Writing to #CLOSERikers

Dear Friend,

We are writing to ask for your support. As a program providing services to formerly incarcerated individuals, you understand the impact of incarceration on people’s lives.

This spring, Prison Writes is launching a Credible Messenger Writing Workshop, ‘Writing to #CLOSErikers’, in cooperation with JustLeadershipUSA. The goal of the workshop is to prepare individuals with the lived experience to join JustLeadershipUSA in meeting with elected officials to garner their support for closing Rikers. People do not need to be writers to participate; they just need to be willing to write. Spelling and grammar are not the focus. We seek to solicit genuine voices.

The project will be launched with an orientation on May 14th, where we will outline the goals and commitment required from participants should they chose to participate in the four week workshop series.

JustLeadershipUSA’s ambitious proposal for the closing of Rikers and the right-sizing of NYC’s jail system presents an opportunity to make smart investments in cost effective public safety measures that have been shown to work.

The brutality and inhumane treatment that defines everyday life for the men and women at Rikers does not advance the primary purposes of the justice system: to protect the public and deter criminal behavior. To the contrary, it normalizes and validates the use of violence.

To that that end, we hope that you will help us identify individuals whose voices will help lift this conversation and push legislators to #CLOSErikers.

Metro cards will be provided for participants who RSVP at least one day in advance and refreshments will be served.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

Alessandra@prisonwrites.org