“[Kemba] Smith’s story is not an anomaly. Across American history, Black women have borne the consequences of policies and practices designed without them in mind.” —Julianne Malveaux
Read more: jlusa.org/2026/03/09/k...
#WomensHistoryMonth #BlackWomen #JulianneMalveaux
“I never thought of construction as a career. … [But I went] from flagger to project manager—no degree—in about seven years.” —Crystal Voight (Leading with Conviction™ 2024)
Listen to the full interview: https://jlusa.org/2026/03/04/crystal-voight-on-the-justus-speaks-podcast/
Earlier this week, we announced a new partnership with the producers of the award-winning #documentary “In Their Hands,” which is airing on ~100 #PBS stations across the country throughout the month of April, #SecondChanceMonth.
Learn more: jlusa.org/2026/03/06/l...
#InTheirHands #ViewingParties
“The only solution is to engage in mass action and mass voting that will allow the truth to come out that will lead to dramatic reform in our #criminaljustice system.” —Rev. Jesse Jackson
We remember #JesseJackson on the day of his homegoing ceremony: jlusa.org/2026/02/17/r...
#RevJesseJackson
“#ThePitt, the medical drama streaming on #HBOMax, aired Season 2, Episode 6 on February 12 & turned its focus to a different kind of emergency: hunger behind bars.”
Read more: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/27/season-two-of-the-pitt-tackles-prison-food-and-violence/
#PrisonConditions #BasicHumanNeeds
The JCC is launching #SecondChancesInAction this April, and we want you to be a part of it.
Join leaders across the country as we work to reclaim opportunities, rebuild reputations, and break the chains of the past in order to start fresh. Sign up now: justuscc.org/secondchances
DeAnna Hoskins, JustLeadership USA President & CEO, will be on #RolandMartinUnfiltered w/ Roland S. Martin tonight at 6:15pm ET to discuss the State of OUR Union, Building a More Perfect Union: JustUS for Every American!
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/rolandsmartin
Marcus Kelley (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) talks about his work to end the legal slavery exception clause in the #13thAmendment, and his goal to restore #votingrights for federal elections to anyone in prison.
Listen now: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/25/marcus-kelley-on-the-justus-speaks-podcast
In Maryland, 70% of collateral consequences are, what?
○ Education-related
○ Employment-related
○ Healthcare-related
○ Housing-related
Take the quiz: jlusa.org/quiz
#Quiz #CollateralConsequences #PermanentPunishments #Maryland
“Commissioner Stanley Richards … [talks] about his plans for #Rikers, dealing with the corrections officers’ union, and working alongside the newly appointed remediation manager.” #NYC
Listen now: https://www.wnyc.org/story/nycs-new-department-of-correction-commissioner-on-his-plans-for-the-job/
Robyn Hasan-Simpson (Leading with Conviction™ 2022)
Robyn Hasan-Simpson (Leading with Conviction™ 2022) says women coming out of prison need more reintegration support than is currently available.
Read more: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/23/robyn-hasan-simpson-on-the-survivor-justice-act-in-georgia-and-what-comes-next
#IncarceratedWomen #Reentry
“The bill would require the Board of Pardons and Paroles, starting in March 2027, to publish a list of names that have qualified to have their #votingrights restored and the county in which they reside.”
Read more: www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news...
#Alabama #Democracy #ParoleBoard
We are grateful that the GAO met with directly impacted people as part of its research for this new report!
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107353
#GAO #BOP #OurExperienceIsOurExpertise
“‘Like A Hammer’ is an anthology of #poems that unearths the shared traumas produced by America’s #incarceration system.”
Read more: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/20/new-poetry-anthology-like-a-hammer-unearths-the-traumas-produced-by-the-u-s-incarceration-system/
#PrisonIndustrialComplex #Poetry
“Nicole Boynton was the first woman freed as part of #Georgia’s #SurvivorJusticeAct, putting a national spotlight on how courts discount abuse in homicide cases—especially for #Blackwomen.”
Read more: https://19thnews.org/2026/02/georgia-survivor-justice-act-nicole-boynton/
#CriminalJusticeReform
Derrell Frazier (Leading with Conviction™ 2024)
Derrell Frazier (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) recently released a new report on creating second chances for Maryland’s justice-involved youth.
Read more: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/18/derrell-frazier-releases-new-report-on-creating-second-chances-for-marylands-justice-involved-youth/
“We write as pro-life organizations to urge the immediate reinstatement and enforcement of federal protections that prevent the detention of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women.”
Read more: aleteia.org/2026/02/17/p...
#ProLife #UnlikelyAllies #ICE #DHS #Immigration
JustLeadershipUSA sends its thoughts and prayers to Rev. Jackson’s family and loved ones. We mourn with the nation as we all grieve the loss of one of our greatest leaders.
Read more: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/17/remembering-jesse-jackson-for-his-record-on-criminal-justice-reform/
#JesseJackson
“The Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose impassioned oratory and populist vision of a ‘rainbow coalition’ of the poor and forgotten made him the nation’s most influential Black figure … died on Tuesday. He was 84.”
Read free gift article @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/u...
#JesseJackson
Saad Soliman (Leading with Conviction™ 2019), center-right
Saad Soliman (Leading with Conviction™ 2019) talks about collaborating on “Courageous Conversations: #Israel & #Palestine” at UNC’s School of Civic Life & Leadership.
https://jlusa.org/2026/02/16/saad-soliman-on-having-courageous-conversations-and-building-a-just-world-beyond-blame-and-cancellation
“Those of us who have gone through … being in the prison system … have a unique way to be able to kind of push forward.” —Melissa Ludin (Leading with Conviction™ 2024)
Listen to the full interview: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/11/melissa-ludin-on-the-justus-speaks-podcast/
#Podcast #JustUsSpeaks
This #ValentinesDay, show your commitment to justice. Support JLUSA’s #leadership programs for #formerlyincarcerated individuals. Your gift empowers leaders to rebuild their lives, mentor others, and drive systemic reform. 💖
jlusa.org/donate
#JLUSAstrong
“Several former Black #NFL players are in the national spotlight after receiving presidential pardons from President Trump, a move that has reignited conversations about redemption, accountability and #secondchances in America.”
https://rollingout.com/2026/02/13/black-nfl-players-pardoned-by-trump/
“[Gregory] Singleton, a formerly incarcerated voter, shared … why many justice-involved people still don’t realize they’re eligible to cast a ballot after completing their sentences.”
Watch now: https://cardinalpine.com/2026/02/12/north-carolina-voting-after-prison/
#NCpol #VotingRights #Democracy
“Cooper, #formerlyincarcerated herself, views increased restrictions on who gets to vote, on both a state and federal level, as a ‘familiar playbook’ to disenfranchise Black Americans.”
Read more: marylandmatters.org/2026/02/11/a...
#VotingRights #Democracy #Maryland
“‘Senate Bill 168 is about respecting Kentuckians enough to let them decide this issue for themselves.’ Senators Keturah Herron [Leading with Conviction™ 2019] and Gerald Neal are co-sponsors on the bill.”
Read more: www.whas11.com/article/news...
#Kentucky #Marijuana #CannabisJustice
Melissa Ludin (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) talks about balancing her work with the ACLU of Wisconsin and being a partner and a mother of four boys.
Listen now: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/11/melissa-ludin-on-the-justus-speaks-podcast
#Podcast #JustUsSpeaks #Wisconsin #ACLU
TW SA:
“Before it closed in April 2024, the federal prison was known as the ‘rape club’ for rampant sexual assault and retaliation against incarcerated women who spoke out. Prisoners also reported unsafe building conditions and medical neglect.”
Read more: wagingnonviolence.org/2026/02/figh...
What percentage of women who were or are currently incarcerated have been victims of domestic violence?
○ 15%
○ 35%
○ 55%
○ 75%
Take the quiz: jlusa.org/quiz
#Quiz #CriminalJusticeReform #IncarceratedWomen #WomenInPrison #DomesticViolence #SurvivorJusticeAct
“Being justice-impacted [I know] there’s so many people in my community that aren’t seen as ‘citizens,’ b/c they don’t have the right to vote or … housing … jobs.” —Kyle Giddings (Leading with Conviction™ 2024)
Listen now: https://jlusa.org/2026/02/04/kyle-giddings-on-the-justus-speaks-podcast/
