Dorsey Nunn was one of the seven leaders selected to win the James Irvine Leadership Award. Every year the Foundation honors California leaders that are working on solutions to improve the lives of the people in their community. The Foundation selection process is very competitive and recipients are chosen based on the effectiveness of the leader's work. The recipients receive a $250,000 grant to support their work, a public art installation to help share their message, and meetings at the capital with policymakers to share their mission and goals. Nunn was joined by his family, friends and colleagues to celebrate with him at the award ceremony February 13, 2023. With this award Nunn will continue to fight for dignity, freedom and opportunities for people currently or formerly incarcerated and the families affected by mass incarceration. These campaigns include Abolishing Bondage Collectively, which aims to end slave labor, Fair Chance Housing, which would ban the box on housing applications, and Visitation as a Right, so loved ones can maintain physical contact with their families inside.

Congratulations Dorsey Nunn for your continued dedication to the movement!

On February 1, 1865 Abraham Lincoln signed a joint House and Senate resolution that would later be ratified as the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Amendment which proclaimed, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction” finally ended the legal practice of slavery in the United States. Or did it? We're sitting down with Dorsey Nunn from Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Sean Kyler from the Vera Institute of Justice and Max Parthas from the Abolish Slavery National Network to find out! This Freedom Day, join the conversation and help us unpack the current state of incarcerated workers’ labor and rights.

Ban the Box / Fair Chance Housing 
 
AOUON’s Housing Advocate Taqwaa Bonner reports that the Wilma Chan Fair Chance Housing Ordinance for Alameda Country, did not pass through the second reading from the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Bonner says, "Our next step of action will be determined after meeting with our coalition partners."

The Fair Chance Housing is needed to stop the discriminatory practice of allowing criminal background checks on rental housing applications.

“I think some parts of it are indicative of structural discrimination. As a result of conviction history or involvement with law enforcement, it has an impact on your housing. It’s not just that you have bad credit or that you don’t have a job. Some people aren’t able to access housing based on conviction history. Being a good tenant has nothing to do with ever being convicted. That's what I know.” - Dorsey Nunn, ED of LSPC

Fair Chance Housing Ordinance has passed in Oakland and Berkeley. 
 
For more information, contact Housing Advocate Taqwaa Bonner at: taqwaa@prisonerswithchildren.org 

By Jeronimo Aguilar, LSPC Policy Analyst

Camaradas, we are at the start of yet another legislative session, which means that we have begun introducing legislation that can take up to the next two years to get passed. We thank you all for your policy ideas, contributions, and feedback. We are also excited with last year’s passage of SB 1008 by Senator Becker, which will allow us to connect with our incarcerated membership on a much deeper level. Further, we can engage our inside membership in our policy work in ways that were not possible in past years. Let’s keep building and serving our people! It’s an honor to be leading our policy efforts and watch the changes we advocate for creating real change in people’s lives. From finishing our ancestors' mission of abolishing slavery through ACA 8 to restoring the right to visit our loved ones, LSPC-AOUON is coming hard for the legislative session 2023-2024! Join us and join the movement!

To learn more contact: jeronimo@prisonerswithchildren.org

The Communications Associate will be responsible for assisting the Communications Manager in all aspects of our comms duties, including work related to the website, electronic and print newsletter, social media presence, informational materials, media and public relations. The Comms Associate will plan and create narrative work (interviews, articles, graphics) to center formerly and currently incarcerated people and family members in our campaigns and outreach.
 
Salary Range: $65,000-70,000 
 
LSPC provides employees with an excellent benefits package that includes health, vision, and dental, and four weeks’ vacation annually.  
 
LSPC is an equal opportunity employer that refuses to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity or sexual orientation. We strongly encourage formerly incarcerated people, family members, people of color, women and all qualified people to apply for this position.

Where: State Capital, Sacramento CA

Every year, we organize a large-scale statewide rally day at the California State Capitol with legislative advocacy visits led by formerly incarcerated people and families with incarcerated loved ones. The day also provides an opportunity for all other people of good will to come out and support formerly incarcerated people in our fight for inclusion, and our determination to speak in our own voice.

When:
6:30 P.M., Feb 16, 2023 (3rd Thursday of every month) 

Where:
Online on Zoom: bit.ly/AOUONGeneralMeeting
In-Person at the Freedom & Movement Center:
4400 Market St., Oakland, CA 94608
 
All people and family members directly impacted by the criminal justice system are invited to join All of Us or None at our monthly meeting the 3rd Thursday of each month online or in Oakland, CA. We discuss local and state legislation, plan community events, and strategize how to advocate for our community in our own voices.  
 
For more information contact John Cannon: john@prisonerswithchildren.org / 415.625.7045