Leadership in Corrections: 5 Must Have Competencies

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Calvin Burnett, affectionately known as Cal, is an African American novelist, publisher, screenwriter and motivational speaker from Oakland, California. Cal was raised in a single parent home on the east side of Oakland, California and at an early age strayed down a negative path of violence, drug dealing, and substance abuse. He would spend over ten years (14-25) of his life running the streets, going back and forth to jail, and causing havoc throughout his community. After the birth of his daughter Summer, Cal realized the life he was living would be detrimental to her livelihood and made a conscious effort to find his purpose. That purpose turned out to be the art form of writing. Weaving together captivating tales of struggle, redemption, and triumph became therapeutic. His bold, unique writing style is a reflection of his upbringing, wisdom, and real-life experiences. What many consider a gift or talent, Cal passionately sees as a release of emotion in an authentic, unapologetic way. Cal's ultimate goal is to reach back to those still trapped in the matrix and offer his testimony as proof that anyone who commits to change can be delivered from what appears to be an unbreakable cycle. He has partnered with a number of outreach programs and nonprofit organizations sharing his knowledge, skills, and experiences with those in need. His proudest act of service came from developing a curriculum for a class he instructed called, The Fatherhood Circle Program. This class sponsored by the non-profit, Black Infant Health of San Francisco, taught absentee fathers skills and provided resources on how to reconnect with their children after hiatuses due to substance abuse, incarceration, inconsistent parenting, etc. Cal also led focus groups and conducted several workshops for incarcerated men and women in partnership with the CLEAN Program of Columbus, Ohio, and W.O.R.T.H Center of Lima, Ohio.

Sean Ross is responsible for day-to-day oversight, leadership initiatives, program performance, and growth in the areas of public service and collaborative leadership training and development. His leadership training began as a teacher and coach in Columbus, OH, and his leadership growth led to a position as Director of Diversity and Equity in Dublin, Ohio. Sean’s responsibilities include program evaluation, community engagement, and professional learning to name a few. Sean earned his Ph.D. in 2013 and since joining PCA, he has established himself in the public and private sectors as a thought leader, motivator, and innovator for organizations at every level. He continues to hone his passion for inspiring learning and knowledgeable growth through creativity and entrepreneurship.

Antonio Smith is an author, professional development coach, and community activist who has reached unimaginable heights, simply because he’s not afraid to fail. Antonio’s experiences and platform have propelled him to do two simple things in life: create and inspire. As an inner-city kid from Columbus, OH, raised by his caring grandmother, Antonio knew in order to create a better life for him and his family, he had to either excel in academics or athletics. Antonio chose to excel in both. Antonio graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University, and played football for the Buckeyes, winning a national championship in 2002. Antonio also went on to play three seasons in the NFL for the Colts, Lions and Bengals. Over the last 15 years, Antonio has used the lessons he learned on and off the field to assist leaders, executives and high performing teams reach their fullest potential. In 2017, Antonio’s work led him to the corrections space, and he has been using his engineering mindset to solve problems for leaders and justice-involved individuals alike. Antonio has created and cultivated high level curriculum and programming to serve those in institutional and community corrections.