MISSION
We are a grassroots organization of system-impacted organizers and researchers who work to cultivate justice, fairness, and accountability in Washington State’s criminal legal system through civic education and empowerment. We operate on an inside-out organizing model, meaning our organization is led by currently incarcerated people working in concert with outside organizers who are primarily formerly incarcerated and/or have incarcerated loved ones.THE PROBLEM
Washington State’s criminal justice system discards lives, especially the lives of young Black and Indigenous People of Color, without a second look. Justice demands more.OUR SOLUTION
We provide peer-led civic education to system-impacted community members. We work to empower directly impacted people with the skills and knowledge to navigate legislative and policy change so that they may advocate on their own behalf. Further, through research and civic education we advocate for evidence-based sentencing practices that recognize the harm inflicted on marginalized communities by outdated criminal justice policies. Read more about our advocacyOUR TEAM
Chelsea Moore is the former Director of Look2Justice. She Co-Founded Look2Justice with her husband, Christopher Blackwell, who is incarcerated. Chelsea holds a PhD in political science from the University of Washington.
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Lead Organizer at Stafford Creek Corrections Center
Jerry “Jay” Thomas is an anti-racist organizer, activist, and abolitionist. He is a Seattle native who was given a 23-year sentence at the age of 23 and is currently incarcerated at Stafford Creek Corrections Center.
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Lead Organizer at Washington Corrections Center
De Vennice “Vennie” Gaines is 45 years old currently serving a 38 year prison sentence at Washington Corrections Center. Vennie is a father, son, grandfather, brother, uncle, facilitator, and mentor.
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Lead Organizer at Airway Heights Corrections Center
Thomus has first hand knowledge of the juvenile-to-prison pipeline. After serving time in juvenile detention at the age of 17, he came out worse off than he went in. Juvie was a place where he, a decent student and athlete.
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Lead Organizer at Monroe Correctional Complex
Andrew Rowe, 49, is on year 25 of a 56-year sentence. He is one of the founding members of the Men Facilitating Change Program, which provides mentorship and resources to prepare younger prisoners for success in their communities.
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Lead Organizer at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center
Vincent “Tank” Sherrill, son, brother, uncle, comrade, and subject matter expert. He’s evolved into a prison organizer, mentor, violence disruptor, peacemaker, youth advocate, and freedom fighter.
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Lead Organizer at Washington State Penitentiary
Anthony Covert has been an active member and charter member of several groups such as Toastmasters, BPC, The A.A.C.C, along with various instructor positions at Washington State Penitentiary.
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OUR BOARD
Board Member & Co-Founder
Christopher is a Washington-based award-winning journalist currently incarcerated at the Washington Corrections Center. He is serving a 45-year prison sentence.
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Board Member
Devon is the Fundraising and Development Director at Collective Justice. He spent fifteen years in prison contributing to the wellness and uplifting of the incarcerated community.
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Board Member
Katherine Beckett is Chair and Professor in the Department of Law, Societies, and Justice and S. Frank Miyamoto Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington.
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Board Member
Cassandra believes in the humanity of people and is committed to working towards collective healing that starts with our youth. She comes to this work as a loved one impacted by mass incarceration and as a survivor of harm.
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Board Member
Wayne (Weezy) DuBois is a living breathing example that it is possible. Growing up in gang culture, overwhelmed with drugs, death and destruction inevitably lead Mr. DuBois to a 20 year sentence for Assault in the 1st Degree.
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Board Member
Martina is committed to the dignity, power, and agency of communities most impacted by interpersonal and state violence. Her work is shaped by her own experiences as a young person on various sides of harm and the criminal legal system.
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Board Member
Jarrelle is an advocate and Tedx speaker. The perspective and intention that Jarrelle brings to this work is of one who has been a first hand witness to, and recipient of, the transformative power that comes as a result of relationship building.
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Board Member
Atif has been a student, teaching assistant, and advisory board member for University Beyond Bars and Unloop, and he now assists in Edmonds College’s Web Application program.
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