Deep Center Convenes Community Leaders for Policy Brief Launch & Simulation Experience

On Thursday, January 8th, Deep Center convened over 65 community leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders for a meaningful morning of learning, dialogue, and shared responsibility at our Policy Brief Launch & Interactive Reentry and Expungement Simulations.

This gathering wasn’t just about policy; it was about people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Room Full of Voices That Shape Systems

The event brought together a diverse cross-section of leadership, including:

  • State representatives
  • County commissioners and city council members
  • Savannah Police Department leadership
  • Representatives from the District Attorney’s Office
  • Pastors, attorneys, and reentry support organizations
  • Savannah-Chatham County Public School System leaders and principals
  • Community partners, advocates, and educators

Together, participants explored how systems impact real lives and how people-centered reform can open pathways to stability, dignity, and opportunity.

Introducing Our 2026 Policy Brief

During the program, Deep Center formally released its newest policy brief:

People-Centered Policies: Pathways to Fairness and Freedom

The brief outlines actionable 2026 policy recommendations focused on:

  • Reimagining school-based discipline and due process
  • Expanding reentry supports for returning citizens
  • Advancing expungement reform to reduce lifelong barriers tied to past convictions

These recommendations are rooted in lived experience, community insight, evidence-based solutions used across the country, and the belief that policy should center human flourishing as its outcome. 

Stepping Into Lived Experience

A centerpiece of the event was Deep Center’s interactive reentry and expungement simulations, which invited participants to walk through the realities faced by individuals navigating:

  • Probation requirements
  • Identification and documentation barriers
  • Employment challenges
  • Access to social services and fee-based systems
  • Among other barriers 

The simulation illuminated how fragmented systems, and something as small as a missing ID or an unaffordable fee, can derail stability and opportunity.

Reimagining School Discipline

The event also featured a school discipline conversation and panel led by:

  • Savannah-Chatham County school leaders
  • Education advocates
  • Student tribunal representation attorneys
  • Deep Center representatives

The discussion created space for honest dialogue around student rights, disciplinary equity, and the long-term impact of school-based systems on life outcomes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What We Heard

Participants consistently described the experience as:

  • Meaningful
  • Profoundly Eye-opening
  • Dynamic and Impactful

Many shared that the simulations and conversations deepened their understanding of how policy decisions intersect with real lives and why reform is urgently needed.

“This event moved beyond theory. It grounded policy conversations in lived experience and showed how people-centered reforms can create enormous opportunity for the most vulnerable populations.”
— Danielle Pilgrim, Director of Public Policy & Communications

 

What’s Next

Deep Center will continue engaging policymakers, educators, and community partners as we:

  • Advance our policy recommendations
  • Expand public education around reentry and expungement
  • Advocate for equitable school discipline practices

Stay Connected

Read the Policy Brief: www.deepcenter.org/programs/policy-initiative/

To learn more about Deep’s Public Policy work, please email Danielle at danielle@deepcenter.org or visit our website