NORMAN BRYANT
Born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, Norman was raised primarily by his mother. While his mother struggled with drug use, Norman had uncles and cousins involved in street life. So, naturally, he gravitated toward those he thought could take care of him, despite their lifestyle. At 15, Norman was involved in a burglary with two other children. His lawyer advised them to waive his right to a jury trial to guarantee that he avoided the death penalty. After making this choice, Norman was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole when he was just 17 years old. When inside, he became actively involved in the Islamic faith, and his faith community remains an important part of his life. Norman, resentenced in 2017, making his release possible, now works as a home health care worker, and he remains active in mentoring younger members of his family.