Tiawana Brown of Charlotte, North Carolina is the mother of two adult daughters, Antionette and Tijema, and a survivor of domestic violence, mass incarceration, recidivism and giving birth while incarcerated.  Tiawana is the Founder of Beauty After the Bars, a nonprofit center working to interrupt and disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline best known for its partnership with Charlotte-area schools and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. She developed a mentoring program for school age children titled Believe Academic Success Belongs to You and programs for women in the county detention center, preparing them for successful reentry into their community.  Tiawana is an active member and board member of the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. When she is not working on her advocacy platform you can find her competing in national softball tournaments around the world. Tiawana is also employed with American Airlines.