Justice involved individuals have a difficult time being welcomed and reentered into society after incarceration. Those who work closely with these individuals need to have a certain level of emotional intelligence and rationality to support the complexities around incarceration and forgiveness on the past. William “FRY” Arnold knows this firsthand as a former incarcerated person and now as a consultant and change maker. William “Fry” Arnold, Jr., Ed D. has 17+ years of experience in higher education and community engagement, particularly around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In 2013, he was wrongfully convicted of crimes that he did not commit. His conviction was overturned by an Appellate Court in 2020. Today, William uses his professional training and recent life experiences to create a reformed criminal justice platform that views diversity as a viable way for returning citizens from prison to restore dignity, decrease recidivism, and add value to the workforce. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx