Women and girls impacted by the criminal legal system (and those who love
and support us in many ways) will gather in Montgomery, AL, October 3-6,
at the Free Her conference held by the National Council for Incarcerated
and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. We're offering full
scholarships to Black Mamas who were freed during this year’s Black Mama’s
Day Bail Out to attend the conference. [ [link removed]- ]Can you chip in to help cover
the cost?
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John, when was the last time you felt fully supported,
understood, completely seen by people you’ve only just met? Have you ever
been in a room full of people validating your lived experiences because
they’ve been through it too and they just get it? Do you remember the
absolute relief in being able to put away any masks for survival you might
wear daily and just keep it all the way real? Have you ever found your
people in these kinds of rooms? I have. And I know first hand the
transformative power and creative brilliance of found community. That’s
why I’m so excited to be reaching out to you today with the opportunity to
pay that feeling of community forward: October 3-6 incarcerated and
formerly incarcerated women and girls will be ‘Reimagining Communities’ by
co-creating one together in Montgomery, AL.
The gathering will be a sacred space to really love one another, share
learnings, and strategize about how to get more of us free. And here’s the
best part: Black Mama’s who YOU have helped to get free as part of this
year’s Black Mama’s Day Bail Out will be in attendance. Since getting
bailed out, these 16 Black Mamas have been participating in a fellowship
centered on their healing, art, resistance and building a community of
practice. At Free Her, the fellows will have a booth where they will talk
about their experiences, share reflections, and make connections with
other formerly incarcerated Black women. If we raise enough funds
together, we’ll be able to support their airfare, hotel, transportation,
and all participation related costs.
[ [link removed]- ]Make a contribution to fund a Black Mama’s scholarship to attend Free
Her 2019 and build power.
The amount of women under carceral control is a crisis this country cannot
afford to ignore any longer. Between 1980 and 2017, the number of
incarcerated women has increased by more than 750 percent.^1 Women’s
incarceration has grown at twice the rate of men’s incarceration in recent
decades and there is a disproportionate representation of women in local
jails.^2 Half of all incarcerated women are caged in local jails and 60
percent are not yet convicted and awaiting trial.^3 Interlocking
oppressions mean that women are even less likely than men to be able to
afford high bail bonds that often amount to an entire year’s salary.^4
Since 2015, the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly
Incarcerated Women and Girls has held space for those closest to the pain
of mass incarceration to build power and community together and to win
justice. This vital work has had a huge impact in the movement to end
incarceration and return women and girls home to us.
[ [link removed]- ]John, will you pitch in $4 to help a Black
mama attend FreeHer2019?
Until justice is real,
--Clarise, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Marena,
Madison, Leonard, Tamar, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. "Incarcerated Women and Girls." The Sentencing Project, 6 June
2019. [ [link removed]- ][link removed]-
2. "The Gender Divide: Tracking Women's State Prison Growth." Prison
Policy Initiative, 9 January
2018. [ [link removed]- ][link removed]-
3. "Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2018." Prison Policy
Initiative, 13 November
2018. [ [link removed]- ][link removed]-
4. "Detaining the Poor: How money bail perpetuates an endless cycle of
poverty and jail time." Prison Policy Initiative, 10 may
2016. [ [link removed]- ][link removed]-
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[ [link removed]- ]Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black
folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. [ [link removed]- ]Help
keep our movement strong.
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