Free The Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network

The majority of our activity is spent building a permanently organized base in communities disproportionately impacted by mass incarceration. We do this by educating communities in Pennsylvania on just criminal legal policies and how they can have their voices heard on issues that concern them and by moving them to action. We conduct door to door canvassing in neighborhoods in Philadelphia and beyond to speak to community members face to face and educate them on their rights, the law and the democratic process that underpins both. We educate them on upcoming elections and speak with them about what is at stake for our communities in these political contests. As our activity has evolved we have developed a program where we distribute free food in our communities and also use that as a point of connection to educate the community about their rights and the law and encourage participation in the democratic process. We engage in other mutual aid events such as giving away school supplies to provide material support to the community while conducting political education. Additionally, we host town hall meetings and events on issues that are impacting our community such as the overdose crisis and the impact of gun violence on our neighborhoods.