In 2020, Beyond the Bars embarked on a mission to empower people impacted by incarceration and transform the oppressive and exploitative system by addressing the cost of incarceration in Miami.

By 2022, the organization had achieved a remarkable 70% reduction in the cost of jail calls and persuaded administrators to eliminate a daily subsistence fee of $2. This victory brought significant benefits to the Miami-Dade County community, saving impacted families over $5 million annually and erasing $55 million in jail debt. But that’s not all—during a span of 2.5 years, they grew their team from the ground up to include 160 members. They accomplished this by nurturing the leadership of formerly incarcerated individuals and their families through organizing and narrative practices.

Join us on October 4th at 11:30 am Eastern Time to discover and celebrate the successes, challenges, and insights from their extraordinary organizing campaign!

We will be joined by the dynamic team from Beyond the Bars responsible for this achievement: Maya Ragsdale, Executive Director; Katherine Passley, Deputy Director; Angela Pinder, Membership Coordinator; and Organizing Fellows Angela Toribio-Beltres, Ingrid Caputo, Freddie Pierre, and Akeel Williams. Come listen to and celebrate their stories and experiences of reclaiming their voices and power. Explore the lessons learned from their outstanding organizing journey.

This session will be moderated by Nneka Akubeze, and we are honored to welcome Marshall Ganz as a special guest.

What: Organizing for Freedom: How Beyond the Bars Is Challenging the Carceral System

When: October 4th, 11:30 am – 1 pm Eastern Time / 5:30 pm – 7 pm Central European Time

How: Fill out the form below (Registration deadline: October 3rd)

This session is open and free for everyone, so please invite your team, colleagues, and community members!