www.wpaonline.org
Summer 2014
WPA Launches #2ndChances Campaign
What was your second chance? We’ve all been given a second chance - at life, at love… a chance to change direction, to learn a new way, or to right a wrong. WPA’s 2nd Chances Campaign seeks to highlight this shared experience and bring attention to our work to support justiceinvolved women and their families. The campaign aims to entertain, educate, and inspire action. The 2nd Chances Campaign features a video series of personal second chance stories shared by women at WPA, staff, community members and celebrities. We invite you to consider a time when you were given a second chance and to share that story by uploading a video to the campaign’s website www.2ndChancesCampaign.org. There are other ways to give the gift of a second chance. WPA is auctioning a series of exciting celebrity experiences. Orange is the New Black fans can enjoy coffee with Lea Delaria, shopping with the Spanish mamis, or even lunch with “Piper and Piper;” Taylor Schilling and Piper Kerman. Additionally, making even a $5 donation to the 2nd Chances Campaign enters you to win a copy of Orange is the New Black signed by Piper Kerman and cast members including Alysia Reiner, Selenis Leyva, Ian Paola, and more. We invite you to join the conversation, share your second chance stories and enter to win one of our fabulous prizes or experiences.
www.2ndChancesCampaign.org :
Inside
chool S o t k c The Ba here! s i l a e App Women’s Prison Association | 110 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003 Phone: (646) 292.7742 | Fax: (646) 292.7763 | Email: info@wpaonline.org
WPA in the News
WPA’s Executive Director, Georgia Lerner, Addresses Congress on Women and Addiction WPA Executive Director, Georgia Lerner, appointed to Governor Cuomo’s New York State Council on Community Re-Entry and Reintegration Sub-Committee Maria Shriver examines WPA’s innovative alternative to incarceration, JusticeHome. The Today Show Orange is the New Black Builds Support for Reform Women’s E-News The Sister of Second Chances The New York Times Orange is the New Black in Real Life is a Prison Epidemic of Too Many Women in Jail The Guardian On Mothering Before, During, and After Incarceration Al Jazeera America Orange Is The New Black Star, Alysia Reiner, Helps Women In Prison Get A Fresh Start NBC News Click here to view these mentions and more.
Women’s Advocacy Project WPA’s Women’s Advocacy Project (WAP) is a leadership training program for formerly incarcerated women, created by WPA over a decade ago in direct response women’s desire to speak about their experiences and to contribute to efforts to strengthen their communities. WAP provides formerly incarcerated women the opportunity to harness their personal experiences to work toward reform of the systems they have come to know from the inside, including the criminal justice, child welfare and housing systems. While contributing a voice to local and national criminal justice policy discussions that is too often missing, participants also gain self-confidence and new perspectives on their past experiences. Through their involvement with the project, participants build valuable leadership, writing, research, communication and analytical thinking skills that open up new opportunities and contribute to their long-term success. This summer’s class will run through the end of August and will culminate in a presentation of individual and group advocacy projects.
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WPA’s Summer Newsletter
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In this edition: The Back to School Appeal is here! WPA kids get #2ndChances Huntington House Happenings Creative Corner
Sneak Peek!
The Back to School Appeal is here! Each year, WP A serves 500 children whose mothers have or are at risk o f criminal just ice involvement. The Back to Sc hool Appeal raises fu nds to purchase backpacks, un iforms, and sc hool supplies for ea ch child served through WPA. This year, the Back to Schoo l Appeal is runn ing in conjunc tion with WPA’s #2 ndChances Ca mpaign, so we asked ou r kids to tell us about a time they rec eived a second chance. We think their answers will in spire you to support their big dream s. To hear their stori es, please visit www.wpaonlin e.org.
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Please s Back to upport the School Ap today. You can peal make a gift at the end newslet of this ter or b y visiting www.w paonlin e.org.
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Stay tuned for a super-fun gallery event this fall. It will be hosted by the Emerging Philanthropists an d showcase all the great work we’ve done this summer!
ive C orner Find these words: APPLE ARTWORK BACKPACK BOOK CALCULATOR CRAYONS GROWING HOMEWORK LANGUAGE LEARNING LOOSELEAF MARKERS MATH
PENCIL PLAYGROUND PRINCIPAL READING RECESS RULER SCIENCE SPORTS SUMMER TEACHER TEST UNIFORM
Events at WPA Cocktails for a Cause 2014 In May, WPA hosted our second annual Cocktails for a Cause at the Central Park Boathouse where we honored Orange is the New Black’s Alysia Reiner and KiraKira for advancing critical conversations around women within the criminal justice system. Actor Matt McGorry of Orange is the New Black was the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Ms. Reiner, an award winning actress, producer, mother and humanitarian, received WPA’s 2014 Sarah Powell Huntington Leadership Award for her collaboration with Suz Somersall, founder of KiraKira, to produce the limited edition WPA locket. The award recognizes individuals who exhibit vision, compassion and initiative in their professional and personal lives and have demonstrated a deep commitment to public welfare and social justice. Ms. Somersall received WPA’s 2014 Corporate Appreciation Award recognizing socially conscious corporations that demonstrate a commitment to public welfare and social justice. Special guests included many cast members from Orange is the New Black, musical guests The Shaves, and featured guest speaker, Norma Usher. WPA launched this year’s 2nd Chances Campaign with a star-studded video trailer narrated by actress Leah Remini. The event raised over $125,000 in support of programs and services for justice-involved women at WPA. On May 28th, WPA’s Emerging Philanthropists hosted a screening of the film Crime After Crime followed by a discussion with author, attorney and advocate, Joshua Safran, on his book, Free Spirit, and the intersection of domestic violence and criminal justice involvement for women. Thank you to Joshua, our EPs, and everyone who came to support WPA’s awarenessbuilding efforts.
On May 8, WPA hosted our annual Mother’s Day salon and party at Sarah Powell Huntington House. The Body Shop returned to treat our moms to complimentary makeovers. Many of our clients expressed their gratitude for the luxury of professional services. This year we were lucky enough to receive donations from Moroccan Oil and a professional hair stylist volunteered to cut and style hair. While our moms were getting pampered, staff prepared a delicious home-cooked meal. This May, WPA was chosen as the local charity partner of Listen To Your Mother NYC. The event featured stories of motherhood perfomed live at Symphony Space. The LTYM team presented WPA with a generous donation of $5,000. They also introduced us to SheSpeaks, an online engagmement platform that hosted a Twitter Party for WPA in June. The party raised awareness of WPA’s work with nearly 600 participants and 6,000 tweets!
On June 5th, volunteers from Morgan Stanley chaperoned a field trip to The Sony Wonder Technology Lab in Rockefeller Plaza for the children who live at Sarah Powell Huntington House.
On June 6th, WPA’s Emerging Philanthropists hosted a SOLD OUT Orange is the New Black Season 2 Premiere Party featuring an exclusive musical performance by actress Jackie Cruz and a Q&A featuring WPA Board Vice President, Piper Kerman and several cast members.
On June 6th, volunteers from Deloitte spent their annual day of community service filling backpacks for kids returning to school in the fall, assembling hygiene kits for women entering WPA shelters, and packing premiere party goody bags.
Our next corporate volunteer event is a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian sponsored by Shake Shack! Email info@ wpaonline.org to learn how your company can partner with WPA.
On July 16, WPA’s Emerging Philanthropists hosted a CYC Ride to benefit WPA with special guest Jessica Pimentel of Orange is the New Black.
Back to School Appeal
“I appreciate WPA because it helped my mom get us back out of the system. We also get to play and have fun and we do art to help us express ourselves. It’s a great place to be.” - Aayna, Age 9
Donor Talking Point:
Enclosed is my contribution (please circle): $25 $50 $75 $125 $250 $350 Other $_____ Name
You can supply a family in WPA’s Family Treatment & Rehabilitation Program with one year’s worth of school uniforms and supplies with a gift of $350.
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Check payable to Women’s Prison Association Mail to 110 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003 Visa
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