About Us
Empathy in Action: Bridge to Redemption: This program is at the center of our Center. It is an empathy-based program that encourages emotional understanding, forgiveness, and personal growth. Our Program motto is “Engaging literature, and our own stories, to build bridges of empathy, insight, and healing between the incarcerated and the public.”; another core belief is gentleness comes only from the strong.
With the program model of Action, Reflection and Transformation (ART), we offer the unique opportunity for college students, faculty, and select public to engage in deep dialogue and deep listening with incarcerated populations, following a Transformative Justice curriculum grounded in 8 socio-psychological competencies, forming an arc of transformation.. We pair these more academic themes with 8 related insight-oriented values. These values create the foundation for each weekly discussion topic and challenge all participants to put virtuous concepts into action over the course of each week between sessions.
empathy in action Arc of Transformation…
1. Introduction to Empathy In Action through literature and dialogue = LOVE
2. Transformative Justice and Stories as Engines for Empathy = EMPATHY
3. Conflict Transformation, Relationship Patterns, and Healing the Inner Child = FORGIVENESS
4. Personal Trauma and Resiliency = COURAGE
5. Societal Trauma, Racial Reconciliation, Social Class, and the School To Prison Pipeline = JUSTICE
6. Gender Equity and Inclusion = INSIGHT
7. Loss and Love, Dealing With Grief, Guilt, and Shame = TRUTH + HEALING
8. Creative Presentations + Certificate Ceremony = EMPOWERMENT + WORTH
Our approach combines emotional education,
breathing techniques,
and strategies for personal growth, empowering individuals to take charge of their futures.
We believe that past traumas should not define our futures and we're committed to paving the path towards redemption and societal reintegration.
Meet the Team
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Founder and Executive Director, Board Director
Megan McDrew is the founder and executive director of The Transformative Justice Center which houses the inside-out prison educational exchange program, Empathy in Action : Bridge to Redemption. Megan has been teaching sociology at a variety of universities and colleges the last 7 years including UCSC, UC Merced, Monterey Peninsula College and Hartnell College. She also works with the Santa Cruz Public Defender's office assisting with juvenile offender's social history statements. Megan is a certified yoga practitioner, with a background in teaching trauma-informed yoga at the Marina VA. Twice a week, she teaches a similar type of yoga at CTF Soledad North yard, combining her passion for yoga and working with the incarcerated.
Megan does this work because she believes in the power of transformation—both for individuals and for society as a whole. She sees the humanity in people that the system often dehumanizes, and she recognizes that justice is not just about punishment but about healing, accountability, and redemption.
Megan’s work with the Transformative Justice Center and Empathy in Action isn’t just about helping people re-enter society—it’s about shifting the way we as a culture understand harm , responsibility, and repair. Through the Heart-Beat of Re-Entry program, she is bridging the gap between incarcerated individuals and the outside world, reminding people on both sides of the prison walls that connection and true community are essential for true rehabilitation.
At her core, Megan believes that no one is disposable. She sees the deep flaws in our criminal legal system and understands that many who are incarcerated have been failed long before they ever committed harm. Megan works toward a future where justice means healing—not just punishment—where people have the opportunity to grow beyond their worst moments.
Her work is about dignity. About breaking cycles of harm. About proving that change is possible when people are given the right support. And maybe, on some level, its also about hope—the hope that we, as a society, can do better
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Lead Program Assistant and Social Media Co-Manager
Jessica McGlaze is the program assistant and social media co-manager of the inside-out prison educational exchange program, Empathy in Action: Bridge to Redemption. Jessica has worked alongside founder and executive director Megan McDrew of The Transformative Justice Center, for approximately 6 years. She has been actively involved with the CA public school system for over a decade, with a dedication to education equity. She holds a degree in Sociology as well as a certification in Trauma Informed Care. Jessica is devoted to reformatting a system of punishment into one focused on healing, respect, and accountability.
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Internal Corrdinator
Henry Miles serves as Empathy in Action’s coordinator inside the prison walls. He is responsible for the processing ad organizing of inmate sign ups, which have now reached a capacity of 70 per 8 week session! Within our program, each family group is facilitated by a Brother in Blue who has completed and graduated the program previously. In order to obtain this role, Brothers must submit a written essay on their experiences within the program, their skills sets, and their intentions and goals as a future facilitator. As internal coordinator, Miles both reviews these essays and interviews those interested in the role. Each week, he obtains the responsibility of organizing count (attendance) for prison security and our grant, and ensures that all necessary information is relayed to our team on the outside.
Board of directors
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Treasurer
After twenty years in strategic consulting and brand management, Scott Taylor began as a jail chaplain in Los Angeles where he led classes on spiritual development and marketing. He is a board-certified Clinical Chaplain and did his training at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. He is ordained in the Episcopal Church and has served several churches as a social justice pastor. He currently manages the prison programs in Northern California for Defy Ventures. He earned degrees at Northwestern University (BS in Radio-Television-Film), Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management (MBA), and Fuller Theological Seminary (MA in Theology).
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Secretary
Donnie Veal, a formerly incarcerated individual, champions the transformative potential of education. Through his personal journey, Donnie embodies resilience and uses his experiences to inspire hope and motivation within a community often overlooked. As the Secretary of Empathy In Action, Donnie plays a pivotal role in providing education, empowerment, and opportunities for individuals transitioning from incarceration to a brighter future, embodying the belief in second chances and the power of positive change.
empathy ambassadors
What is an Empathy Ambassador? An Empathy Ambassador is a volunteer who has completed 3 sessions (1 year of service) in our Empathy in Action program, and serves as a representative—an empathy warrior! Empathy Ambassadors help our team spread the word about the program in their own various circles, connect our nonprofit with funding resources if available, and actively work to embody the values and mission statement of the program. Our program and center is dependent on our volunteers and we believe it is essential that in order to build a strong and just community, all our voices are imminent and powerful. As a participant who has shown up for our incarcerated members, as well as one another, we trust your ability to advocate and grow our dream to spread empathy!
Juju Kowalewski Ward
Juju is our very first Empathy Ambassador! Juju has been a volunteer with Empathy In Action going into Soledad prison since April 2023.
She also volunteers with Santa Cruz Public Library to check out books to incarcerated men in Rountree Medium Security jail. She is a community participant and trained Victim/Offender Dialogue Facilitator with Neighborhood Justice, a diversion program for first time offenders through the Santa Cruz DA’s office. She is passionate about Restorative Justice.