Plenary Session: Death, Politics, and Red Tape: Failing Forward in Community Corrections

Embracing a career in corrections is not for the faint of heart. Even the most passionate, committed, and capable professionals can become hardened, cynical, and ultimately burn out. In a field where change is hard and success feels short-lived, hope and passion can be in short supply. So how do we stay focused on the important work that we do, those we serve, and show up resiliently optimistic each day? Join Dr. Alexandra Walker as she shares how to move through our failures by embracing resilient optimism. Learn and connect with others as we learn what it means to fail forward in community corrections.

Dr. Alex Walker

Dr. Alexandra Walker has more than 20 years of experience in the field of reentry and behavioral health. She offers a diverse background in evidence-based practices, training, program development, implementation science, and treatment modalities. Alex has worked on a myriad of federal, state, and local justice initiatives and research projects. Most recently she transitioned from the Colorado Parole Board as Vice Chair to co-found and run the Alliance for Community and Justice Innovation (ACJI). Having managed implementation efforts large and small across the correctional space, Alex brings a wealth of experience in both community based and institutional corrections. She is well versed in the development, implementation, and measurement of structured decision-making tools and is committed to helping organizations reach fidelity to their highest impact practices and programs. As the Director of Community Relations and Strategy for ACJI, Alex provides tools, strategies, research and evaluation supports for implementation efforts at the state and local level. She also coaches leaders on implementation and staff engagement efforts, and develops practices and resources for specialized populations with organizations across the country.