Every act of interruption contributes to the ongoing efforts toward structural change.

This month's #newsletter highlights #abolitionist publications, including an op-ed written by Jean Casella of @solitarywatch.bsky.social and Dr. David Cloud of The Bellwether Collaborative for Health Justice) cataloguing the harms of #SolitaryConfinement & urging #prisons to eliminate the practice.

I wrote this for my dear friend Macklin, who has been a beautiful example of living truly to one's self and one's values. Mack is the model, the photographer, and the inspiration, and she asked me to share this for #TransgenderDayOfVisibility. #poem #poetry #poet

✨ CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS ✨ So many of our inside pen pals are #creators. Through writing, drawing, and a variety of artistic expressions, they bring color into a world desperate for glimmers of beauty. Here are two opportunities for folks on the inside to submit their work for publication ⤵️

Dr. Norman C. Francis lived a long life devoted to the advancement of civil rights in our nation, with a notable impact on higher ed. He advanced U.S. history as a lawyer, a man of faith, and the longest-serving president of Xavier University. #BlackHistoryMonth

Do you believe in #soulmates? #poem #poet #poetry

Black women have a long history of powering the #abolitionist movement. 👀 5 women we're spotlighting for their advocacy in abolishing ongoing slavery in the US 🧵 “Prisons do not disappear social problems, they disappear human beings.” - Angela Davis #BlackHistoryMonth #PrisonAbolition #Abolition

Reflections on Men in Power #poem #poetry #poet

Strong journalism is not de@d! Keep your eyes open. Major props to @lopatto.bsky.social for this piece.

Looking to deepen your capacity to tangibly disrupt, intervene in, and transform harm and conflict? Outside pen pal and long-time L4L volunteer Nathalie is offering a season of Rehearsals in Defiance, and all are welcome! More info 🧵 ⤵️

Excerpt from tonight's #poem

what are you trying to protect if not children from monsters?

💞

#Empathy is the truest proof of #humanity. #poem #poetry #poet

Confessions in the Darkness. #poem #poetry #poet

"Relationships across are complicated, but they are also powerful. They teach us how to show up for each other in ways that are honest, sustainable, and rooted in mutual respect."

As we contemplate last night's #BuffaloBills loss, it's important to remember that the DOJ has released less than 1% of the #EpsteinFiles. #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles

This week I remembered that I am a marvel ✨ #poem #poetry #poet

This month's #newsletter puts the spotlight on @DriveChangeNYC, a team of change makers supporting young people who've been directly impacted by the American legal system by providing culinary & hospitality training, social support, & pathways to advance their economic mobility & overall well-being.

My wish for every person alive 💖 #poem #poetry

Fuck ICE. Gestapo out now.

Birthday #poem! 🪞 Background image by @tuvalolandphoto #poetry #poet

In this season of giving and receiving, consider forming a connection with someone inside the prison system. We're hosting one orientation this month for new pen pals who are looking to experience the gift of friendship. Join us on Saturday, December 13 at 2pm ET to join the L4L community!

"#Poetry is one of the most beautiful shadows a civilization can cast across time." - Tamsyn Muir

Write yourself a love letter. Write yourself a sonnet. Write yourself a thank-you note. Love yourself—and put it in writing.

I've learned to listen when the Universe speaks to me. #poem #poet #poetry

"Lists" (excerpt) #poetry #poem #poet

Keep going Keep growing Keep glowing

walking out of the polling place her child looked up at her and asked "who did you vote for?" and she picked up her sticker with a smile and said "the good guys"

Interested in expanding your community? We hold regular orientations to onboard new pen pals, so we can match more people inside and outside the prison system to connect through letter-writing. No registration required — check out our website (linked below) for the details on how to join the call!

"The Alabama Solution" is an essential new documentary that dives deep into the realities of Alabama's #prison system. These horrors are not unique to one state in our nation's 50. As part of the path toward #abolition, it falls on us to demand transparency, humanity, and accountability.

When you run social media for an organization/band, you do a lot of liking/commenting/sharing of your own content to feed into the algorithm and boost engagement. Maybe try treating yourself that way, too. 👍 Like what you put into the world 💬 Talk to yourself (nicely) 🔁 Share what you care about

Mary Oliver’s questions have been on my mind. #acrostic #poem #poetry #MaryOliver #Poem133 #TheSummerDay

No one cares about your shitty green lawn. Leave the leaves. 🍂

Sometimes it's a roller coaster, sometimes it's a fright fest. You're still the one I wanna go through time with <3

If no one told you that you did a great job today, tell yourself! It's a really nice thing to hear, especially when it comes from one of your toughest critics <3

Requesting all platforms immediately stop autocorrecting <3 to an emoji heart thxxx

Lookin' at you, most world "leaders" #haiku #poem #poetry

I just want my friends to take care of themselves the way I would take care of them with none of the societal expectations to work harder and longer and faster and only rest when it's time to sleep I just want my friends to find peace in quiet the way we were all meant to

Don’t shut it out. Feel the fury and sorrow and pain. But find joy, too. #poetry #poem

This change of seasons is a big one for me. After 8 years in many roles, I'm leaving the Americans of Conscience Checklist. Gratitude to the wonderful folks I’ve volunteered with, the celebrations & rages we’ve shared, & the countless actions we’ve crafted & amplified to empower a kinder nation. (🧵)

Our favorite season is the fall 🍂 of the prison-industrial complex. Build community with folks on the inside by joining our pen pal program 💌 This month's open orientations are: 🍁 Oct 11 2pm ET 🍁 Oct 20 6pm ET 🍁 Oct 26 6pm ET 🍁 Oct 27 6pm ET No registration required! 🔗 to attend is below ⤵️

The way the U.S. government is upending our already precarious #immigration system is inhumane and heartless. I encourage you to learn the truth of these changes. And for the love of all things, I beg you to care. www.thisamericanlife.org/868/the-hand...

This is the affirmation that opens Assata Shakur's brilliant and lyrical autobiography, "Assata." May she rest in power. May we continue to believe.

Just #voted in my grocery co-op board race! #LocalElectionsMatter #EveryElectionMatters

"to love oneself enough to change is a higher form of living than obstinate stagnation" You matter more than they could ever understand <3 #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransLivesMatter #poetry #poem

Today I was nominated as best Rock Lead Female Vocalist in my region, and my Fleetwood Mac tribute band received a nomination in its category, too 🕊 And still, it's amazing that my mom telling me how much she loves my poems and how deeply they reach her feels better than any of it 💚

Aw, hbd LJ <3 (even if I totally forgot about you)

You ever been let down by someone you've never met and now somehow it feels like they've betrayed you in the worst way you could imagine, when really they'll never even know that you exist?

Recorded tonight's #poem because I want to remember how I feel right now #GoBills #poetry