Over twenty years ago, I began organizing for Reproductive Justice and young mothers’ rights as a teen mama and midwife. I found my passion advocating for women in prison during my own seven-year incarceration in the California Department of Corrections, where I served time at both CIW and CCWF. During my time inside, I was a jailhouse lawyer, paralegal, firefighter, and mentor to many youth on the yard. The sisterhood and resiliency of the women on the inside are what motivated me to revolutionize the criminal justice system, transform what true rehabilitation and reentry look like, and promote a culture of healing and restorative justice to those most impacted by the system.
We, members of the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition: cis and trans women, girls, and gender non-conforming people that have experienced incarceration and the dangerous practices of late-night releases in California continue to stand together with our organizational allies, the California Legislature, and now California Governor Gavin Newsom to end the deadly practice of late-night releases.
We, members of the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition: cis and trans women, girls, and gender non-conforming people that have experienced incarceration and the dangerous practices of late-night releases in California continue to stand together with our organizational allies, the California Legislature, and now California Governor Gavin Newsom to end the deadly practice of late-night releases.
Through grants received by the California Arts Council and San Francisco Arts Commission, YWFC hosted creative writing and audio storytelling workshops that engaged incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, and queer and transgender women and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people in particular, in building voice and building power. Together we created media that challenges perceptions of system-involved women and TGNC and that supports organizing for change. We built siblinghood and community through this work as well.