to transcribe and translate the narratives we would receive after workshops at San Quentin. I can truly say I tried my best to preserve the voice of the author while ensuring their truth and experience is documented to positively impact lives.

Will you tell us about a moment that impacted you?

Dharaa: It’s hard to choose just one, but all of the moments spent in San Quentin through workshops and policy meetings with the incarcerated co-leads and participants, felt impactful. Being able to see and learn from Dr. Espinoza’s commitment to ensuring their active participation in program and policy decision-making, despite the communication obstacles that come along with the carceral system, was very meaningful.

Amani: One of the incarcerated people said,  "Trauma doesn’t discriminate” and that resonated with me. It reminded me to listen first and to hold a space of understanding. I don’t know everyone’s story and it’s important to have grace for when people fall short. 

What is a piece of advice that you have for those who are passionate about working towards systemic change?

Dharaa: I would say to remind yourself and the decision-makers around you that may not have the lived experiences/always feel it, that policy isn’t universally abstract in impact for everyone. Policy has very real effects on people, and in the same way, their stories can change minds and drive policy forward. There is no action or conversation had about important issues that is too small; systemic change is also a culmination of all these moments. 

Amani: My mother says “Good, better, best. Let us never rest. Until our good is better and our better is best”  Don’t give up, don’t be discouraged because things will be challenging. Learn continuously and try your best to work towards creating the best reality for everyone to thrive in. 

Where are you off to next? 

Dharaa: I will be continuing my medical degree in the fall, and hope to remain engaged with the intersection of medicine and health equity with criminal justice work throughout my education. I hope to become a family medicine physician, and integrate my public health teachings and advocacy work into my future career.

Amani: I will be returning to Bermuda for the rest of the Summer and continue working. Afterwards, I will complete my last year at Oakwood University and graduate with my Bachelor of Arts in both Spanish and Public Policy.