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We are expanding our push for Gov. Hochul to rescind the package policy by launching our email campaign. We will not give up! For the campaign, anyone, from any state, and any location, can send an email. Below are more detailed instructions and a script that you can copy and paste, along with other details on how to send her a message.

Follow these steps to contact Gov. Hochul: 

  • First, click here.
  • If you do not feel comfortable adding your own phone number, you can add AFJ's main line number: (347) 973-0580.
    Under Topic - choose “criminal justice” 
  • For the Subject - Type in “New DOCCS package policy unduly burdens poor people!”
  • For the Message - Type in (copy & paste): Dear Governor Hochul: I urge you to rescind the DOCCS package policy of “vendor-only packages,” which unduly burdens poor people and denies incarcerated people access to fresh foods, fruits, and vegetables. I’ll be voting in the primaries and November!


If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Our families cannot continue to be punished with this new policy! Let's continue to let the Governor know that she needs to rescind it NOW!

Note: the package policy postcard campaign is still alive and active, and people can still participate.
 

A few weeks ago, DOCCS quietly issued new rules around packages, drastically limiting the quality of basic necessities incarcerated people can receive.

At the end of April, we began mobilizing our family members to send thousands of postcards to Governor Kathy Hochul demanding that the burdensome package policy be rescinded!

We still have postcards if you want to get involved. All of the postcards are pre-paid/pre-stamped and ready to be sent.

You can contact us to get your postcard(s) by visiting the “Contact” page on our website.

CONTACT US
 
Family Fun Day Recap

On May 14th, we gathered at the beautiful Riverbank State Park for a Family Fun day! We ate, played games, and enjoyed the company of family and friends. 


Our next Family Fun day is on July 16th at Riverbank State Park. Hope to see you there!

REGISTER
 
New York Women’s Foundation annual breakfast

On May 11th, we were invited as grantees to the New York Women’s Foundation’s annual breakfast. Aqirah Stanley and Karima were highlighted as part of the morning festivities. Karima Smith also addressed the crowd as she gave a wonderful presentation about who she is, her connection to AFJ, and what AFJ means to her.
 

Safiya Ellis Bandele is Director Emeritus of the Center for Women’s Development at Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York. Her 34-year tenure included developing and teaching gender-specific curricula and facilitating “Women’s Empowerment” workshops in community social service organizations, women's shelters, and prisons.

“Oh no! Not rain!” Mada was awakened by a mental alarm that rain might be coming in the living room window of her small Brooklyn apt. It was a humid Wednesday nite in July — the night before visiting her boyfriend at GreenMeadow Maximum Security prison in upstate New York. Prison visitation was always freighted with anxiety in the days leading up to the visit.  Like the night-before prayers: “Lord, please let my alarm go off in time so I won’t miss the van…please let us have a safe trip despite the rain…please let my boyfriend and me have a sweet and loving visit.” Sometimes the prayer was for an uneventful visit meaning no visitor would be arrested on the spot for - foolishly, in Mada’s opinion - attempting to bring in contraband (generally drugs). An arrest delayed the processing for everybody!
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Tajuana B. Johnson, Esq.

Tajuana has been a legal practitioner for over 10 years and has honed her skills in a variety of practice areas. She was born and raised in New York City and knows firsthand the experience of having family members caught in the Criminal Justice system and supporting loved ones through lengthy periods of incarceration. Having spent her early years in Far Rockaway, Queens and her formative years growing up in Brooklyn, Tajuana has personally witnessed and has been touched by the ways in which economic disenfranchisement, the influx of drugs, and the prison industrial complex ravages communities. 
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Kwesi A. Dash, Esq.

Kwesi has devoted his decade-long legal career to defending and advocating on behalf of individuals who have the least amount of access to resources and power but who are the most targeted by the Criminal Justice System and other prevailing institutions. Kwesi comes from a family of immigrants. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York and learned very early about the importance of safeguarding the rights of the indigent and marginalized. Kwesi pursued a legal career after years of already having been in the workforce. Before attending law school, he was a law clerk and part of a team of lawyers that represented people from poor communities in Washington, D.C.
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Our campaign, Through Another Lens, allows AFJ families to share what it would be like to be reunited with their incarcerated loved ones. Check us out on Instagram to learn more.

 

We have a great selection of AFJ t-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags available on our website! $10 flat-rate shipping for each order. All proceeds go toward supporting our work. Place your order today!
SHOP
 
 
Songa Mbele Circle for Formerly Incarcerated People

Our next circle for formerly incarcerated people will take place on Saturday, July 9 at 1 pm!

This group is about “moving forward,” which is what songa mbele means in Swahili. The Circle will emphasize mindfulness approaches that can assist participants on a path to a healthy transition into the community. It will be facilitated by Yao-Obiora Dibia and will occur monthly on the third Saturday of each month. Please see below for Zoom information. If you are formerly incarcerated, we hope you will attend!

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/join

Enter Meeting ID: 825 5810 8249

For phone only: 646-876-9923

Enter: 82558108249# 
JOIN
 
Family Empowerment Circle Every Tuesday

While we miss being able to gather in person, having our Family Empowerment Circle on Zoom every Tuesday evening has been a great way to stay connected and has enabled families across the state to support one another. The circle takes place from 6-8 pm every Tuesday and is facilitated by the one and only Yao-Obiara Dibia! It is reserved for families with currently and formerly incarcerated loved ones, as well as for formerly incarcerated people.


Please see below for Zoom meeting details. You can also click the button below at the scheduled meeting time to be taken directly to the meeting.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/join

Enter Meeting ID: 841 0065 5340

For phone only: One tap mobile +1646-876-9923

Enter: 84100655340# 
JOIN
 

Weekly Community Organizing Meeting

Thursday, 6-8 pm

Please join Alliance of Families for Justice every Thursday at 6 PM for our weekly community organizing meetings. Led by directly-impacted family members, we meet every Thursday to identify policy priorities, craft strategies, and implement campaigns around issues that affect currently and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones. Directly-impacted individuals and allies are all welcome! We ask that new participants attend any week except for the first Thursday of the month, which is reserved for current participants.


There are ample opportunities to engage in a wide variety of strategies. If you are unable to attend these meetings, but you want to get involved, please email aqirah@afj-ny.org.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/join

Enter Meeting ID: 851 6657 8595

For phone only: 646-876-9923

Enter: 85166578595#
JOIN
 
DONATE

Alliance of Families for Justice
8 W. 126th St., 3rd floor
New York, NY 10027
Main Office: 347-973-0580
General Email: info@afj-ny.org
Legal Support Unit Email: LSU@afj-ny.org
Legal Support Unit: 917-268-2500
Family Support Unit: 917-830-8585
Ithaca Office: 646-476-1752

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