Happy Giving Tuesday Friends + Family!
As many of you know, I relocated to Tampa officially in 2021. Since then I have been blessed to continue contributing to the landscape of social justice and grassroots organizing.
Last year, I took a position with Abe Brown Ministries; a faith-based, Black-led non-profit that has been dedicated to supporting returning citizens on the path toward successful reentry for nearly 50 years. ABM was founded by Rev. Abraham Brown--father, preacher, football coach, and get this, high school dean, who, after realizing a former player of his had been arrested, immediately understood that though he had coached them on the field, there was more these young men needed to navigate the trials of life. So, he did something about it: he founded Abe Brown Ministries, formerly Prison Crusade Ministries,
in 1976.
Serendipitous? Maybe. But for a former public high school teacher who pivoted BACK into narrative strategy and strategic communications, I knew there had to be something more. I shared some thoughts on my connection to Abe Brown in a commemorative post excerpted below--one of my first marketing pieces written for the organization:
"As a former educator, I could immediately relate to Rev. Brown the Coach, Teacher and Dean--you leave the day, week, school year feeling like you could have and should have done more. You realize both the position of privilege you're in to make a difference, and how challenging it can be to maintain a positive influence. You quickly realize that though you're doing your best, there are a number of outside factors out of your control that seem, bigger, stronger, and more powerful than anything you could ever defeat on your own."
Now, in this position I get to "educate" or make people aware of the importance of creating safe space for our returning citizens to successfully reenter society, and take full advantage of a second chance, seeing that most people, especially members of groups disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system, never had a first.
Help me reach my goal of raising $300 in these laaassssst few hours of Giving Tuesday! I can guarantee your contribution will do some much needed good. Support Successful Reentry, today!
Your comrade,
Janine <3
