Advocacy
A Fight for Rights
We know that changing the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals is not enough—this change must be systemic. Our team works toward changing laws, policies, and regulations through advocacy and community organizing around issues such as bail reform and the reinstatement of jury duty. Our goal is the full restoration of civil and human rights for people with convictions and the transformation of the criminal justice system from one of punishment towards one of healing.
We Seek Systemic Change for
All of Us or None
The building of a powerful political movement is critical to restoring the rights of formerly and currently incarcerated people and systems-impacted communities. A New Way of Life sponsors All of Us or None—Los Angeles/Long Beach (AOUON-LA/LB), a grassroots civil and human rights organization fighting against the discrimination that people face every day because of arrest or conviction histories. AOUON-LA/LB is central to much of our advocacy work, and consists of 2,330 members and counting. We hold membership meetings the second Tuesday of each month (5:30-7:30PM PST).
We Believe In
Women Organizing for Justice and Opportunity
Our annual training program called Women Organizing for Justice and Opportunity (WOJO) offers a space for formerly incarcerated women to sharpen their social justice leadership skills. The program is built around a select cohort of women who work to design, develop, and implement a project for the reentry community. Each year a new cohort of women is selected and the program runs six months from November through April. Over 200 women have received training through WOJO.
Our Power is in Our Voices
Our Vote is Our Voice
A New Way of Life does voter outreach in our communities and jails, registering our neighbors to vote, helping voters understand complex ballot propositions, and holding forums to bring candidates and voters together. We also do voter inreach, ensuring that people being held in Los Angeles County jails are registered and aware of their right to vote.
“I Testif-i to change the narrative…”
Angela Bass
