Critical Resistance

National Work - Strategic Communication activities have included: Wrote and distributed press releases; organized and facilitated spokesperson trainings; distributed regular written communication to CRs national email list; interviewed with national radio and press; organized and participated in digital events and webinars; consistent social media communication; Produced and distributed The Abolitionist, a bilingual newspaper written by imprisoned people and non-imprisoned people, sent to over 5,000 imprisoned people, and over 300 non-imprisoned people; supported the development and circulation of nationally oriented resources around criminal justice, sentencing, and organizing strategy. Leadership Development activities have included: Conducted capacity trainings and workshops with our staff and members in areas including campaign planning and implementation, base building, fundraising, media advocacy, organizational development, and strategic planning; provided trainings, workshops, and presentations for community members and organizations across the country; undergoing and providing trainings for organizational security; created a new position for a Campaigns Manager; hired, on boarded, and trained a new National Media & Communications Director. Organizational Development activities have included: Continued to shepherd the execution of CRs 2024-2028 National Strategic Plan; coordinated national grassroots fundraising activities; organized digital and in-person events and webinars; continued to build out our contact management system and train staff on how to use it; continued to build out prisoner correspondence infrastructure and capacity; held an in-person all staff work planning retreat and in-person work planning retreats for smaller staff teams; hosted work planning sessions for several national working groups; continued to strengthen our security practices for digital organizing, in-person mobilizations, and physical office spaces; hosted regular training sessions for our longstanding political education curricula; began a 3-month audit with outside consultants to improve organizational Human Resources infrastructure and practices; created a new chapter, CR Central Appalachia.

Other Program Accomplishments Combined - Strategic Communications activities have included: Supported the creation of media materials for NYC, LA, Portland, and Central Appalachia coalitional work; organized and facilitated spokesperson trainings in NYC and LA; distributed written communication to CRs Portland, NYC, LA, and Central Appalachia regional email lists; and interviewed with regional radio and press, produced educational materials and graphics related to campaigns. Maintained the NYC, LA, and Portland prisoner mail programs; created press releases and communications materials to support advocacy of immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York, as well as what the Portland city budget could fund instead of policing; created and distributed communication related to the Dignity Not Detention campaign in NY, the campaign against FCI Letcher in Kentucky, and the work to reduce the policing budget in Portland.Leadership Development activities have included: Conducted capacity building trainings and workshops with our Portland, NYC, LA, and Central Appalachia members in areas including regionally specific campaign planning and implementation, base building, fundraising, media advocacy and organizational development; held in-person events and gatherings in Portland, LA, and NYC; provided trainings, workshops, and presentations for community members and organizations across Portland, NYC, and LA. Organizational Development activities have included: Held in-person workplanning retreats in our CR NYC, Portland, LA, and Central Appalachia chapters, and continued implementation of annual workplans; coordinated regional grassroots fundraising activities. Supported the onboarding and development of new chapter members in NY, LA, and Portland. Supported the creation of a new CR regional chapter in Central Appalachia and supported onboarding of those new chapter members. Grassroots Organizing activities have included: Implemented our campaign work through: public educational events; produced educational and organizing materials; held in-person and virtual mobilizations aimed at building broad-based community member engagement and grassroots support; organized actions and public events to build community member engagement and grassroots support in Portland, Los Angeles, and NYC; developed and presented workshops about our campaigns. Continued our Dignity Not Detention NY legislative campaign in New York through organizing in-person rallies, public forums, and engaging volunteers through virtual gatherings. LA chapter continued its work in the CA prison closure campaign by supporting the relationship-building with California prisoners and their loved ones, contributing to the legislative strategy, organizational outreach, and media work. The Portland chapter built grassroots power with individuals and local organizations to advocate for a reduction to the Portland policing budget. The Central Appalachia chapter continued to attend coalitional meetings and gatherings, and build relationships with community members to advocate to halt the construction of a federal prison in Letcher County, Kentucky. Continued Zachary Project fund committee to support members in times of crisis. Dispersed funds, and distributed communications to the funds email list.