Media & Speaking
Shelia Bruno, CLC, CTSS, is a PICS-informed educator and trainer, founder and CEO of Wife After Prison™, and author of The Second Sentence. She speaks to reentry, parole, workforce, and community audiences about Post-Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) and life after release.
She has presented at national reentry conferences, statewide summits, and community trainings, and has been featured on radio and podcasts in the U.S., London, and Australia.
Upcoming Engagement
Building Stability Summit
Keynote Speaker · New Day Employment Network
Monday, December 7, 2026 · 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, IL
Keynote: Understanding Post-Incarceration Syndrome
Free and open to the public
Speaking Engagements
Statewide Returning Citizens Summit
National Speaker · Mercer County Reentry Coalition
September 17, 2026
Mercer County Community College, Trenton, NJ
Workshop: The Second Sentence: PICS Workshop
Connecting 4 Justice International Conference
Workshop Facilitator · Connecting 4 Justice International
November 4–5, 2025
Las Vegas, NV
Reentry and Relationships: An Evening with Shelia Bruno
Featured Speaker · Trusted Mentors, Step-Up Inc., and Fathers & Families Center
September 29, 2025
Step-Up Inc., Indianapolis, IN
Virtual Workshop for Incarcerated Men
Workshop Facilitator · Lee Adjustment Center
July 26, 2025
Beattyville, KY (virtual)
Navigating the Lifelong Challenges for Returning Citizens
Guest Speaker · New Day Employment Network
June 26, 2025
Joliet Public Library, Joliet, IL (presented virtually on the big screen)
Two-Day Virtual Workshop, High Desert State Prison
Workshop Facilitator · Presented through Timelist Group, Inc.
2025
Susanville, CA (virtual)
Reentry 2024: A Wholistic Approach to Reentry
Speaker, invited back for a second year · National Association of Reentry Professionals (NARP)
April 14–17, 2024
Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN
Tuesday Night Huddle Up
Special Guest · Hope for Prisoners
June 6, 2023
Las Vegas, NV (in person and Facebook Live)
Reentry 2023: A Wholistic Approach to Reentry
Speaker · National Association of Reentry Professionals (NARP)
April 24–25, 2023
Pensacola, FL
National Returning Citizens Virtual Conference (NRCVC 2022)
Panelist, Reentry and Relationships · Sponsored by the 400 Years of African American History Commission, Faith and Justice Advisory Committee
April 21, 2022
Virtual
Can’t bring Shelia on site?
She presents live on the big screen. Keynotes, workshops, and staff trainings are available virtually or in person, for conferences, community events, agencies, and correctional facilities.
Pictured: Shelia presenting virtually to a live audience at New Day Employment Network’s “Navigating the Lifelong Challenges for Returning Citizens,” June 26, 2025, Joliet Public Library.
Media & Interviews
Featured on radio and podcasts in the U.S., London, and Australia.
- Weekly Radio Interviews, Australia · Recurring Guest, “Reentry & Relationships”
- The Life After Prison, WRBB 104.9 FM (Boston, MA) · Special Guest · December 17, 2022
- RC4RC: Returning Citizens 4 Returning Citizens Podcast · Special Guest, with Dr. Ron Garrett and co-hosts · June 7, 2021
- TIFA Re-Entry Series, Texas Incarcerated Family Association, Houston Chapter · Featured Speaker, “Post Incarceration Syndrome” · Zoom webinar · January 12, 2021
- Returning Citizens Magazine · Featured Book, Wife After Prison: Caught in the Aftermath · 2020
Talks and Trainings
The Second Sentence: Understanding Post-Incarceration Syndrome
Keynote or workshop. How prolonged incarceration shapes thinking, emotions, relationships, and daily life after release, and what families, staff, and communities can do with that understanding. PICS is an educational framework, not a formal diagnosis.
PICS-Informed Staff Training
A 2½-hour training for reentry, parole, housing, and workforce teams. Staff learn to recognize incarceration-related adaptations and respond with understanding and accountability.
Bring PICS-Informed Education to Your Event or Team
Keynotes, workshops, and staff training for reentry, parole, workforce, and community audiences.