Roderick “Rudy” Bankston is an educator, entrepreneur, author, and music producer. His powerful story describes his experience as a survivor of the school-to-prison pipeline and surfaces and explores intersecting themes of identity, justice, trauma and resiliency. Wrongly convicted and sentenced to life at 19 years old, Rudy spent 20 years in prison before winning back his freedom on appeal.
After his release in 2015, Rudy began working for the Madison School District, first serving as a Community Liaison at Memorial High School. Soon after he added a second position at Restore, the district’s expulsion abeyance program. The following school year, he transitioned into a Central Office position as a Restorative Justice Coach. Since leaving MMSD in 2019, Rudy founded i Am We Coaching & Mentoring, LLC. and i am We Global Village, a nonprofit organization.
Rudy’s published works include a novel, Shed So Many Tears, Snippets of Soul in 17 Syllables, Snippets of Soul, Too, and Buried Alive.