Trans Pride Initiative

Prison Committee / Prison Letter Writers Virtual Meetup

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Remote Participation: We always need people to help write letters, and we encourage people around the nation and even around the world to join us! All you need is an internet connection and a willingness to help our siblings in prison!

Seeking Spanish language writers: We are always seeking more people to help with Spanish letters and translations.

Ideally we would like several people to share the work. If any of the persons who have written Spanish letters in the past are interested in writing, we would love to have you join us again, as well as new persons! We never want anyone to feel overwhelmed with the demands of this work, so we try to spread it out!

Our meetings are informal and the agenda can be changed, so let us know if there is something you want added!

1. Intros and check-ins

2. Updates and general info shares

• Edovo unfortunately was on an "upload hiatus" in June, so our Pride Inside video was not posted; hope it is soon.
• Article on trans persons in BOP: writer Haille Lieberman contacted TPI for help with connections for her article on the trans abuses in the federal system.
• FCC backtracks on prison phone rate controls, delaying enforcement that was to start January 2025 until April 2027.
• On July 9, BOP ended ability to send digital messages to multiple recipients. No impact to TPI, but many orgs will be hurt.
• TPI completed PREA audit comment letters for Goree, Huntsville, and Hightower units.
• Reporter Reminder: ask good sources if it is ok if we provide their contact information to journalists.
• Open discussion of any other information or relevant knowledge to share with others?

3. Discussion and questions about letters you are working on

• Update from Dani discussing Ms. Snuggles' proposal for a new program.: Many regular writers know Ms. Snuggles . . . she is trying to start a new program  addressing self-harm and peer support, and is asking for advice. Dan is working with her. We will discuss and see if we can help her.
• What questions do you have about letters you are working on? Folks involved in other groups can ask about those letters as well; we are all doing this work together! 

4. Letter example (login required to see letters)

• This week we will talk about 15-day lock downs that are occurring, limits to what we can do, and suggestions. We will use the May 28 letter from TPI in this folder as a starting point.
• As we have time, for the next several meetings, we will discuss excerpts from a conversation Nell had with an advocate in Connecticut that works with people in TDCJ. This person has coordinated and worked with TPI for several years, and this text is what was provided when Nell asked questions about how they do advocacy.
  
• And as always, bring up a letter you have seen but don't know how to address, we can put it on the list to talk about! This doesn't have to be a TPI letter, it can be any prison letter.

5. Go over letter writing process for new folks, if needed

The main link you need is the link to our prison letters tracking tool, which is where we find who to write and log letters completed.

For access, you will need a password. Just click register on the login screen and follow the instructions. If you have trouble, please let Nell know at nell@tpride.org.

And our public data explorer tool gives part of the larger picture to which you are contributing!

Our blog has a Prison Abolition Resources page here. We welcome your suggestions for additions!

If you were forwarded this email or are seeing it on the web and would like to subscribe, you can subscribe here!

Our mailing address is:

Trans Pride Initiative

P.O. Box 3982

Dallas, TX 75208

Our physical address is:

907 Morrell Avenue, Suite 101, Dallas, Texas 75203