Speaker Spotlight: Mark Wilson
Advocate. Mentor. Educator. Leader.
We are honored to welcome Mark Wilson as a featured speaker at the 2025 Connecting 4 Justice International Conference, taking place in Las Vegas on November 4–5.
Advocate for Rights and Dignity
Though our paths had run parallel for years—our advocacy efforts intersecting through shared causes and mutual allies—I didn’t meet Mark in person until June 10, 2025. His reputation preceded him. Released earlier this year after serving over 37½ years, Mark is a nationally recognized legal expert and tireless advocate for the rights and dignity of incarcerated people. Today, he works with the Oregon Justice Resource Center, the very organization that stood with him in his final fight for freedom.
A Legacy Born Behind Bars
Mark began studying law as a teenager, never expecting to be released. He became a trusted legal advisor and volunteer Special Advisor, Litigation and Experiential Support, contributing to thousands of cases—from civil rights violations to parole advocacy.
Among his landmark efforts was a 2001 class-action lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Corrections for its failure to treat incarcerated individuals with hepatitis C. The case led to life-saving treatment and reforms in prison healthcare. Civil rights attorney Michelle Burrows credited Mark as a mentor, saying, “That lawsuit has saved thousands of lives… I truly believe Mark taught me everything I know about prisoner litigation.”
Fighting for Health Equity
What struck me most is that while Mark was advocating from inside the prison system, I was working from the outside—partnering with Lorren Sandt, Executive Director of the Caring Ambassadors Program, on Oregon’s statewide hepatitis C awareness campaign, Are You Viral? We were both fighting for health equity—unaware that our work was part of the same movement.
Mark’s advocacy came at a cost. In retaliation for his legal work, the Oregon DOC transferred him to a high-security prison and stripped him of his legal role. Mark responded the only way he knew how—by suing. He won the case, restoring both his role and his right to fight for others.
Redemption as Practice, Not Performance
Mark’s transformation wasn’t just legal—it was deeply personal. Over the decades, he completed drug treatment, earned his GED, Associate’s, and Bachelor’s degrees, trained as a yoga instructor, served in the prison hospice program, facilitated victim empathy workshops, and even raised funds for the children of a woman who had been murdered. As he said…
In 2025, Mark was granted parole—after years of denials—based on his extraordinary efforts, deep accountability, and broad community support. Among those backing his release were Senator Michael Dembrow, with whom I worked when I served as Director of Legislative Affairs for former Senator Margaret Carter, and former District Attorney John Hummel.
A Mentor Then—and Now
Mark’s influence stretches far beyond law. He has mentored hundreds of individuals inside and now continues that mentorship in the community. Here’s what some of his colleagues and peers shared:
Mark Wilson’s story is one of perseverance, purpose, and powerful change—from solitary confinement to legal victories, from prison hospice to legislative roundtables.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear him speak at the 2025 Connecting 4 Justice International Conference. His message is one of healing, resistance, and hope—for those still behind the walls and for all of us working for justice on the outside. To learn more visit connecting4justice.org