Dear John,

When James Jeter returned home from prison and started working to address housing and food disparities within his community, he noticed that lawmakers have power to make important policy changes but he felt he didn’t have enough influence over them because unjust state laws prevented him from exercising his right to vote.

For Black communities, he says, voting is not about a candidate but about disenfranchisement. For too long, they have suffered a cycle of civic death because their felony convictions and parole status disallow them from participating in the democratic process.

Along with partners like The Sentencing Project, James built a coalition, gained public support, and wrote legislation to expand voting rights for justice-impacted people.