Advocacy in Action Coalition
The AIAC Task Force is committed to providing resources giving validity and credibility to the criminal justice reform issues the Coalition as a whole supports. The resulting research and documentation is posted publicly to be available to use as talking points when advocating with legislators and criminal justice officials.
Available Resources
AIAC TASK FORCE MEMBERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING ADVOCACY RESOURCES:
Dr. Avon Hart-Johnson – AIAC Chair
Kayla Victor – C4J Conference Chair
Barbara Allan
James (Jim) Prager
Dr. Monique Tate
Tiffany Green
Vetta Dunston
Allegra Pocinki
Rita Dixit-Kubiak
Dr. Amanda Lewis
Julie Uribe
Background
On Thursday, May 7, 2015, at the 7th annual Connecting 4 Justice (InterNational Prisoner’s Family Conference), over seventy individuals and representatives of established prison family related organizations signed in agreement to become members of the Advocacy in Action Coalition (AIAC) of the InterNational Prisoner’s Family Conference, to pursue criminal justice and prison reforms for issues known to fuel mass incarceration in the United States. Subsequently, Coalition membership has continued to grow. (Listing of current full Coalition membership is below.)
The following five major issues of concern were selected for active research for needed remedial action:
- Ensuring the availability of jail and prison face-to-face visitation
- Ensuring family involvement in issues of medical and mental health care for prisoners following HIPPA guidelines
- Ensuring independent oversight of the entire criminal justice system
- Ensuring humane treatment of all prisoners and their families
- Ensuring effective re-entry preparation for all prisoners and their families
ABOUT THE ADVOCACY IN ACTION COALITION TASK FORCE
A working Advocacy in Action Committee, Chaired by Dr. Avon Hart-Johnson was formed to begin research and draft a Coalition White Paper. The completed White Paper was released on October 21, 2015 calling for significant reforms in the entire U.S. criminal justice system. To view a copy of the White Paper, click here.
The coalition task force continues drafting Fact Sheets for use in advocacy and has raised funds to produce the Faces of Mass Incarceration documentary. The documentary is available to enhance presentations and discussion on criminal justice reform by eliminating frightening myths and stereotypes about the prisoner and their loved ones.
The task force is considering developing a series of webinars to provide advocacy tools and prepare members for active advocacy.
*All donations are needed and greatly appreciated and tax deductible.
FULL COALITION MEMBERSHIP
- Lillie Branch-Kennedy – RIHD Inc
- LuQman Abdullah – Human Rights Coalition, Philadelphia – Pennsylvania
- Chandra Adams – COPE; Called to Change – Texas
- Annette Aguigui – Georgia
- Ed Aguigui – Georgia
- Jolynn Armstrong – The FOTA Project – Colorado
- Cathy Anderson – Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership – Maryland
- Maribel Herrera Aitkins – California Families Against Solitary Confinement
- Barbara Allan – Prison Families Anonymous – New York
- Cindy Anderson – Washington Coalition for Parole
- Jess Angel, Certified Trauma Support Specialist- Alaska
- K. Bain – Bain Consulting – New York
- Edgar Barens – The Prison Terminal – Illinois
- Keri Barker – Gift of Voice – Illinois
- Olivia Barclay – Florida
- Joyce Betts – Families in Crisis – Connecticut
- Jeanette Bocanegra – Justice for Families – New York
- Kate Boccia – The National Incarceration Association – Georgia
- Natasha Brien – Canada
- Judith Brink – Prison Action Network – New York
- Ivi Brown – Texas
- Jackalyn Brown – Flip Flop Support Groups, Inc. – Florida
- Belinda Bruster – Florida
- Jenna Bundy – Illinois
- Darlene Burke – Ten Toes In – California
- Allison Butler – Prison Break Coaching – Delaware
- Jenelle Butler – Arizona
- Deborah Munson Cardenas – Texas
- Dena Castellon – Georgia
- Dr. Ruth Clark – Florida
- Rosanne Clausen – Strong Prison Wives – New Jersey
- Debbie Collins – Georgia
- Rhonda Courtney – Grassroots Guardians of Truth – Georgia
- Cindy Cristan – California
- Julie Crithfield – California
- Ed Davis – Episcopal Diocese of Texas – Texas
- Arkueria Davis – Parent Caregiver Advisory Group – California
- Cedrick Dean – The Securus Foundation – North Carolina
- Kelsey Lynn DeAvila – Jails Action Coalition – New York City
- Franklin Deese – North Carolina
- Esther DeLeon – California
- Armando DePina – Parent Caregiver Advisory Group – California
- Ciede Diamondstone – Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership – Maryland
- Celeste Didlick-Davis – 3R Development, Inc. – Ohio
- Sonda Donovan – Colorado
- Alexandria Dorsey – Arizona
- Ann Edenfield Sweet – Wings For LIFE International – New Mexico
- Kirstin Eidenbach – ATLaS Justice Center – Arizona
- Carolyn Esparza – Prisoners’ Family Conference, Chair – Texas
- Christina Faurot – Alabama
- Sherrin Fitzer – Illinois
- Felicia Ford – Leap of Faith Advocacy and Legal Services – California
- Katelen Fortunati – Chestnut Health Systems – Missouri
- Brenda Fosdick – Illinois
- Jacquelyn Frank – Illinois
- Braunwynn Franklin – NAMI Multnomah – Washington
- Dawn Freeman – The Securus Foundation – National Organization Headquartered in Texas
- Quniana Futrell – Healing Generations International – Virginia
- Kerry Gant – New York
- Lisa Gentley – Strong Prison Wives & Families – Connecticut
- Stacey George – Strong Prison Wives & Families – Texas
- Elizabeth Gillette – Girls Embracing Mothers – Texas
- Rebecca Ginsburg – Education Justice Project – Illinois
- Sandra Girard – Citizens for Prison Reform – Michigan
- Diane Goodman – California
- Liz Gordon – Pillars, Inc. – New Zealand
- Heidi Graham – Idaho
- Truth Graff – National Incarceration Association – Georgia
- Jordan Gramke – ATLaS Justice Center – Arizona
- Dominique Graves – Texas
- Shameka Green – Emma’s House, Inc. – Michigan & Nevada
- Connie Grier – The Respect Alliance – Pennsylvania
- Becky Haigler – Texas-VoGue voter guide for justice & reform advocates
- Angela Hall – S.O.L.O.G. – Alaska/Arizona
- Patti Hammonds – Prison Fellowship – Texas
- Ivy Harris – Parent Caregiver Advisory Group – California
- Lyndsey Harris – United Kingdom
- Avon Hart-Johnson, PhD – DC Project Connect – Washington, DC
- Radiyyah Hasaan – Families in Crisis, Inc. – Connecticut
- Candy Hendrix – Wyoming
- Alicia Hernandez – The RIDGE Project – Ohio
- Randy Hibbard – Georgia
- Ray Hill – Founder, Host/Producer: The Prison Show – Texas (dec. 2018)
- Thomas Ann Hines – Crime Victim Impact Program – Texas
- Tonya Lee Hines – Georgia
- Neela Hoeppner – Texas
- Carol Holitz-Martin – Illinois
- Julie Matte – Louisiana
- Roger Hollar – Mercy Heart – Texas
- Fred Hollis – Our Daily Bread – Michigan
- Lee Anna Howell – PCAG – ACCIPP – California
- Katherin Hervey – The Prison Within – Washington
- Morgan Holladay – Compassion Works for All – Arkansas
- Tonyita Hopkins – The Securus Foundation – Texas
- Tracy L. Wells-Huggins, RN – Justice for Families – New Jersey
- Catherine Janese – Strong Prison Wives and Families – New York
- Angel Jenkins – Georgia
- Alicia Johnson – Georgia
- Monalisa Johnson – Parents with Incarcerated Children – New York
- Lauren Johnson – Texas
- Charles Jordan – The RIDGE Project – Ohio
- Marvin Jordan – PCAG – A Better Way – California
- Sandra Joy – Campaign to End the Death Penalty – Delaware
- Spring Keosoupha – A Better Way – California
- Rita Kerwin – Citizens for Prison Reform – Michigan
- Linda King – Prison Families Anonymous – New York
- Mari Kita – Hawaii
- Stacey Kobetitsch, MBA, MSOL – Hallinan & Killpack Law Firm – Arizona
- Sara Kruzan – Incarcerated Children’s Advocacy Network – California
- Melissa Kumar – Families in Crisis, Inc. – Connecticut
- Terry Kupers – California
- Karen Lakeman – New Mexico
- Julia Lazareck – Prison: The Hidden Sentence & Friends & Families of Incarcerated Persons – Nevada
- Pete Letkemann – Citizens for Prison Reform – Michigan
- Barbara Lee Lewis – Because Love Allows – New Jersey
- Nancy Loucks – Families Outside – Scotland
- Lydia Lozano – A Better Way – California
- Michelle Manley – Florida
- Joseph Mathew – Corrections India – India
- Jennifer McClendon – McClendon Recovery Initiatives – New Jersey
- Verna McFelin – Pillars, Inc. – New Zealand
- Mindy Minor – Girls Embracing Mothers – TX
- Heather Moore – Michigan
- Michelle Moore – Arkansas
- Zamia Mosman – Bridges Prison Ministry/Victory Worship Center – Arizona
- Gale Muhammad – Women Who Never Give Up – New Jersey
- Marilyn Nickerson – Texas
- Charlene Niemi – California
- Kathy Norgard – Colorado
- Jeani Olson – Wyoming
- Nikki Olson – Justice For Families – Wisconsin
- Ariel Orozco – California Families Against Solitary Confinement
- Andy Polk – Felonism: Hurting in Plain Sight – Tennessee
- Linda Polk – Felonism: Hurting in Plain Sight – Tennessee
- Dr. Robert Powitzky – Justice and Serious Mental Illness – Texas
- James Prager – Re-entry Coalition of NW Ohio
- Pete Quinonez – Bridges Prison Ministry/Victory Worship Center – Arizona
- Sandy Quinonez – Bridges Prison Ministry/Victory Worship Center – Arizona
- Benjamin Raikes – Hudersfield University – England
- Yvette Reaves – Prison Family Nation
- Joan Redding – Texas
- Journey Reed – Strong Prison Wives and Families – Maryland
- Lecroy Rhyanes – Voices Behind Walls – Texas
- Carol Rienstra – Citizens for Prison Reform – Michigan
- Rich Rienstra – Citizens for Prison Reform – Michigan
- Suzie Rimstidt – Indiana
- Clay Rojas – PrisonFamilies.org – California
- Rosey Ruiz – ASPIRE to Win, Inc. – TX
- Jennifer Rundall – Inmates Matter Too – Texas
- Khalil Rushdan – ACLU Arizona Justice Project – Arizona
- Victoria Rusk – Heart of Justice – Texas
- Terrence Sampson – Texas
- Margo Santiago – Florida
- Elmo Sapwater – Press – New York
- Shari O. Scher – Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership – Maryland
- Leslie Schieffer – Texas
- Liliana Segura – Campaign to End the Death Penalty – New York
- Kohl Shallenberger – Indiana
- Ronald Simpson-Bey – Just Leadership USA – Michigan
- Reginald (Reggie) Smith – Texas
- LaSann Snow – Strong Prison Wives and Friends – South Carolina
- Francis Ssuubi – Wells of Hope – Uganda
- Terry Steinberg – Journey of Hope – Virginia
- Wesley Steuwe – Ohio
- Damon Stewart – Light of Law & End New Jim Crow Action Group of Atlanta – Georgia
- Kiwania Strahan – Anthem Strong Families – Texas
- Maja Gabelica Supljika – Ombudsman for Children – Croatia
- Monique Tate – Georgia
- Ida Mae Terry – Connecticutt
- Leon Theodore – Texas
- Tommie Thompson – Justice Journeys – Georgia
- Catherine Tijerina – The RIDGE Project – Ohio
- Ron Tijerina – The RIDGE Project – Ohio
- Richard Torres – Youth Arts Program (YAP) – Texas
- Jonathan Trethewey – Arizona
- Michael Trout – The Infant-Parent Institute – Illinois
- Sharon Varallo – Illinois
- Melissa Victor – Texas
- Darryl Watton – Canada
- Chaplain Bernell Wesley – Community Chaplaincy Outreach, Inc. – Georgia
- Emily Westerholm – Opportunity, Alliance & Re-entry – Virginia
- Claudia Whitman – National Death Row Assistance Network of CURE – Colorado
- Gloria Jean Williams – Save Kids of Incarcrated Parents – Alabama
- Jan Williams – Grassroots Leadership – Texas
- Samantha Williams – Oklahoma
- Marie Wiegand – Nebraska
- Fury Young – Die Jim Crow – New York
- Mignon Zezqueaux – Texas Advocates for Justice – Texas
- Dawn Zuppelli – New York