Dear John, Throughout the past year, I have been constantly reminded of the important role hope plays not only in our work, but in our day to day survival. As Farooq Quinlan, one of our New England advocacy partners shared, “The lack of hope is the hardest part about life without parole.” I know many of us feel similarly - the continued perpetuation of legal and racial injustices across the country has challenged many of us over the past year. Despite these challenges, 2021 offered many reasons to remain hopeful for a more just and equitable future. This past year, new coalitions of dedicated advocates came together to demand change - challenging extreme sentencing laws, demanding expanded voting rights, and protecting youth from the ravages of the adult prison system. At the same time, our incarcerated and formerly incarcerated colleagues are stepping forward to lead the call for transforming the criminal legal system, providing direct knowledge of the reforms that are most urgently needed. Thanks to our dedicated community of advocates and supporters, real change is happening. Over the past year we’ve launched new campaigns to protect our democracy, promote racial justice, and provide thousands of people with the possibility of a second chance - giving them the courage they need to hope for a brighter future. You can read more about this work and the impact we are making in our new 2021 annual report. We hope you celebrate these wins with us, and, more importantly, join us in the work that is yet to be done. | 
