Founder and former executive director of Mixed Blood Theatre, Jack Reuler is generously donating some of wisdom and time to the Great North Innocence Project. As an expert in the arts, performance, media, and non-profits, he has already supported GNIP’s staff on a number of projects. Currently, he is co-creating the new GN-IP Volunteer Speaker’s…
Read MoreThree legal interns join the Great North IP team for the summer
Ambika Patpatia, Anna Mae Engel, and Vinvent Dinolfo, are law students working with the Great North Innocence Project’s legal team this summer to investigate and litigate innocence cases. In this role, Ambika, Anna Mae, and Vincent are interviewing witnesses, investigating case details, supporting attorneys during hearings, and conducting research. Great North Innocence Project: Tell us…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Ashley Harris
Meet our volunteer graphic design volunteer, Ashley Harris! Ashley is a multitalented photographer and graphic designer who has supported the Great North IP at the Benefit for Innocence and on various design projects. Most recently, she has been working with staff to design brand new Great North IP merch – stay tuned for its upcoming…
Read MoreMothers Never Flag in their Fights for Justice
This Mother’s Day is especially meaningful at the Great North Innocence Project. Already in 2023, we freed our first client who is a mother and saw her reunited with her children, and also grieved the loss of a freed client’s mother who never forgot about him. Cassandra (Cassi) Black Elk was wrongfully convicted of felony…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Jacqueline Masse
When the Great North legal team urgently needed an interrogation video transcribed in preparation for a critical hearing, Jacqueline Masse stepped in without hesitation. A paralegal at Taft Law, she spent hours transcribing Great North freed client Cassandra Black Elk’s police interrogation. A challenging task not just because of the time commitment, but because of…
Read MoreThe Making of an Innocence Attorney
On February 15, Great North Innocence Project Managing Attorney Jim Mayer joined friends and family of his very first innocence client to experience the height of any innocence attorney’s career: watching his client walk free from incarceration. The moment Michael Wearry exited Elayn Hunt Correctional Facility in Saint Gabriel, Louisiana, was a long time coming….
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Maren Reeder
Maren Reeder is a dedicated and hardworking volunteer who supports the Great North Innocence Project in administration and community outreach work. We sat down with Maren to learn more about her volunteer experience so far. Great North Innocence Project: Tell us about yourself. Maren Reeder: have lived in Chanhassen for 22 years with my husband…
Read MoreFarewell to longtime GNIP Board Member Jon Hopeman
Jon Hopeman, longtime Great North Board member, has seen the Great North Innocence Project through numerous stages of organizational development; worked on innocence case litigation, including helping to free innocent Great North client Javon Davis from prison in 2020; and provided critical leadership during times of organizational transition. Current Great North Board Co-Chair Kevin Riach…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Elissa Mautner
Elissa Mautner is an energetic, dedicated, and passionate volunteer with the Great North Innocence Project. She supports our work in numerous ways as an administrative and events volunteer including fielding inquiries about our work, checking and logging Great North mail, keeping tabs on innocence-related news stories, and providing event support before and during the Benefit…
Read MoreThe Great North Innocence Project celebrates client’s release from prison after Minnesota Conviction Review Unit’s investigation
The Great North Innocence Project announced today that their client Thomas Rhodes will be released from Moose Lake Correctional Center after spending nearly 25 years in prison. His release is the result of a comprehensive review of his case by the Minnesota Conviction Review Unit, a partnership between the Great North Innocence Project and the…
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