In this issue…
Thursday 10/15: Reimagining Community Responses to Substance Use
In NYC: #HerVoiceHerVote Rally & Speakout
Thursday 10/15: Reimagining Community Responses to Substance Use
We invite you to join us October 15 at 2 p.m. for Reimagining Community Responses to Substance Use: Why Divesting from the Police and Investing in Black Communities is Long Overdue organized by Community Catalyst. This digital event will explore varying perspectives on divesting from the police and investing in Black communities. Katal’s co-executive director Lorenzo Jones is a featured panelist. Register for this zoom event here.
In NYC: #HerVoiceHerVote Rally & Speakout
Donna Hylton, Founder of A Little Piece of Light gives testimony during Tuesday’s #HerVoiceHerVote rally.
People have the right to vote while they are detained in jails in New York (as distinct from prisons, where people do not retain the right to vote). The Justice for Women Task Force has been focusing on increasing voter turnout for justice-involved women, and this week we joined them online and in person for their #HerVoiceHerVote #WhatAboutHer actions. After a twitter power hour on Monday, we joined the Task Force for a rally and speakout at New York City Hall. We shared information on voting for formerly (and currently) incarcerated people, as well as useful voting resources. We were proud to stand with loved ones and community groups including our #LessIsMoreNY campaign partner, A Little Piece of Light, and Women’s Community Justice Association at this important action. Check out their resource page, and don’t forget to register to vote today!
- In New York, the deadline to register for the November election is TOMORROW, October 8, 2020. Details about how to register to vote in NY can be found on the NY Board of Elections website.
- In Connecticut, the deadline to register online to vote for the November election is October 27, 2020. The same day voter registration deadline is November 3, 2020. Details about how to register to vote in CT can be found on the State of Connecticut’s official website.
In Case You Missed It:
Last Thursday, October 1st, Lorenzo joined Wesleyan University’s Engage 2020 Speaker Series alongside Alicia Hernandez Strong, Julian Adler, Andrew Clark, Earl Bloodworth and Tracie Bernardi for a spirited and engaging conversation on their work to reform the justice system and their thoughts on the upcoming 2020 elections. The event was covered in Wesleyan’s newsletter, and you can read about it here. If you missed it, you can watch it online here.
And Monday, October 5th, Katal Lead Organizer Kenyatta Thompson joined the People’s Parity Party of the University of Connecticut as a guest speaker during their legislative advocacy workshop. Sessions included a panel with influential advocates actively engaged in Hartford lobbying, a media advocacy discussion with Connecticut political correspondents, and a workers’ rights legislative pitch competition coached by leading employment attorneys and judged by Hartford-area state legislators. We thank UConn for holding space for our team to share knowledge and experience with their students, and we hope to collaborate again! Watch the workshop available online, here.
Keep practicing social distancing, wear your mask, wash your hands, and check in on your neighbors. If you want to get involved, learn more about our work, or just connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
