“More than a cook-out,” A Celebration of Freedom and Community
“Let us laugh loudly, embrace fully, and continue building the bonds that remind us that none of us walk this journey alone.”
Photos by Ellen Rogers Photography
On Saturday, May 30, our community gathered for our annual Celebration of Freedom and Community at Kimball Farm, a special event exclusively for exonerees and freed people, and their family members. This year, 87 wrongfully convicted people, their loved ones, and advocates attended. Together, they spent 844 years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit.
The afternoon featured good food, games for kids, and even some dancing, along with laughter and tears full of gratitude and love.
“For many of us gathered here today, the journey has not been easy. Many have endured some of life’s hardest moments—times marked by pain, separation, injustice, and loneliness,” Exoneree Network Director Sean Ellis shared during his opening remarks. “There were days when we felt unseen, unheard, isolated, and pushed into the shadows, wondering if anyone could truly understand our experiences. But today is different. Today, we stand together.
Today, we take up the space we deserve—not quietly, not apologetically, but boldly and courageously. We gather in a community of people who understand. A community that knows the truth of our stories. A community that reminds us that we are not who they said we are.
And while many of us carry wounds from what we have endured, those wounds do not define us. They are evidence of survival, perseverance, and strength. We may be wounded—but we are damn sure not broken.
So today, let this be more than a cookout. Let it be a celebration of freedom, resilience, family, friendship, and community. Let us laugh loudly, embrace fully, and continue building the bonds that remind us that none of us walk this journey alone.”