Center for Community Alternatives

APPLICATIONS DUE MONDAY, JULY 1!

Ready to build power, organize protests, mobilize your community, & change laws?

Center for Community Alternatives' *free & online* Summer Organizing Institute is for formerly incarcerated people &families with incarcerated loved ones. Apply: http://bit.ly/ccasoi2024

CCA is hiring! Click here to see all of our open positions: https://bit.ly/CCAcareer

📢APPLY NOW! Hundreds of formerly incarcerated leaders, loved ones & allies have honed movement building skills our *free* Summer Organizing Institute.

Ready to build power, organize protests, mobilize your community, change laws & WIN?

Apply: http://bit.ly/ccasoi2024

In 2024, we made MAJOR PROGRESS in our fight to overhaul NY’s racist & unjust sentencing laws. Thank you to our members, partners, & supporters for your hard work & commitment. As we gear up for 2025, let’s celebrate how far we’ve come to win .

This legislative session, we DOUBLED the number of lawmakers in support of .

Because of our collective organizing, has 2X as many organizations in our coalition. Now, 220+ groups from every corner of NY are fighting to end unjust & racist sentencing.

Labor unions threw down for ! 12 unions called on lawmakers to pass sentencing reforms to “expand access to essential, living wage jobs, boost the state’s economy, & allow all NYers to contribute to their communities.”

We published op-eds from legislators and directly-impacted leaders, and were covered in over 30 articles or news segments.

New York’s Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, who leads our state’s highest court, publicly supported the passage of the Second Look Act: “If we could pass the Second Look Act, I think we will make a giant step forward.”

In January, hundreds of people from across NY rallied on Albany’s Million Dollar Staircase. Latasha, of , shares: “As a teenager, my fiancee Rommel was sentenced to an unbelievable 112 years to life in prison. Rommel is a prime example of why we need .”

Our Mother’s Day rally centered women separated from their families by unjust and racist sentences. “I started this journey for my son Zack,” CCA member Melanie explained as she spoke about her incarcerated son.

Hundreds of currently incarcerated leaders joined in 2024. Jonathan shares: “It’s 26 & 1/2 years I’ve been in prison. I’m nothing like I was when I came in at 19. You come into adulthood in here, & feel like your whole life passed you by.”

Join the movement to support transformation and bring our loved ones home! Contact your legislators, share your story, and organize with directly impacted families and leaders to fight for . Let’s build for 2025: http://bit.ly/CNCJoinTheFight

PRESS STATEMENT: With less than a week before the end of the legislative session, has made 18 last-minute judicial nominations.

Join CCA on June 17th for a free virtual event highlighting our work across New York State as well as our recent advocacy and organizing wins. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/CCAJune17

In 2021, we launched to end racist & unjust sentencing, support transformation, & bring our loved ones home.

Marvin Mayfield, the late Director of Organizing at CCA, was a visionary architect and champion of this legislation. Last year, he passed on.

During his life, Marvin led transformative campaigns from lived experience & an unwavering faith that things can and will change.

Today, we proudly announce we are renaming The Eliminate Mandatory Minimums Act (S.6471/A.2036A) to the Marvin Mayfield Act in his honor.

Mandatory minimum sentences drive mass incarceration, strip judges of discretion & grant outsized power to prosecutors to coerce guilty pleas. The Marvin Mayfield Act will eliminate mandatory minimum sentences & allow judges to consider the individual factors in a case.

Marvin knew first-hand the harm of mandatory minimum sentences. Growing up in Brooklyn, he was one of five Black kids integrating into an all white school. At fifteen years old, he was arrested for a mischievous prank. With no legal guidance, he took a plea to a felony charge in exchange for 3 years probation.

After high school, Marvin joined the Air Force. Upon his return was brutally arrested & charged with a burglary he hadn't committed & knew nothing about. Because he had previously pled guilty, he was charged as a “predicate felon,” and faced an unjust mandatory minimum sentence.

Over 98% of convictions are a result of plea deals - not a trial. Mandatory minimums perpetuate this system of coerced pleas, forcing NYers to forfeit their constitutional right to trial. Like Marvin, most are convicted without the opportunity to present a meaningful defense.

Marvin fell in love with his wife during a work release program and they built a strong family together. But Marvin continued to struggle with substance use relapses. Each time, he took pleas when faced with lengthy & unjust mandatory minimums.

Together we can honor Marvin Mayfield’s legacy and keep up the fight to overhaul racist and unjust sentencing laws. Thank you to all of our bill sponsors and champions fighting to support transformation and bring our loved ones home. Call your state legislators NOW and let them know you support the Marvin Mayfield Act and : bit.ly/CNCNY

NY state prisons separate thousands of families from their loved ones for decades due to unjust & racist sentences. Today, were with Communities Not Cages, Center for Community Alternatives and all It’s supporters rallying and meeting with our lawmakers to build power for . Take Action: bit.ly/CNCNY

We’re out here supporting & until these bills are passed!! We want our brothers & sisters home where they belong making positive impacts in our communities & spending their remaining years with their loved ones.

"You won’t see bars on the cover. People are writing themselves into new identities. We wanted to create a space for that." CCA is proud to collaborate with Patrick Berry and Syracuse University to make Project Mend - a journal that celebrates the work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their families - a reality.

Creating Identity and Building Community Through Writing — Syracuse University News When students in the College of Arts and Sciences enroll in Associate Professor Patrick Berry’s class on writing and rhetoric, they likely think, correctly, ...

CCA is hiring! Click here to see all of our open positions: https://bit.ly/CCAcareer

MAY 13: The day after Mother's Day, join in Albany for a press conference, rally and meetings with lawmakers to fight for thousands of mothers and children separated by cages in New York State. Free food & transportation. RSVP: bit.ly/CNCFreeOurMoms2024

Join us on Tuesday, April 30 in Westchester for a Clean Slate Town Hall to learn about a new law that will help end perpetual punishment in New York State. We will hear from lawmakers, as well as formerly incarcerated people and business leaders, who will explain the powerful impact of the Clean Slate Act. RSVP here: bit.ly/CSNYApril30

Counted Out, a new documentary exploring the role of math in modern day society, features CCA Deputy Director Glenn Rodriguez and his struggle against the use of predictive software in New York State prisons. Counted Out will premiere at the Cleveland International Film Festival on April 7 + 9 and at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 28. Check out the trailer:

Counted Out Film Trailer In the 21st century fueled by technology, data, and algorithms, math determines who has the power to shape our world. Counted Out investigates the biggest cr...

Thursday, March 7: Join us for the Grand Opening of CCA's Seeds to Roots Youth Action Center in Brownsville, Brooklyn. We'll have a press conference, ribbon cutting ceremony, lunch, and a guided tour. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/SeedsToRootsOpening

"We know we're not here to judge each other on our past, but help each other build the future." Check out WRVO's piece on CCA's Line Cook Training program:

Syracuse nonprofit trains formerly incarcerated people to work in food industry The Center for Community Alternatives is a community partner for Syracuse Stage's production of "Clyde's."

Saturday, Feb. 17: Celebrate the work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their families with the publication of the 2024 issue of Mend—a journal created by justice-impacted people in Syracuse.

Come hear readings about the crisis of mass incarceration, the hidden truth of life before and after prison, and the creative power of the humanities.

The launch party will take place in-person at the Syracuse Central Library from 12-1:30pm ET and on Zoom. To join on Zoom, register here: https://bit.ly/Mend2024

From the state capitol's corridors of power, across newspaper headlines, in neighborhoods, & prison visiting rooms, CCA's members & leaders made history this year. In 2024, we continue our fight to bring our incarcerated loved ones home & end systems of perpetual punishment.

CCA A+O 2023 Round Up Video

Thank you to all who joined us yesterday evening to learn about CCA's Youth Action Center! Your support is critical as we continue to develop innovative, community-based solutions for justice across New York State. To support CCA, click here: https://bit.ly/DonateCCAlternatives

TONIGHT: Join CCA for a free virtual event highlighting our flagship Youth Action Center, an innovative approach to engaging justice-involved youth by providing transformative justice services in the neighborhoods in which they live. RSVP: https://bit.ly/CCADec18

Great news from CCA’s Afterschool Alternatives Program! The program received extremely positive feedback in its Annual Evaluation from 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Check out the graphic for comments from staff and parents excited for their children to be part of a safe, productive, and encouraging afterschool environment.

CCA’s Afterschool Program is in the Syracuse City School District at PSLA@Fowler HS and takes place M - F 2:30pm – 5:30pm. Afterschool Alternatives offers academic support, enrichment activities, and career exploration opportunities as well as workshops in art, poetry, music, health, and wellness.

If your child is a student at PSLA and would like to enroll or find out more about the program, they can stop by RM 251 and speak with the Program Coordinator Ms. Jessica Funderburg or email her at [email protected]

THIS THURSDAY: On Dec 14, join for "Radiant Hope: Lighting the Way to Real Justice and Safety for all." Featuring families missing loved ones this holiday season, we'll hold rallies and light candles across the state. RSVP here: http://bit.ly/CNCRadiantHope

Communities Not Cages: Radiant Hope Statewide Day of Action

Dec. 18: CCA is hosting a free virtual fundraiser highlighting our flagship Youth Action Center, an innovative approach to engaging justice-involved youth by providing transformative justice services in the neighborhoods in which they live. RSVP: https://bit.ly/CCADec18

This Sunday CCA A+O Member, Pamela Stephens, is being honored for her dedication to uplifting the community! Assemblywoman Chandler-Waterman is awarding Pam for her committed work on the Community Mental health Taskforce 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

"NAMI-NYS applauds Governor Hochul for helping to advance by signing the Clean Slate Act on Thursday. Entry into the remains a preventable outcome for too many people living with a mental illness. We must ensure that those living with a mental illness who exit the criminal justice and correctional systems, receive every opportunity to advance their recovery within the community. This historic triumph fills me with hope for my loved one and the millions more who have been perpetually punished due to their conviction records. I am proud that NAMI-NYS has long supported the Clean Slate Act, which allows for certain criminal records to be sealed. Clean Slate will provide a pathway to employment, education, and housing, as well as offer opportunities to those affected who may not have had otherwise. NAMI-NYS is grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment to breaking down barriers that prevent access to mental healthcare."
-Sharon R. Horton- Executive Director, NAMI-NYS

Thank you to the Center for Community Alternatives for your support and advocacy on this measure!

LISJAN is SO EXCITED to help plan the kickoff rally for https://www.communitiesnotcagesny.org !!! Big thanks to Center for Community Alternatives New York Civil Liberties Union Release Aging People in Prison - RAPP for coming to together to support Sentencing Reform and reuniting families.

Dec. 18: Join CCA for a free virtual fundraiser highlighting our flagship Youth Action Center, an innovative approach to engaging justice-involved youth by providing transformative justice services in the neighborhoods in which they live. RSVP: https://bit.ly/CCADec18