Eddie Gibbs being sworn in by New York City Mayor Eric Adams in 2022.
“He wore a gray suit, a striped tie and a pink handkerchief with custom pink-and-white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers. Scrawled on the soles in pink marker was the inmate number he had recited to correction officers every day for nearly three years.
“He was on the stage with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was set to sign into law his bill requiring prison officials to tell people who are being released from custody that they have the right to vote.
“‘As the first formerly incarcerated male to serve in public office in New York State,’ Mr. Gibbs, 55, said as tears formed in his eyes, ‘this law is near and dear to my heart.’
“A Democratic assemblyman in East Harlem since 2022, Mr. Gibbs has made it his mission to help people who are or were incarcerated. His advocacy and the symbolism of his journey come during a political tug of war over criminal justice reform. …
“JustLeadershipUSA, a nonprofit organization that trains people who have been in jail or prison for leadership roles, is aware of at least five people who were incarcerated, including Mr. Gibbs, who have been elected to state office since 2021.
“‘It’s important for other formerly incarcerated people to see themselves in that position,’ said DeAnna Hoskins, the president and chief executive of JustLeadershipUSA.”
In our 10th anniversary year, JustLeadershipUSA’s work of educating, elevating, and empowering justice-impacted leaders continues and is growing even stronger!
This is going to be a very special time to look back on the past decade of JLUSA’s important work, the 1,600+ leaders we have helped get to the next level in their work, and even more importantly, we will look ahead to the next 10 years and beyond!
We can’t do this without you. We need your support to help us continue to do this work now and into the future. By making a donation in honor of JLUSA’s 10th anniversary year, you are saying to the amazing leaders in our network who represent the 70+ million Americans who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, “I see you, and I support you!”
Please give a one-time $100 gift or set up a recurring $10 monthly donation to celebrate JLUSA’s 10th anniversary year, and together we will build a fair and just U.S. Thank you!
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