Hello, CJI Community!
We hope you are all safe, happy, and well rested as we move into Spring. CJI has had quite a journey in the last year and a half, and we wanted to make sure you were all up to date on CJI’s initiatives and happenings as we move through a BIG 2024!
GRANTMAKING
We are proud to announce that CJI’s 2023 docket is in the process of awarding a total of $835,000! This includes the largest ever single year of funding through Until She’s Free ($510,000), with special consideration paid toward organizations operating with small annual budgets (roughly $120,000 or less). This is a massive victory for our movement as many recipients are first-time grantee partners and are only just beginning their critical work. As always, we are incredibly excited to support emerging organizations in the movement!
NONPROFIT STATUS
Thanks to hard work of staff, steering committee, and consultants, CJI has been granted its 501(C)(3) nonprofit determination by the IRS! We are taking our time to set up sustainable internal systems and will transition to full independence at the end of the year.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
After a sustained period of transition since summer 2022, CJI used 2023 to reaffirm its commitment to operate as an organization rooted in restorative principles by hosting a series of restorative justice circles and listening sessions with CJI’s steering committee, leadership circle members, and current and previous staff.
These sessions, facilitated by Stephanie Autumn and “Baba” Greg Hodge, provided an open space where folks could reflect truthfully on their experiences with CJI, leading to renewed commitment to our mission and a wellspring of restorative practices implemented throughout the organization.
STAFF
We would also like to share some significant news that our Senior Advisor Aleah Bacquie Vaughn stepped down as a member of the CJI staff on January 31st.
Aleah submitted her letter of resignation on December 20, 2023 as she intends to pursue opportunities outside CJI. We are supporting her in her transition to the next phase of her career.
We want to express our gratitude for her dedicated service in the many roles she held as program officer at the Funding Exchange, program consultant, director, executive director, and, most recently, as a senior advisor. We are excited for Aleah as she enters her next chapter and we extend our best wishes for her success and fulfillment.
2024
2024 is already shaping up to be a BIG year for CJI! We are slated to significantly increase our annual grantmaking totals and lay the groundwork for fiscal independence. With interviews ongoing for the Associate Director position, we are excited to build out our team and continue meeting the needs of the frontlines of the movement!
In April, members of CJI’s leadership circle, steering committee, and staff will meet in-person to engage in community building, dive into strategic planning, and launch the 2024 grantmaking season for CJI.
Please contact us if you have any questions or just want to connect! Jordan can be reached for questions about donations, Fanny can be reached for questions about operations, and taliba can be reached for questions regarding grantmaking and all general inquiries. We would love to hear from you!
THANK YOU!
Thank you all so much for being part of CJI’s incredible community. CJI is and has always been a collection of individuals across all walks of life who are truly, deeply committed to ending mass incarceration. We’ve come this far because of our collective strength, and together we will keep making a positive impact through 2024 and beyond.
The future looks bright!
Forever In Solidarity,
CJI