Dear FAMMily,
Happy Second Chances Month! Here at FAMM, we’re celebrating second chances through executive clemency, close on the heels of President Biden’s historic 4,000+ grants. Hearing from some of those people, now home, is truly joyful. They have accomplished so much since release, and they are excellent examples of how second chances can work.
Nichole Forde, free after 15 years in prison, lives with her dad in Wisconsin and is driven to get what she needs to succeed: a driver’s license, a job, and proficiency with her brand new smartphone. She’s taking time to savor life, too -- she’s growing seedlings in a container garden and building a henhouse. “I still wake up thinking I’m dreaming,” Nichole says. “Thinking that I’m not really free. Until my dad yells up, ‘Breakfast is ready!’”
For clemency recipient Michael Montalvo, age 79 and newly free after 38 years inside, every day brings elation and a maze of adjustments – catching up on much-needed healthcare, connecting with old friends, and coming to terms with a new world. “Step by step, I take it day by day, get a little bit done.”
Stay tuned -- we’ll be sharing more second chance clemency stories throughout the month.
Also, we’ve set up an easy new way to learn about all our upcoming events, like the training and policy update calls we offer twice a month. Now you can see the schedule and register all in one place: Upcoming Events | Families Against Mandatory Minimums Foundation.
One more thing: We’ve moved! Please send all mail to our new HQ: FAMM/1100 13th Street NW/Suite 201/Washington, D.C. xxxxxx.
Happy Second Chances Month!
