WINONA, Minn. – A Winona nurse who spent prison time for dealing cocaine has been honored for her work to help ex-cons. Kathy Subletta was named to this year’s 50 Over 50 list of Minnesotans for their contribuions to society. For Subette the honor is for her Let’s Erase the Stigma project. The award was created by Pollen Studio, which promotes positive change, and by the American Association of Retired Persons. Sublett, who is 63, is among Minnesotans are being honored October 28 at Quincy Hall in Minneapolis for defying stereotypes about aging.
Sublett profile
Pollen-AARP citation: “As a young woman, Katherine Sublett got into trouble. She paid her debt, did her time, and stepped back into her community ready to start fresh. And then she found out she couldn’t. Even 30 years after leaving prison, her felony record still made it legal for her to be denied housing and jobs. So she set out to change that. As founder and executive director of Let’s Erase the Stigma, Sublett, 63, leverages the same powers of persuasion she used to get her own record expunged to help others walk through the long and tedious process of reclaiming their rights after incarceration. In less than a year, she’s helped 10 people successfully expunge their records, with eight more cases pending. Along the way, she mentors her clients on budgeting so they can improve their credit, and helps restore their self-confidence and sense of self-worth.”
Sublett. Handling the ex-con burden and helping others too.