The Community

Throughout our Season 3 video series, we have highlighted a diverse array of couples doing well. But a large number of system impacted relationships do not end happily. Of course, large number of relationships in general do not end well because relationships are very difficult because humans are very complex. Kaleigh’s system impacted story is one of heartbreak and pain, but also awe-inspiring vulnerability and courage ending in clarity and even redemption. ?? Watch the full video on our YouTube channel here: https://lnkd.in/g_t_pX7P ??♀? Interested in screening our 35-min short film version of Season 3 for your network or community? Reach out to us for more details!

??? Breaking Bread in the Dayroom: A Night of Powerful Stories ??? Our second Breaking Bread in the Dayroom dinner was a packed house, filled with deep conversations on the role of food in prison—how prison cuisine, creativity, and consumption are a conduit to explore the harm, ineffectiveness, and urgent need for change in the criminal legal system. Huge thanks to our event partners Love Cafe and L’incontro MKE, and gratitude to our storytellers Fernando, Cherita, and East for sharing their experiences and energy. ? Save the Date: Join us for our next Breaking Bread dinner on June 12 at Love MKE, and stay tuned for a special Breaking Bread presentation at Colectivo on Prospect, featuring new elements you won’t want to miss! #BreakingBread #PrisonFoodStories #JusticeThroughFood #LoveMKE #CommunityConversation

Our Executive Director Shannon Ross, MSP spoke with Gerron Jordon about the traveling exhibition States of Incarceration which closes?TODAY. Watch the interview then consider stopping by the UWM Student Union, across from the bookstore to see the exhibit before its gone for good! Special thanks to our sponsors: UWM School of Education University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Roberto Hernández Center UWM Sociocultural UWM Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Milwaukee Bucks Foundation Milwaukee Community Justice Council Humanities Action Lab UWM Center Student Experience and Talent and Institute for Systems Change & Peacebuilding. Lastly, one more?special shout out to Ben Trager for all his hard work on helping us plan all events on campus! https://lnkd.in/gjn3HMj6

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’d like to acknowledge the dedicated women we’ve had the honor to work along side of in the fight for justice. Some bring lived experience with incarceration, carrying the mission in their daily lives. Others have been deeply moved by the system’s impact and committed themselves to the work to change those systems. ??????????????? In some recent projects, collaborations, and events, the women below have made a tremendous impact, and for that we say THANK YOU. We look forward to more partnerships ahead! ?? Heather Canuel Cherita Rayford-Howard Cecelia Klingele dolores canales JenAnn Bauer Brittany Lee Laura Hawks Shanita Lawrence Christal Arroyo Roman Tamra Oman Gabi Hart Dr. LaTonya Baker Your work and commitment make a difference. ?????? #CriminalJusticeReform #WomenInJustice #RestorativeJustice #EndMassIncarceration #JusticeForAll #SystemImpactedVoices #CommunityChange #TransformJustice

The Community is one of over a dozen partner orgs supporting tomorrow’s Day of Empathy, which is the nation’s largest day of action for criminal justice reform. Join us for a legislative day at the Wisconsin State Capitol to uplift your voice alongside system impacted people, families, allies to discuss with legislators how supervision (probation, parole, and extended supervision) should be changed to transform our state towards public safety and thriving communities for all people. There will be a supervision simulation, lunch with legislators, and educational legislative visits. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gVhUCBtZ

?? Last chance to check out States of Incarceration ?? ?? Open until March 13,?8:30am-5pm ?? UWM Student Union – on campus in the Student Union across from the bookstore. Explore this interactive exhibit created by 800+ people across 18 states, diving into the roots of mass incarceration and sparking important conversations about justice. Don’t miss out on this powerful?experience! Special thanks to our sponsors: UWM School of Education University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Roberto Hernández Center UWM Sociocultural UWM Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Milwaukee Bucks Community Milwaukee Community Justice Council Humanities Action Lab UWM Center Student Experience and Talent and Institute for Systems Change & Peacebuilding. Register: https://lnkd.in/gjpbY2ee

?? Last chance to check out States of Incarceration ?? ?? Open until March 13,?8:30am-5pm ?? UWM Student Union – on campus in the Student Union across from the bookstore. Explore this interactive exhibit created by 800+ people across 18 states, diving into the roots of mass incarceration and sparking important conversations about justice. Don’t miss out on this powerful?experience! Special thanks to our sponsors: UWM School of Education University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Roberto Hernández Center UWM Sociocultural UWM Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Milwaukee Bucks Community Milwaukee Community Justice Council Humanities Action Lab UWM Center Student Experience and Talent and Institute for Systems Change & Peacebuilding. Register: https://lnkd.in/gjpbY2ee

Last night was powerful! ?? We hosted a screening of the Strike in partnership with various departments at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The film explores solitary confinement in general and for those who’ve spent decades in solitary. It also tells the story of how powerless people found power to create significant change in the system. Our all-woman panel was inspiring thanks to Cherita Rayford-Howard, dolores canales, and Cecelia Klingele. We were especially honored to have Dolores join us from California and have us take our first event selfie with those who stayed until the end—thank you! ?? A shout out to Talib Akbar from WISDOM for coming to provide materials about solitary confinement and to our amazing sponsors, the Milwaukee Community Justice Council, Represent Justice, and the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation. Don’t miss the free “States of Incarceration” Exhibit on campus in the Student Union across from the bookstore, open until March 14, 8:30-5. ???? #Strike #SolitaryConfinement #Freedom #UWM #MilwaukeeCommunityJusticeCouncil #BucksFoundation #StatesOfIncarcerationExhibit

?? Join us tonight at the UWM Cinema from 5:30 to 8:30 for a powerful screening of “The Strike”! ?? this film is so powerful PBS moved it up in its schedule to launch early last month and Represent Justice selected the film as its impact campaign of the year to promote across the country. Don’t miss the amazing insights of our panel, which includes Dolores Canales(pictured below), who is a key member of the story and the film in addition to being in the highly regarded film 13th by Ava Duverney, which outlined the harm and mass and effectiveness of the criminal legal system in America. Dolores will be joined by Cherita Rayford and Cecelia Klingele for an all women’s panel. Don’t miss this chance to experience the story and engage in meaningful discussions. Register in advance, for this FREE screening. Everyone is welcome! See you there! ??? #TheStrike #JusticeCampaign #WomenInFilm Register ?? https://lnkd.in/gjpbY2ee

?? Last night, we made waves at the UWM Lubar Entrepreneurship Center with two powerful criminal legal system simulations! ?? Participants found the experience eye-opening, highlighting the absurdity of reintegration challenges. Understanding these realities is crucial for transforming our criminal legal system. We’re excited to keep improving and expanding these simulations to reach more groups. Interested in bringing us in or hosting your own? Let us know! And don’t forget to check out our screening of The Strike at the UWM Cinema tomorrow evening AND the States of Incarceration Exhibit up on campus until the 14th. All free. Please register here: https://lnkd.in/gv4wenpM. A massive thank you ?? to our incredible volunteers, planning team, and sponsors: Dream.Org, UWM School of Continuing Education, UWM Roberto Hernández Center, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation, Milwaukee Community Justice Council, Humanities Action Lab, Center for Student Experience and Talent at UWM, and the Institute for Systems Change & Peacebuilding. #CriminalLegalSystem #Reintegration #UWM #CommunityImpact #SystemsChange