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Month: March 2024

WATCH: Mother-Daughter Duo in Atlanta Discuss Their Fight for Prison Reform, Impact of the Carceral System on Women

Posted on

For Immediate Release

March 6, 2024

ATLANTA – United Women in Faith, the largest denominational organization for women kicked off Women’s History Month with a short film on the carceral system’s impact on women.

“Never Give Up: Cynthia and Michelle’s Faithful Fight Against Mass Incarceration” centers the story of Michelle Morrison, an Atlanta-based Black woman victimized by the carceral system. It weaves together her story of incarceration, the atrocities of the carceral system for women of color, and how the support of her mother, Cynthia Morrison Holland, a leader in United Women in Faith, helped her overcome the odds. 

The film was shot, produced and directed by Ania Freer, an award-winning Australian-Jamaican filmmaker and founder of Goat Curry Gallery. The story begins with the 2007 arrest of Michelle on felony counts of murder due to driving a friend who was involved in an altercation that resulted in homicide via gun violence. Despite not participating in the violence, Morrison was charged on 12 counts of felony murder and received a life sentence, requiring a minimum of 30 years in prison. This over-sentencing aligns with the disparities inflicted on Black women who are incarcerated at 1.6x the rate of white women, and account for one-third of the female prisoners serving life sentences.

This film shares the intimate journey of one faith-filled mother who overcomes incredible odds to win her daughter’s freedom. In doing so, Never Giving Up: Cynthia and Michelle, A Mother, A Daughter and the Faithful Fight Against Mass Incarceration invites the whole church, and especially Christian women, to join this mother-daughter duo in the ongoing work of ending mass incarceration.

The film also touches on the abuses women face in the prison system and the terrible conditions. “That place is terrible. If you don’t have a strong support system, or strong belief system, or a strong foundation in God you will rot away” explains Michelle.

But, at the end, this is a story of persistent and faithful action in the face of overwhelming injustice as lived by one mother who was committed to “never giving up” on her daughter. Despite the sentencing, Cynthia never forgot or abandoned her daughter. She supported her through her thirteen excruciating years of incarceration and ultimately secured her release by getting her daughter’s sentence reviewed and modified by a state-level integrity task force. Michelle continued her education, even throughout her incarceration, obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Life University. Michelle believes that “having a mom that stood beside me, came to see me every weekend, and never gave up meant more to more to me than anything.”

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United Women in Faith is a faith-based organization that aims to help connect and nurture women through Christian spiritual formation, leadership, development, creative fellowship and education to inspire their local and global communities.

 

 

 

 

Ohio Child Care Providers and Parents Secure Major Changes to the Child Care & the Development Block Grant

Posted on

For Immediate Release

March 5, 2024

COLUMBUS – Ohio families can breathe a little easier thanks to the hard work of several child care providers and parents affiliated with The CEO Project, a division of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative. The group submitted testimony in August 2023 on proposed rule changes to the Child Care & the Development Block Grant and outlined ways the federal government could better support children, families and child care providers. On Friday, March 1, the federal Office of Child Care responded to the testimony and granted many of the things the child care providers from Ohio sought.

The Office of Child Care specifically wanted input from child care providers in Ohio, Georgia and Colorado about the impact of proposed changes on parents and providers. The CEO Project convened 12 leaders from cities such as Cincinnati, Columbus, Lima and Youngstown for input; 5 of them shared testimony with federal officials. They also urged child care advocacy organizations in Minnesota and other places to also submit testimony.

As a result of their advocacy, the Office of Child Care agreed to:

  • Ensure equal access to child care by limiting copayment to 7%. (§ 98.45)
  • Structure payment based on enrollment not attendance. Rather than require it outright, there is qualifying language “to the extent possible” but it is a step forward. (§ 98.15)
  • Increase parental choice via the use of contracts and grants. (§ 98.30)
  • Assume presumptive eligibility for 3 months prior to establishing eligibility. At a Lead Agency’s option, a child may be considered presumptively eligible for up to three months and begin to receive child care subsidy prior to full documentation and eligibility determination.

“Every child care worker knows what its like to care for a child, only to find out months later that the parent is not eligible for subsidized care, and the provider therefore doesn’t get paid. This isn’t right and the new rule change will give the state time to determine eligibility and will help ensure providers are not working for free,” said Tamara Lunan, director of The CEO Project.

“These changes are a major win for Ohio children and families, and could not have happened without the courage of parents and providers with The CEO Project,” Lunan added. “The CEO Project is the first ever grassroots effort led by women of color childcare providers in Ohio organizing for structural change to the childcare system. In July 2023, we urged our network of child care leaders with The CEO Project and our national partners to collect comments from other providers and parents about the proposed changes. We then submitted those comments for consideration to federal officials. We wanted to highlight the true impact of the rule changes on ordinary child care providers and parents who desperately need accessible early childhood education and care. This work is the direct result of childcare providers reclaiming their power and fighting for their communities.”

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Revolve Fund Has Generated $10.9M in Additional Capital Access for People of Color-Led Businesses and Nonprofits

Posted on

For Immediate Release

Feb. 29, 2024

BALTIMORE – With over $2 million in philanthropic dollars raised since 2020, Revolve Fund has helped entrepreneurs of color secure $10.9 million in additional capital for their businesses and nonprofits through direct leverage, co-investment, referrals, and strategic guidance. Founded and managed by James Wahls, Revolve assists entrepreneurs of color and other organizations committed to supporting entrepreneurs of color that have been historically underfunded by traditional financial systems.

Initially piloting strategies in Baltimore, Maryland and Detroit, Michigan, Revolve Fund has provided grant funding to entrepreneurs nationally. Moreover, with a grant from the Surdna Foundation, Revolve is further expanding by developing and implementing an U.S. Southern pilot strategy in partnership with other similarly committed organizations, funders, and investors.

“For entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders of color, systemic barriers and racial and ethnic wealth gaps continue to disproportionately prevent their businesses and nonprofits from obtaining equitable capital access,” Wahls said. “Revolve intentionally deploys catalytic ‘friends and family-like’ or institutional funding, which are critical factors for entrepreneurial success.”

Research indicates Black families and other families of color often have less disposable income for funding businesses and nonprofits. In 2019, the median net worth of white families was 7.8 times that of Black families. Additionally, Latino-owned businesses are more likely to experience funding shortfalls than white-owned businesses.

Revolve Fund offers recoverable grants and strategic business support directly to organizations or collaborates with community development financial institutions, nonprofits, venture funds and business incubators and accelerators. This approach is designed to foster capital access without creating financial harm while maximizing Revolve’s industry expertise and grantees’ sourcing, underwriting and portfolio-monitoring capabilities.

Revolve Fund will continue its capital fundraising over the next 18-36 months. Revolve’s past and current funders include the Annie E. Casey Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Open Society Institute – Baltimore, PNC Bank, and the Rockefeller Foundation.

As Revolve Fund’s managing director, Wahls brings over 15 years of experience in the philanthropic, impact investing and legal sectors. With stints at the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan, Wahls has managed or co-managed $250 million-plus in impact investing allocations comprised of grant, equity, debt and direct investments. In addition to Revolve, notable strategies he has designed or led include the Baltimore Small Business Support Fund and the Detroit Entrepreneurs of Color Fund. Wahls also executed investments nationally in affordable housing, financial inclusion, quality job creation and community development.

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