You helped free them during the Black Mama's Day Bailout, now they are using art and healing to fuel the movement.

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. Can you chip in to help cover the cost?

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.

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. 

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

 References:

  1. "Incarcerated Women and Girls." The Sentencing Project, 6 June 2019. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/195706?t=8&akid=36764%2E4731121%2EuyjHT-
  2. "The Gender Divide: Tracking Women's State Prison Growth." Prison Policy Initiative, 9 January 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/177705?t=10&akid=36764%2E4731121%2EuyjHT-
  3. "Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2018." Prison Policy Initiative, 13 November 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/135862?t=12&akid=36764%2E4731121%2EuyjHT-
  4. "Detaining the Poor: How money bail perpetuates an endless cycle of poverty and jail time." Prison Policy Initiative, 10 may 2016. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/195707?t=14&akid=36764%2E4731121%2EuyjHT-

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.

If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.