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Truth Be Told

Adolescence: Confronting the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Published November 21, 2025 at 10:23 AM EST

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When does school stop being a safe place and start pushing kids out? In this episode, Kenneth Simmons shares his journey from a promising student in the South to navigating poverty, instability and a school system that punished instead of supported. His path through the streets, addiction and ultimately community leadership reveals how the school-to-prison pipeline takes shape and how mentorship, faith and belonging can break it. A powerful story about what happens when one adult shows up and why every child deserves that chance.

Truth Be Told Season 1

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