GOOD TALK WITH JASON RITCHIE

Through the voice of personal experience, filmmaker Jason Ritchie is a storyteller driven by the struggles of his own life. Ritchie was incarcerated for over 17 years in the California prison system and has overcome drug and alcohol addiction. Ritchie used education for his personal rehabilitation, and believes it to be a crucial contributing factor for success in Re-entry and Recovery.

Post-incarceration, Ritchie has gone on to graduate from SDSU with an Interdisciplinary BA in Film, Journalism, and Art, and was accepted into a Master’s program in Learning Design and Technology. Ritchie has spoken on H&I (Hospitals and Institutions) panels for Alcoholics Anonymous, at the Salvation Army ARC (Adult Rehabilitation Center), participated in and led circles of healing for Project Rebound. Ritchie has participated in both live and virtual panels, a guest speaker for the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, and has been on podcasts Finding Freedom, and Positive Connections Radio.

Ritchie now helps others tell their stories of incarceration and addiction in the hopes of bringing awareness that these issues do not discriminate. Ritchie Co-Directed and Produced the film Rebound, about two formerly incarcerated women who graduated from San Diego State University and are going on to earn their Master’s and Ph.D. Rebound is now airing on KPBS and went national on PBS for Women’s History Month (2022).

Ritchie is dedicated to aid in the continued progress of educating the formerly incarcerated, and bring awareness that amazing life transformations are possible through education and community connection. Jason is living proof of this.