An evening of culture and cocktails as we raise awareness for Just Leadership USA. Complimentary cocktails for a donation of $20 at the door. 
Luxury Raffle Items provided by House of Horology Watches and other partners
Hosted by Actor/Activist Gbenga Akinnagbe, Liberated People founder

October 28th, 2014
7PM-10PM

Blind Barber
339 East 10th Street, NY NY 1009

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Just Leadership USA (JLUSA) has the audacious goal of cutting the US prison population in half by 2030, and will achieve this goal by empowering people most affected by incarceration to drive policy reform. Founded by national leader and criminal justice reform advocate Glenn E. Martin, JLUSA:

1. Develops and supports formerly incarcerated leaders
2. Builds and sustains an engaged national membership
3. Drives policy advocacy efforts on the local, state, and federal levels

What problem is the project addressing? Today, there are more than 2.3 million Americans behind bars; this number has quadrupled from approximately 500,000 in 1980. Contrary to what many believe, violent crime is not the primary reason for the unprecedented incarceration rate in the US. Rather, ineffective policies such as the “war on drugs,” mandatory minimum sentencing, and “three strikes” laws have fueled this explosive growth.

We believe that America’s most challenging barrier to systemic criminal justice reform is the absence of clear and consistent leadership by those who have been directly impacted. No longer can those ‘closest to the problem’ lack a seat at the table; in fact, we believe that criminal justice reform will not achieve a meaningful tipping point until these voices have helped America to fully understand the impact of existing policies on individuals, families, and entire communities.