Step Inside the Circle of Compassion: Discussion on Childhood Trauma Related to the Prison Population

Please join us on April 19th, 2023 to continue our Lead the Fight series to bring awareness, action, and advocacy to effectively addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma.

There is no cost for this live, online event. We ask that you consider a sponsorship or donation so we can continue hosting international speakers to advance change in preventing and mitigating ACEs.

 "When you study prison populations, you see a preponderance of childhood trauma and mental illness. The two go together. So what we have in prisons are the most traumatized people in our society."

- Dr. Gabor Maté

About Fritzi Horstman

Fritzi Horstman is the Founder and Executive Director of the Compassion Prison Project (CPP) an organization dedicated to creating trauma-informed prisons and communities, bringing accountability and creative inspiration to all men and women living and working in prisons.

With 95% of the incarcerated men and women eventually returning home, Fritzi believes it is imperative that we address the chronic mental health issues in prison with common sense, compassion and urgency.  In 2020, Fritzi directed “Step Inside the Circle” at California State Prison – Los Angeles County with 235 incarcerated men.  The video has reached nearly 3.5 million views worldwide and has attracted over 900 volunteers to CPP.  Fritzi and the team at CPP are in production, creating a 14-part series entitled “Trauma Talks” to be distributed to prisons in the US and abroad which launched in September 2021 endorsed by the former California Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.

Fritzi produced HBO’s “The Defiant Ones” directed by Allen Hughes which has garnered several awards including a Grammy for Best Music Film. Her first feature, “Take A Number,” which she wrote, produced, and directed, debuted at the Slamdance festival and premiered on HBO. Fritzi received a Bachelor of Arts in Film and English from Vassar College.

Learn More

Visit our website to learn more about Lead the Fight and watch the 2022 and 2021 virtual events. Learn more about ACEs..

• Our online ACEs Toolkit
• Our White Paper: A Public Health Approach to Fighting ACEs in Palm Beach County

Our Series Partners