Fellows
IOI fellows deepen our ties with the communities we serve, help us attract facilitators with lived experience, enhance our curriculum, strengthen our relationships with our partners, and assist with fundraising.
Colie “Shaka” Long
Shaka was convicted of a violent offense at the age of 18 and sentenced to life without parole in 1998. He is a beneficiary of the D.C. Second Look Act signed into law in 2022. After serving over 26 years in prison, he was released in July 2022. Shaka is a Program Associate for Georgetown’s Prison and Justice Initiative supporting program administration, returning citizens, and Prison Scholars at the D.C. jail. He is also a published author, consultant, speaker, and criminal justice reform advocate. He has served as a Justice Reform Fellow at the Families Against Mandatory Minimums Foundation. He is also the subject of the documentary “District of Second Chances” which tells the story of DC’s Second Look legislation. His writings have appeared in academic journals such as the NYU Review of Social Change and the Harvard Educational Review. Shaka is passionate about meditation, advocating for and facilitating guided meditation groups in the DC Department of Corrections. He is committed to excelling as an agent for change in his work with at-risk youth in underserved communities in the District. He is currently pursuing his degree at Georgetown University.
Keontè Lewis
Keontè is a 22 year old man born in Washington DC, but raised in the District and Maryland. Keontè is a returning citizen as of January 17th, 2024 and has been working vigorously to prove that the stigma attached to felons is a falsehood for most people. While incarcerated, Keontè attained his GED, several OSHA certifications, a food handler’s license, transferable credits through Georgetown University, and more. Even post-release, Keonte did not choose to slow down. Keontè works two jobs, is a devoted Christian with several ministry pages on social media, a philanthropist, poet, and founder of a nonprofit organization named We Are The Streets. In the future, Keontè plans to be an entrepreneur and full time minister to help believers and unbelievers learn about the Christian faith. It was the practice of mindfulness paired with faith that was pivotal in Keontè achieving so many accomplishments. Keontè has proved himself as a true leader and role model and mindfulness tremendously helped make that a reality. Through Keontè’s fellowship, he plans to bring a similar liberating experience that he had while in DC jail to people on the inside and outside.
Past fellows
Ricky Jackson (2024) facilitated IOI classes and participated in organizational meetings.
Ayesha Ali (2021-22) facilitated IOI classes and contributed to fundraising.
Rita Stevens (2021) helped IOI implement a DC government grant in support of the Bellevue Family Success Center of the Community of Hope, and contributed to community outreach.
Jamal Jones (20221) chaired the Anti-Racist and Community Outreach Committees and facilitated classes.
Tony McCright (2020-21) served on the board of directors of IOI.