Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration - V-Day
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Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration

18 Feb

Posted at 07:30h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, V-Day

As I reflect on the past nine weeks of teaching a writing group to the women at Housing Plus, I realize how transformative this experience has been—not just for the participants, but for me as well. It’s a journey filled with challenges, growth, and an abundance of inspiration. ## A Safe Space for Expression From our very first session, it was clear that we were creating something special. The women came in with a mix of excitement and apprehension, each carrying their own stories and experiences. Our goal was simple: to provide a safe space for expression. Writing can be a deeply...

04 Feb

Posted at 18:28h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, V-Day

Starting a new project always comes with a mix of excitement and nerves, and my first day facilitating the writing group at Housing Plus in the Bronx was no exception. As I walked through the doors, I felt the familiar flutter of anticipation in my stomach. Would the participants be receptive? Can I create the safe, encouraging space I envisioned for them? From the moment we gathered, however, I was reminded of the power of community. Six incredible women attended our first session, eager to explore writing as a means of healing and growth. This new writing group aims to do...

09 Dec

Posted at 19:39h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, One Billion Rising, V-Day

In November, the 2nd Annual Global Prison Nursery Network Symposium was held at Columbia Law School, organized by Children of Incarcerated Caregivers (CIC) and the Columbia Journal of Gender & Law. The event focused on the challenges faced by incarcerated mothers and their children, featuring a keynote by Professor Marie Claire Van Hout on age restrictions for children living with incarcerated caregivers. Panel discussions addressed legal gaps affecting families, the impact of incarceration on children’s psychological well-being, and innovative data collection strategies to better understand and support these families. Personal narratives from impacted mothers emphasized the emotional struggles of parenting...

19 Aug

Posted at 13:30h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, V-Day

Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and out of balance in today's world of uncertainty, chaos, and fear. I was in a challenging place for the past several months and felt like I was at the end of my rope, I just didn’t know what to do about the challenges that were popping up in my life. Yet somehow, the universe seemed to know what I needed, and I had to trust the process. I surrendered and gave in by attending the second workshop in the well-being series called “The Crossover,” which Jennifer Mancuso and Sherrie Frank introduced to our group...

02 Jul

Posted at 16:13h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, V-Day

I was honored and excited to be invited to participate in a panel discussion following the New York screening of Chesa Boudin's powerful documentary film Beyond Bars. This was my first time seeing the movie, and it proved to be an incredibly moving and emotional experience for me. The film chronicles Chesa's life growing up, visiting his parents in prison - one of whom was my dear friend, mentor, and confidante, Kathy Boudin. Watching the years go by on screen, seeing Chesa make those regular trips to Bedford Hills, hit me viscerally. I was transported back to my own experience of being...

21 May

Posted at 16:11h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, V-Day

FREEHER 10th Anniversary On April 24th, 2024, a historic event took place in Washington, D.C., as more than a thousand passionate individuals gathered to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Freeher march. This monumental event, organized by "The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls," was a significant step towards highlighting the unique challenges faced by women in prisons. The movement aimed to advocate for the rights of incarcerated women and demand clemency for those who have been incarcerated for decades. Participants from different parts of the United States came together to create a united front in the fight...

31 Jan

Posted at 16:09h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, V-Day

The Right/Write to Heal Initiative is a joint project of the Columbia Center for Justice and V-Day’s Beyond Incarceration Project. Through Right/Write to Heal, women share how they cope with the consequences of incarceration on themselves, their families and communities, with the goal of changing how people understand the impact of criminalization on women. Writing and storytelling are therapeutic interventions for people who have experienced loss and trauma, and can lead to healing, redemption, and intimacy when shared collectively and with others who have been impacted. The goal is to humanize the unique individual and collective experiences of women, particularly...

06 Jul

Posted at 16:08h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, V-Day

In a powerful display of solidarity and creative expression, participants from Right/Write to Heal New York traveled to Portland, Maine, to participate in the second annual "Abolition Night" at the STRAND THEATRE in Rockland, Maine. The Right/Write to Heal Initiative is a joint project of the Columbia Center for Justice and V-Day’s Beyond Incarceration Project. Through Right/Write to Heal, women share how they cope with the consequences of incarceration on themselves, their families and communities, with the goal of changing how people understand the impact of criminalization on women. Writing and storytelling are therapeutic interventions for people who have experienced loss...

08 Nov

Posted at 17:36h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, One Billion Rising, V-Day

The 5th annual FreeHer conference brought together formerly incarcerated women and directly affected people. Activists, advocates, experts, policymakers, and supporters from across the country came to connect and share ideas and resources to work collectively toward ending the incarceration of women and girls and creating systems to empower themselves and their communities. The event featured armchair conversations, panel discussions, abolition and social justice organizations, networking opportunities, speakers, breakout rooms, and more. The following is my journal reflections on the conference as it was taking place. The annual FreeHer is underway and I am excited to see everyone and be here in this...

01 Apr

Posted at 16:06h in Dispatches from Beyond Incarceration, V-Day

I had the opportunity to go to the New York state capitol in Albany three times in March with Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) to urge lawmakers not to sign onto Governor Hochul's plan to push back bail reform. It is appalling that she wants to implement the passage of her 10-point public safety plan into the budget with bail reform and rollbacks as a caveat. This controversial safety plan and budget is an insult to all advocates and activists who have diligently worked to protect the most marginalized people in our city over the past decades. [caption id="attachment_48480" align="alignright" width="320"]...