Latest

Outreach Director: Based in San Francisco, CA or Washington, DC Application deadline: Friday, April 3 Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a grassroots political advocacy organization with a member network of thousands and a national staff of six, is seeking a highly motivated, well-organized individual to help promote alternatives to the failed War on Drugs. This is a full- time, entry-level position that is ideal for a person with prior student organizing experience. SSDP currently employs two outreach directors. Due to the growing demand for our advocacy, we are hiring a third outreach director, who will be based in San Francisco, CA or Washington, DC. Interested individuals may apply for the position in either location. Although our intention is to fill the position starting in April, graduating seniors will be considered. If you cannot start full-time before May or June, we will consider starting the position on a part- time basis prior to graduation. Duties of the outreach director include: 1) Assisting students who wish to start SSDP chapters: The outreach director receives several chapter startup inquiries each day. He/she promptly responds to each inquiry and guides the student through the process of establishing a chapter on campus. The outreach director is also responsible for the development of trainings and materials that will benefit students working to start new chapters. Information on new chapter progress is tracked using database software. 2) Proactive recruitment: The outreach director proactively recruits new students to start chapters by tabling at schools, concerts, conferences and other events. He/she is sometimes asked to travel for a week or more to a specific state or region with the goal of identifying students interested in drug policy reform. 3) Providing campaign support to established chapters: The outreach director works with the associate director on developing materials and the execution of grassroots campaigns. The associate director takes the lead on creating resources for campaigns, while the outreach director works with new and inexperienced chapters on implementation. 4) Event planning: The outreach director coordinates events that require many different components (e.g. outreach, logistics, materials, etc). These events include international and regional conferences, small fundraising events, campaign rallies, and demonstrations. The outreach director is trained and supervised by the associate director, and reports directly to the executive director. Qualifications include a passion for getting young people involved in the political process; exceptional interpersonal skills, particularly when meeting new people; the ability to communicate orally with comfort and conviction, particularly over the phone; succinct, persuasive, inspiring writing, plus a close attention to detail; comfort with working nontraditional hours (occasional nights and weekends), as this is when students are most available; a desire to travel, and the ability to work well away from the office; experience working with and managing volunteers; and a firm belief that students will play a key role in ending the War on Drugs. Qualities/abilities that are valuable, but not necessary, include a demonstrated dedication to drug policy reform; experience with student organizing & activism; and a working knowledge of Apple products, Microsoft Excel, and Facebook. To apply, interested applicants should e-mail a one-page cover letter and one- or two-page resume to Executive Director Kris Krane at [email protected]. In your cover letter, please indicate (1) how you learned about SSDP’s job opening, (2) why you are interested in working with SSDP, (3) why you think this particular position is a good fit for you, (4) what experience you have in student organizing or drug policy reform work and (5) which of our offices you are interested in working from (San Francisco, CA or Washington, DC) and if your desired location is flexible. Feel free to include any additional information you deem relevant, not to exceed one page. Salary is $28,000 - $32,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include health care and the satisfaction that comes along with changing the world for the better. Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an equal opportunity employer. SSDP has a strong commitment to diversity and, as such, women, people of color, LGBT individuals, and individuals who have been directly affected by the Drug War are encouraged to apply. If you submit a cover letter and resume, SSDP will respond to you within two weeks with either a request for additional documentation, or notification that your application is being considered. Please visit http://www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com for more information about our mission and campaigns.

Dear Friends, We are pleased to announce to report that the selection of a world-class Board of Directors for our upcoming Safe Streets Arts Foundation is progressing well. We encourage others to continue to apply, however, since there are additional seats we wish to fill. We are striving for maximum diversity. The new Safe Streets Arts Foundation will take over (from the Prison Art Gallery) and expand our annual Kennedy Center program "From Prison to the Stage" which features the work of imprisoned and formerly imprisoned playwrights and composers. The Safe Streets Arts Foundation will also establish and oversee a network of prison galleries across the U.S. (and potentially overseas) under the sponsorship of other nonprofit organizations; using as a model our successful Prison Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. Listed below are the impressive and distinguished backgrounds of some the people who have been initially accepted to serve on the Safe Streets Arts board. Their names are being withheld pending final notification of all accepted applicants. Current board members selected include: • An established artist, art curator and art professor whose art is featured in a well known gallery. For the last six years she has been a mentor to imprisoned artists at a famous women's prison. • A former prisoner who produces and hosts a popular broadcast program for a major radio station. While in prison he formed a singing group that successfully performed and toured after the members were released; including a stunning and moving production at the Kennedy Center. • A warden of a large men's State Prison who holds a PhD and believes that "Art programs boost self-esteem." She previously served as warden of a maximum security women's prison and is a national speaker on modern prison initiatives. • A Social Scientist and professor of Criminal Justice who acquired his graduate degree after his release from prison in 1991. He has served on government commissions responsible for funding billions of dollars into community development and crime prevention programs. • A former elected official who is currently a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. An international traveler and collector of art, he holds a law degree and a master degree in International Affairs. If you are interested in submitting an application for a position on the board, please send a resume and a brief letter of introduction and interest to: Prisons Foundation C/o: Board Selection Committee 1600 K Street NW Suite #501 Washington, D.C. 20006 Yours for justice, Dennis Sobin #206757 C.T.F. D-3B #10 1901 E Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003 A CALL FOR SUPPORT: The Prisons Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the arts and education in prison and alternatives to incarceration. We are now accepting tax deductable donations. The support of our supporters, quite bluntly, is what keeps us going. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Prisons Foundation so that we may continue to promote the arts in prison and help encourage the wonderful atistic talent we cultivate everyday. *Note the views in this letter are those of Dennis Sobin. Please send your comments directly to him.

National: Bipartisan, Religious Support for Federal Disenfranchisement Reform Erika Wood of the Brennan Center authored a Politico article on the Poverty Forum's support for the Democracy Restoration Act. The coalition of Christian leaders and policy experts from both conservative and liberal camps sent its recommendations to the Obama administration in what has been called a "rare instance of true bipartisanship." Federal legislation, soon to be introduced by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), would restore voting rights to people with felony convictions who are out of prison and living in the community. Alabama: Lobbying Against Disenfranchisement Bill Grassroots advocate Kenneth Glasgow of The Ordinary People's Society is lobbying against a bill that would revoke voting rights from individuals regardless of the offense they were charged with, the Dothan Eagle reported. The proposed bill would increase the number of crimes that involve moral turpitude from about 15 to more than 70 and revoke the voting rights of people charged with those crimes. Currently, individuals who have committed a crime of moral turpitude - including murder, robbery and rape - are disenfranchised. State Rep. Randy Wood, (R-Anniston), the House sponsor for the bill backed by Attorney General Troy King, said individuals who would lose their right to vote under the proposed bill would truly show that they are interested in being a part of society by applying to the state Pardons and Parole Board to have their rights restored, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. "I'm not saying I don't want people to have the right to vote, but losing the right to vote is part of the punishment," said Rep. Wood. "This way, if you serve your time and paid your debts to society, you can apply to have your voting rights restored and go vote." Sen. Bobby Singleton, (D-Greensboro) is drafting a bill that would do exactly the opposite of the King bill by giving individuals who have completed their sentences automatic restoration. "When you take a person's voting rights, you take them from being able to get public housing, public assistance, student aid, Pell Grants. They can't get a business license," Glasgow said. "It puts them in a position where they have a sentence for a certain amount of time, but the collateral consequences last a lifetime. Those of us who have been incarcerated who have paid our dues to society are not second-class citizens, we're second-chance citizens." Today, a press conference is scheduled at noon at Freedom Park, followed by a Criminal Justice Summit from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wallace College Hank Sanders Technology Center, Meeting Room 105. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org.