The Sentences That Create Us
Time: Jan. 30, 2026, 9:30 a.m. - noon
Location: 304 Tolley Humanities Building
Part of the Syracuse Symposium series.
In this workshop facilitated by Johnny Page and Moira Marquis, participants will be guided through writing exercises, interspersed with conversation, designed to help them find their voices and tell their stories.
Dr. Moira Marquis is the Manager of Higher Education Partnerships at the Petey Greene Program, which delivers educational programming to thousands of justice-impacted people throughout the country. She has a Ph.D. in English from UNC Chapel Hill, and her writing can be found in academic and popular publications including the forthcoming Cambridge Companion to American Prison Writing, Slate and Time magazine. Her book Thought Threats, which tells the story of censorship in the history of America’s prisons, is forthcoming from UNC Press.
Johnny Page is a storyteller, a systems thinker, and a transformative leader committed to shifting the narratives around justice, healing, and community leadership. As Executive Director of ConTextos Chicago, he leads initiatives that use personal narrative, storytelling, and collective authorship to disrupt cycles of violence, uplift lived experiences, and promote healing-centered engagement.
A formerly incarcerated leader, Johnny draws from his own journey to empower system-impacted individuals to reclaim their voices and reshape their futures. His work bridges the gap between policy, practice, and personal experience, centering dignity and truth in every space he enters.
Whether through writing, public speaking, or institutional advocacy, Johnny brings authenticity and insight to complex conversations around trauma, reentry, education, public safety, and justice. His leadership is grounded in a deep belief that community is both the site and the source of lasting change.
A public lecture on this topic takes place Thursday, Jan. 29.
Additional supporters:
- Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition
- Center for Community Alternatives
- Humanities New York
- Project Mend
- YMCA of Central New York - Downtown Writers Center