Mortal Curiosity
2022 End-Of Life
Virtual Conference Series
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall Thursday, February 17, 2022 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
A moving cinéma vérité documentary that breaks through the walls of one of America’s oldest maximum-security prisons to tell the story of the final months in the life of a terminally ill prisoner and the hospice volunteers, they themselves prisoners, who care for him. The film draws from footage shot over a six-month period behind the walls of the Iowa State Penitentiary and provides a fascinating and often poignant account of how the hospice experience can profoundly touch even the forsaken lives of the incarcerated.
Join us for a private screening of the film and a panel discussion with documentary filmmaker Edgar Barens, and co-founders of the Humane Prison Hospice Project, Ladybird Morgan and Marvin Mutch.
Humane Prison Hospice Project Mission Statement: To implement end-of-life care in prisons by supporting and training prisoners to be caregivers.
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EDGAR BARENS
As a documentary filmmaker Edgar has had a notable record of successful production in very stressful prison environments. Edgar’s academy award nominated (2014) documentary- Prison Terminal- has been shown in hundreds of prisons, colleges, universities, and other community centers. Edgar takes great satisfaction in his ability to tackle large-scale problems within the American criminal justice system and present them on a very personal level so that the destructive impact of a dysfunctional correctional system can be made more palpable to the viewer. He took on the mission to document one of the few positive programs that exists today behind bars in hopes that other facilities will emulate the prisoner-run hospice program and instill much needed dignity to dying in prison for all concerned.
LADYBIRD MORGAN RN, MSW, Program Director and Co-Founder of the Humane Prison Hospice Project
Ladybird Morgan has been working in end-of-life care as a registered nurse, social worker, and educator for over 20 years. She has worked with organizations including The Zen Hospice Project and Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Ladybird has guided medical practitioners, families and private caregivers to find their clearest voice as they step across significant thresholds in life and in preparing for death. Currently she facilitates the training of The Brothers Keepers at San Quentin, is a Palliative Care consultant with Mettlehealth.org, and supports Commonweal’s Cancer Help Program, Healing Circles, The New School and Last Acts of Kindness. Ladybird
MARVIN MUTCH Co-Founder/Senior Advisor-Public Information/Policy Advocate
Marvin is our spokesperson, liaison with prison officials, and general hero advocate. Marvin’s bio is an extraordinary one. He was released from prison February 17, 2016, after serving 41 years on a wrongful conviction suffered in 1975. In 2008, Marvin was injured and sent to California Medical Facility for treatment, while there he became a fervent supporter of California’s only full-service prison hospice program. Marvin saw the program shepherd no less than ten of his dying brothers while there. The number of programs and advocacy work Marvin created while incarcerated are too numerous to mention here. You can find out much more KQED documentary, The Trials of Marvin Mutch. Marvin was released through the combined efforts of USC’s Post Conviction Justice Project and The Golden Gate University Innocence Project.