Andrus Family Fund

Members of the Incarcerated Children's Advocacy Network (ICAN) continue to be living proof of the unique capacity for change that resides within every child.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Roper v. Simmons, the critical Supreme Court decision which ended the death penalty for children in the U.S. Read this blog from our co-founder and Chief Legal Officer Marsha Levick as she reflects on this win. https://lnkd.in/gcmqCTgj

Borealis Philanthropy’s Black-Led Movement Fund's Request for Proposals are due March 7 at 9 am PST/12 pm EST. Those awarded will receive $183,300 in general operating support grants over a two-year period ($91,650 per year from 2025-2027). U.S.-based Black-led power-building organizations that align with the grant eligibility criteria and funding priorities are encouraged to apply. Full details here. https://lnkd.in/gETQZwxV

Last weekend, the AFF board and staff had the chance to visit the inspiring #HealingHub by our partners at Detroit Heals Detroit. With tutoring support, a computer lab, healing circles, washer/dryers, a community garden, and more, The Healing Hub is a space for healing, community, and care—for youth and by youth. "Healing that is about our liberation, not about our survival. Healing that is actually rooted in abolition." Feeling grateful to experience this cherished community space! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dKfaZNBh

This is what community support looks like in the face of unjust systems and when “reform” doesn’t cut it. ?? The Philadelphia Inquirer investigates the state of youth (in)justice in Philly, and how community alternatives are building youth power, featuring our partners, Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project and #YEAHPhilly, who support youth and their families through community and peer spaces, courtroom accountability, jobs, and more. https://lnkd.in/e_KrKEji

“If we invest in communities as relentlessly as we invest in prisons and police, we will get better outcomes,” said David Muhammad, the executive director of The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR). A lot of powerful data, perspectives, and history supporting community-based alternatives to youth prison in this piece by James Forman, Jr. for The New York Times: “‘You want to hear something wild?’ Muhammad asked, and of course I did. He told me that even though incarceration numbers have plummeted, funding for juvenile justice systems in some jurisdictions is more or less the same as it was 20 years ago. To him, that makes no sense.” “This is why Muhammad is an advocate of justice reinvestment — taking some of what we spend on juvenile prisons and diverting it to community-based programs." https://lnkd.in/edDiEbEs

Mutual aid is keeping families together during the LA wildfire crisis. As wildfires displace entire communities, we are seeing mutual aid fill the gaps of failed government services. Now more than ever, we must deepen our commitment to radical community care. Don’t be distracted by sensationalized stories of “looting” during the crisis—the real looters are the systems that strip our communities of the resources we need to survive. Our governments should be funding disaster and crisis relief, permanent housing, medical services, affordable child and respite care, and other resources that truly keep families safe–but instead they funnel taxpayer dollars into genocide and death-making apparatuses like family policing, incarceration, and deportation. Check out these resources for pregnant, postpartum, and parenting people impacted by the LA wildfires: Baby Wearing LA: Visit linktr.ee/babywearingla to request a new baby carrier. Birth Workers of Color: Email [email protected] for baby supplies AND call/text 562-489-1809 for doula services. Mind Body Birth LA: DM @mindbodybirthLA on IG for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care packages. Mutual Aid LA: Visit tiny.cc/malan-fire for a collaborative resource list.

These quotes are from the @nbcla article published January 13th, 2025. It highlights the exploitative measures used on incarcerated people & the dangerous conditions they have to survive in their everyday life. These men are heroes & should not be exploited for risking their lives #dreambeyondbars #closeyouthprisons #buildyouthleaders #ittakescuryj #curyj

The conditions at the JJSC are horrifying and have been for far too long. Locking children in isolation for days, in clear violation of the law, harms their well-being and contradicts public safety and positive youth development. We are grateful to Traci Johnson and the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson for their diligent oversight and advocacy for safe conditions for youth in custody. DHS and JJSC must act immediately to end these illegal practices and ensure the safety and health of children in their care. And it’s time for everyone involved to do more to reduce the number of kids locked in this facility and prioritize real solutions. https://lnkd.in/eZyAahMw

(En)vision boarding our way into 2025...May the new year bring us closer to a world without youth punishment and family policing! ? Big thanks to all of our partners, including those on our Movement Partner Advisory Council, who convened with us back in September to connect and imagine: Opportunity Youth United, Legal Rights Center, DREAM DEFENDERS, Communities for Just Schools Fund (CJSF), Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), JMACforFamilies, Freedom Community Center, Darla Perez-Chavez, Youth First Justice Collaborative, Movement for Family Power, RISE for Youth. Always appreciation to Illustrating Progress, who beautifully represented our convening with this graphic!