André Norman has a fascinating and compelling personal story that never fails to connect deeply and powerfully with college students.
André speaks from personal experience on criminal justice issues. He overcame childhood illiteracy and 14 years in prison, and has gone on to teach a course on the US prison system at Tufts University. His lectures address key issues that cut across a broad range of social science disciplines:
Understanding the psychology of criminals and gang-members
The crisis of black men in the United States
Offender re-entry and recidivism
The role of faith-based organizations and churches in social policy and programming
Effective programs and best practices
He has also lectured at Harvard Divinity School, Northeastern University, and MIT. Students in urban planning, criminal justice, sociology and ethics courses all have seen theories come alive by listening to André’s presentations.
Conference
André Norman knows the fields of both juvenile and adult criminal justice extremely well, from perspectives of both an ex-offender, and as someone who has designed innovative programs and trainings for troubled youth, ex-offenders, and gang members.
André was born in inner-city Boston to a father who had spent time in prison for drug dealing. His step-father also spent time in prison for bank robbery. Illiteracy, an absent father and lack of role models led André down the path taken by so many urban black men – criminality and incarceration. Convictions for armed robbery and armed home invasion put him behind bars for 14 years, in both state and federal prisons. Thankfully, a religious conversion experience put André on the right track – to reform and ultimately, freedom in November 1999.
Since then, André has worked with non-profit organizations, churches, and faith-based organizations doing program development, trainings, and workshops specializing in high-risk, violence-prone youth and adults. He has mentored those whom others have abandoned. Currently, he is a lecturer at Tufts University’s Experimental College, where he teaches a course on the US prison system.
André draws on his personal and professional experience to enhance his speaking. An experienced speaker, André has lectured at Harvard Divinity School, Northeastern University, and MIT.
André’s lectures address key issues that cut across a broad range of criminal justice issues:
The crisis of black men in the United States
Offender re-entry and recidivism
The role of faith-based and non-profit organizations in programming for high-risk youth and adults
Leadership development for high-risk populations
The following is a partial list of conference workshop topics and consulting services offered by André J. Norman. Additional workshops and consulting services can be easily custom-designed in conjunction with the client. Moreover, André is available for panels and speaking engagements.
CONFERENCE WORKSHOP TOPICS
Breaking down barriers between parole officers and parolees
Adult Prison Re-entry
Juvenile Prison Re-entry
School-based programming
Street Outreach
Gangs
Church-based outreach and retention programs
Understanding different types of prisoners
Bridging the Great Divide: Black churchmen and Ex-offenders
Substance abuse among high-risk populations
Understanding what drug dealers really earn
CONSULTING SERVICES
André Norman provides consulting and training for non-profits, cities, prison systems, juvenile detention centers, foundations, and other institutions on how to create effective programming that addresses the needs of high-risk youth and adults. He has several years of experience in the areas of mentoring ex-offenders (both adult and juveniles), street outreach, and working with parole and probation officers. His services are tailored to the specific needs of the client, with whom he works closely to develop individualized programs and training materials.
