Disclaimer – Auto-generated content in Spanish:
Algunas partes de esta página se generan automáticamente y podrían contener errores menores. Se recomienda usar el juicio crítico al interactuar con ella.
Disclaimer – Auto-generated content in Spanish:
Algunas partes de esta página se generan automáticamente y podrían contener errores menores. Se recomienda usar el juicio crítico al interactuar con ella.
Melissa Ludin (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) writes: “In Wisconsin prisons, a new policy trend is replacing physical mail with photocopies. For those who haven’t experienced incarceration, this change might seem minor – an administrative adjustment to improve security. But as someone who has lived through incarceration and experienced the profound impact of receiving physical mail, I can tell you that this shift robs incarcerated people of one of the few deeply human connections they have left. …
During my time in prison, letters were my lifeline.
“During my time in prison, letters were my lifeline. The simple act of opening an envelope and feeling the paper within was deeply grounding. I could hold onto those letters, reread them when I felt lost, and remind myself that someone out there cared about me. The weight of the paper and the handwriting on the page carried the presence of the person who had sent it.
“Physical mail was more than words on paper — it was a reminder that I hadn’t been forgotten. Those letters gave me something to hold onto, literally and emotionally. They helped me stay hopeful in an environment designed to strip away my sense of self and, for me, being a woman.
“When I imagine those same letters replaced by photocopies, I feel a deep sadness for those who are incarcerated now. The thought of receiving a copy instead of the real thing – of being handed a bland replica of what used to feel so personal – is heartbreaking.”
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!
Mail that includes checks only:
JUSTLEADERSHIPUSA, INC
P.O. Box 23681
New York, NY 10087-3681
All other mail:
P.O. Box 1730, New York, NY 10037
347.454.2195
© 2024 JustLeadershipUSA. All Rights Reserved.
JustLeadershipUSA is a non-partisan organization. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to the individual author or speaker, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the organization.
Since 2014, JustLeadershipUSA has maintained our commitment to ensuring systems-impacted voices are at the forefront of the movement for criminal legal reform, empowering directly impacted leaders in over 45 states with the tools, resources, and connections to transform their work.
Your donation will provide crucial support for our leadership training programs, empowering future generations of leaders and propelling the work of JLUSA and our alumni as we continue to advocate and push reform on issues that matter the most in our communities.
In just 10 years, JLUSA and our network of leaders have worked to dismantle decades of harm caused by the criminal legal system.