Stop Solitary CT came together to end the use of solitary confinement and abuse against incarcerated children, women and men, across Connecticut. We are working to significantly improve conditions incarcerated people face and transform those spaces into ones that center humanity and rehabilitation.

Two of our most prominent success have been: shutting down Northern CI, Connecticut’s supermax, a facility cited by the International community for its torture of incarcerated men which ended in 2021 with its closing. Secondly, in 2021 the (PROTECT ACT) was passed with bipartisan support yet Governor Lamont vetoed it. It was successfully signed into law May 2022. Part of the legislation included establishing independent oversight over Connecticut Department of Corrections. An enormous win for Stop Solitary CT and incarcerated people.

We continue to demand enforcement of the Protect Act and encourage families and supporters of our work to join alongside us as allies to amplify our voices. The most important way to support us is showing up to our public events.

Robyn Porter

Former State Representative Robyn A. Porter, a proud mother of two & grandmother of 3 was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives on April 28, 2014 until her retirement 12/2024. Since winning the 94th Assembly District seat, Porter has championed legislation over the past ten years that has provided fair wages and supportive workspaces for Connecticut’s labor force. She also reformed the state’s criminal & juvenile justice systems, increased protections for domestic violence victims, advanced pay equity laws for women, and so much more. She has an associate degree from Gateway Community College & bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from Charter Oak State College. She sits on the boards of Women Against Mass Incarceration (W.A.M.I.), Second Chance Reentry Initiative Program (SCRIP), is a member of Stop Solitary CT (SSCT) Steering Committee and is a member of the Hall of Change (HOC) Select Committee. She is a native New Yorker who has called New Haven her home since the summer of 2000 and proudly served Hamden and New Haven fearlessly and unapologetically.

Barbara Fair, LCSW

Mother, grandmother and great grandmother who has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the impact of mass incarceration on communities of color. Her long history of social justice spans decades working with many social justice organizations across America including Yale Undergraduate Prison Project, ACLU Smart Justice, Unlock The Box and Yale Lowenstein Law Clinic. She testified in the first Congressional hearing in 2012 addressing ending solitary confinement. No longer believing “reform” is an effective response to what’s wrong with Ct’s criminal justice and correctional system, Barbara is focused on dismantling these systems of oppression rooted in racial injustice. In Connecticut, a deeply segregated state, African Americans and Latine have always bore the brunt of its state sanctioned abusive correctional system. In 2023 she received Southern Ct University presidential gold medal and named “a woman of distinction” for decades of work supporting the wellbeing of incarcerated people.

Shelton Tucker

Shelton Tucker is a lifelong New Haven resident and father of 5. He spent years as a youth mentor, including as a member of “Gang of dads” which served the community . He is a long time community activist having spent a great deal of his earlier life on the road with is mother, Barbara Fair, fighting against police brutality and abusive practices inside Ct jails, prisons and youth facilities. Shelton spent spent time in solitary confinement as a youth and can speak directly to the harmful effects of youth in isolation. Today he spends time teaching young people to master the martial arts, mentoring them and has plans to open his own spot where young people can feel safe and valued. Among his future plans is to hold sessions where youth who have experienced incarceration can process the experience and become whole again.

Ivelisse Correa

Ivelisse Correa-Burke is a former incarcerated youth & daughter of an incarcerated father who supports the work of Stop Solitary CT & advocates for humane conditions in prisons for inmates. As a wife & mother of 4, she works tirelessly to make the world a better place for her children.
Ivelisse is a social justice advocate wearing many hats. As vice president of BLM860, she focuses on addressing systemic racism & police brutality in Greater Hartford. Her work as executive director of Good Trouble Advocacy deals with issues surrounding low income women & families. Additionally, she is involved in cannabis advocacy, promoting cannabis education, legalization & reform in Connecticut. She has been actively involved in fighting climate change & its impacts on the inner city.
Ivelisse has also been a whistleblower working tirelessly on the promotion of cancer screening following the discovery of PCBs in Hartford public schools following the deaths of friends & watching several of her loved ones battle cancer or thyroid disease.

Kyron Tucker

Kyron Tucker is a lifelong Connecticut Resident who is deeply committed in transforming the correctional system in Connecticut. Kyron is a father of 4 young men. Kyron enjoys reading in his limited spare time but spends most of his time in the community volunteering, coaching and mentoring the youth. Kyron advocates for ex-offenders, the youth and many others who may not have a voice. Kyron is committed to our youth and making sure they do not end up in our criminal justice system. Though Stop Solitary CT, Kyron has become involved in policy making related to corrections and direct legislative advocacy.

Kevnesha Boyd

Kevnesha Boyd is a trailblazer in healing and advocacy, merging her roles as a Trauma Therapist, Cannabis Consultant, Yoga Teacher, and Activist into a powerful force for healing. With over 15 years of experience in mental health, she leads Quality Counseling as its CEO, a group mental health practice pioneering a holistic approach to healing generational trauma in the Black community. Quality Counseling integrates mental health therapy, holistic wellness services, and innovative cannabis education, aiming to mend deep-seated wounds and foster intergenerational well-being.
In her role as a Certified Cannabis Consultant, Kevnesha revolutionizes mental healthcare, providing continuing education credits to mental health professionals about cannabis’s therapeutic effectiveness.
Her engagement with influential groups such as Stop Solitary CT, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, NAACP, The Black Business Alliance, EMDRIA, and the Collaboration of Minority Professional Women showcases her commitment to social empowerment and justice.
Kevnesha’s journey is marked by a profound purpose: to bridge gaps in mental health care for marginalized communities, inspiring a legacy of healing, empowerment, and resilience.