Fighting For 'Justice'S. Epatha Merkerson, who plays the no-nonsense Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on 'Law & Order,' is championing a passionate cause -- involving convicted prisoners.
The Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress will join
Charles Dutton and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' star
Annabella Sciorra, for a gala April 24 at
The Brooklyn Museum. The event, featuring a performance by Grammy Award winning a cappella ensemble
Sweet Honey In The Rock, will benefit JusticeWorks Community, a nonprofit organization that supports alternatives to incarceration for women with children.
"The system isn’t designed to provide assistance for incarcerated women and the families left behind," the
'Lackawanna Blues' star says. "The ramifications and impact continue long after a woman is sent to prison."
JusticeWorks Community is a Brooklyn-based organization founded in 1992 by criminal justice experts, ex-prisoners, and religious leaders in response to the social crisis triggered by the tripling of the female prison population in one decade. Its mission is to educate, organize and promote just, humane and effective criminal justice policies, emphasizing alternatives to incarceration for women with children. "One of the main objectives of the organization is to find alternate means of incarceration, specifically for women with children to help put an end to children/parent separation," Merkerson adds.
According to the latest figures from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Statistics, women represent the fastest growing segment of prison populations. Eighty-five percent of incarcerated women serve time for nonviolent crimes, and approximately 75 percent of women prisoners are mothers. An estimated 80,000 incarcerated mothers are parents to 200,000 children under 18.
Merkerson says she first became aware of JusticeWorks five years ago when she was asked to present
Ossie Davis with an award. "He was my friend, hero, colleague, mentor and idol and he was very active with organization," she says. "That evening I met about 11 women who had spent anywhere from three to 25 years in prison. Eight of those 11 women were working on or had received their Masters degrees in Social Work from Hunter College."
"We never hear the success stories," she adds. "I thought my involvement might bring some light to the work."
Merkerson has rallied some of her Hollywood pals to contribute personal items to a silent auction, including
Samuel L. Jackson, Tamara Tunie, Paul Reubens, Mariska Hargitay, Jesse L. Martin, Camryn Manheim, Chris Noth, and formerly imprisoned 'Diva of Domesticity'
Martha Stewart. A signed football from HBO’s 'Inside the NFL' show and the MooRoo handbag Merkerson carried on stage while accepting her Emmy Award, are also some of the items.
"I'm moved by how immediate the response has been to my call for help," says Merkerson. "It validates my original observation; if people know about this particular struggle they will be eager to help."
Primetime For OprahOprah Winfrey will host a one-hour special for ABC during the May sweeps period, titled 'Oprah Winfrey's Legends' Ball.' Produced by Winfrey's Harpo Productions it will feature footage from a series of private events Winfrey hosted last year in honor of 25 women who were influential in her life. Among the honorees were the late
Coretta Scott King and
Rosa Parks, as well as
Aretha Franklin and
Tina Turner. 'Daily Variety' reports that 'Legends' will run at 8 p.m. on May 15, leading into the special Monday night airing of the two-hour season finale of 'Grey's Anatomy.'
Doing Big ThingsWynton Marsalis has returned to his native New Orleans this week, for a full-scale celebration. The multiple award winning jazz musician, along with the
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (LCJO), performed free events for people of all ages, including concerts, master classes, clinics and workshops during a weeklong residency.
In collaboration with
Odadaa, LJCO will perform a world premiere composition called "Congo Square" co-written by Mr. Marsalis and Odadaa front-man
Yacub Addy. The new work is dedicated to the Crescent City and will be performed on tour from Florida to New York following its New Orleans premiere April 23 at
Louis Armstrong Park. "Congo Square is powerful and full of energy,"
Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu said. "It is a message to our people and to the world that New Orleans’ music and culture will serve as the foundation of the efforts to rebuild." A
second line parade will commence from
Louis Armstrong Park to the French Quarter after the performance.
The landmark events mark the debut performance of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Mr. Marsalis in New Orleans. Marsalis is the Artistic Director of the New York City based Jazz At Lincoln Center.
Bridge & Tunnel SpecialSarah Jones' much heralded one-woman show 'Bridge & Tunnel' is in a class by itself this Tony Award season. Well almost. The biggest decision made during this year's Tony Awards Administrative Committee's third eligibility rulings of the 2005-2006 season was that 'Bridge' will be considered a Special Theatrical Event. According to Broadway.com, the only other potential contender in the Special Theatrical Event Tony award category is
Suzanne Somers' very short-lived 'The Blond in the Thunderbird.' The Tony Awards nominations will be announced May 16, and the awards ceremony will take place at Radio City Music Hall June 11.
