Freedom Conversations
The Freedom Conversations series was designed to maintain the momentum from the 2024 “UnConference” held in Dallas, whether you attended or not. It will help you engage your family, friends, local activists and faith community around issues resulting from the carceral state in our country.
What should I expect?
No previous knowledge, training or experience is necessary to join the Freedom Conversations. Participants generally include faith leaders, members of faith congregations, community activists, those involved in justice-related work, social justice students, impacted families and returning citizens.
Freedom Conversations brings some of the leading experts on the issues surrounding mass incarceration in the U.S. directly to you. All interactive Zoom sessions will include actionable steps you and those in your community can take to make a positive impact. You’ll also have access to follow-up toolkits that will help guide the process every step of the way.
JOIN THESE MONTHLY SESSIONS AND HELP END MASS INCARCERATION
Virtual meetings are held on the dates listed below from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Coming Up!
2025 Schedule and Topics
Death Penalty
- Understand the origins of the death penalty in the U.S.
- Learn what people of faith can do in the movement against capital punishment.
- Find local and national examples of work to change policy, including in Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
- Create a plan to organize with those in your community to abolish the death penalty.
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
2024 Schedule and Topics
Unlock the Vote
(Part 1)
- Common Misperceptions about the voting rights of returning citizens.
- Post-carceral voting rights and how to restore them.
- Strategies for getting-out-the-vote among returning citizens.
& Conditions
- Solitary confinement and its impacts.
- Prison labor and treatment of the incarcerated.
- Strategies to end the exception to the 13th Amendment and influence change in the criminal legal system.
Unlock the Vote
(Part 2)
- Ensure voting acess for all
- Tackle voter suppression
- Ensure returning citizens understand their voting rights and how to restore them.
- Mobilize communities to influence change in the criminal legal system.
Policing
Fines & Fees
- What faith teaches about protecting the poor from inequitable punishment.
- Historical origins of fines and fees.
- How fines fund law enforcement systems.
- Compare local and national practices.
- How to fight unjust fines and fees.
Welcoming
Returning Citizens
- Importance of welcoming faith spaces for returning citizens.
- Understand immediate needs after incarceration.
- Build a faith-based movement for policy reform.
- How to engage in this critical work.
2024 Schedule and Topics
Unlock the Vote
(Part 1)
- Common Misperceptions about the voting rights of returning citizens.
- Post-carceral voting rights and how to restore them.
- Strategies for getting-out-the-vote among returning citizens.
& Conditions
- Solitary confinement and its impacts.
- Prison labor and treatment of the incarcerated.
- Strategies to end the exception to the 13th Amendment and influence change in the criminal legal system.
Unlock the Vote
(Part 2)
- Ensure voting acess for all
- Tackle voter suppression
- Ensure returning citizens understand their voting rights and how to restore them.
- Mobilize communities to influence change in the criminal legal system.
Policing
Fines & Fees
- What faith teaches about protecting the poor from inequitable punishment.
- Historical origins of fines and fees.
- How fines fund law enforcement systems.
- Compare local and national practices.
- How to fight unjust fines and fees.
Welcoming
Returning Citizens
- Importance of welcoming faith spaces for returning citizens.
- Understand immediate needs after incarceration.
- Build a faith-based movement for policy reform.
- How to engage in this critical work.
