Creating a sustainable future for formerly incarcerated women

While in Federal Prison, Dr. Topeka K. Sam witnessed firsthand the epidemic and disparity of incarceration on women. After her release in 2015, and in response to what she saw and learned in prison, Topeka founded The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM), an organization whose mission is to help disenfranchised and marginalized women transition back into society through affordable housing, education, entrepreneurship, spiritual empowerment, and advocacy. With Vanee Sykes, Topeka developed the vision for Hope House NYC, a safe housing space for formerly incarcerated women located in the Castle Hill neighborhood of the Bronx; and she is working to spread this model to cities across America. Through these efforts, she has become a leading voice for social change and transformation. Tune in on Friday, April 7th at 11:00 AM EST to listen to an inspiring and informative conversation on empowering women and creating more equitable societies.

Dr. Topeka K. Sam is the CEO of The LOHM and founder and President of EPIC Financial, TKS Ventures LLC, and Faces & Voices Inc. She serves on the board of directors for the Marshall Project, Operation Restoration, and United Justice Coalition. Since her release from federal prison on May 5, 2015, Topeka has served as a 2015 Beyond the Bars Fellow and a 2016 Justice-In-Education Scholar both from Columbia University, 2017 Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow, 2018 Unlocked Futures Inaugural Cohort Member, 2018 Opportunity Agenda Communications Institute Fellow, Director of #Dignity Campaign for #cut50 where she led the bi-partisan national effort to pass 20 pieces of legislation restoring the Dignity for Incarcerated Women, and Senior Advisor of New Yorkers United for Justice. In 2020, the United Nations appointed Topeka as the Goodwill Ambassador for Social Justice (Incarceration Reform) of the Global Festival of Creative Economy. In December 2020, Topeka received a full presidential pardon for her dedication to helping women turn from a path of despair towards a path of redemption. She is the host of “The Topeka K. Sam Show” on SiriusXM UrbanView Channel126 Sundays 9 am EST; and is now developing scripted and unscripted series as an Executive Producer for TV & Film, inspired by her fight to change the many problems that plague female incarceration with 44 Blue Productions.