Four Successful Events, Two Film Awards, and One Big Thank You!!

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Campaign Update: Four Successful Events, Two Film Awards, and One Big Thank You!!

DEAR FRIEND,

At Books Not Bars, we’re working hard to make sure the solution to California’s
juvenile justice crisis results in closing CYA’s youth prisons and opening new
opportunities for California's youth. Our campaign has been busy this month! Please
take a few minutes to read this update. And don't hesitate to contact our campaign
if you have suggestions, concerns, or ideas. (http://www.booksnotbars.org)

IN THIS UPDATE:
* March 17th: Bringing the Solutions to the Capitol
* March 22nd: Three Major Events Around the State!
* “System Failure,” Now an Award-Winning Film!
* Thank You, Working Assets Members! Making It Happen for the Ella Baker Center!

== MARCH 17TH ==
== BRINGING THE SOLUTIONS TO THE CAPITOL ==

We had a huge day in Sacramento on Thursday 3/17. Along with our allies from
Southern California and the Bay Area, we brought over 60 people to the State Capitol
for a Day of Action. We put on three different events during the day.

First, we released our first-ever Books Not Bars Issue Briefing at a press
conference in the Governor's Press Room. The report shows why closing CYA's
warehouses is the solution to the CYA crisis. It details why current facilities are
set up for failure, and the report points to the national trend away from these
warehouse-style prisons. Big thanks to Dan Maccallair from the Center on Juvenile
and Criminal Justice for co-authoring the report and to Senator Gloria Romero for
sponsoring the press conference. (download the report at
http://www.ellabakercenter.org )

After the press conference, we set up a large photographic exhibit on the steps of
the State Capitol Building to demonstrate the difference between what CYA facilities
look like today and how rehabilitation programs in other states look. The exhibit
was called “Small Is Beautiful: What Juvenile Justice Should Look Like In
California.”

Then, we broke into groups and visited with 17 different offices to share our issue
briefing and talk about the solutions to the CYA crisis. All that in one day, whew!

Our allies made this event possible and successful – tremendous thanks goes out to
Labor Community Strategy Center and Youth Justice Coalition for organizing so many
folks to come up from Southern California and holding it down for LA youth (Free LA
Now!). Also big thanks to Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), Community
Justice Network for Youth, and Freedom Bound Center.

== MARCH 22ND ==
== THREE MAJOR EVENTS AROUND THE STATE! ==

1) Los Angeles Film Screening

Despite torrential rains, we had a packed house for our first Southern California
film screening of “System Failure”. The screening was co-sponsored by the Los
Angeles Free Clinic, at the University of Southern California’s Ground Zero
Coffeehouse. Local juvenile justice officials, staff from statewide policymakers’
offices, and representatives from Los Angeles-based youth service organizations
joined dozens of interested residents. We watched the film, held a lively panel
discussion, got postcards signed, and signed people up to send letters and to
volunteer. Youth Justice Coalition brought exciting news about their efforts to
reduce youth incarceration in Los Angeles and spoke on our panel. Big thanks to the
Los Angles Free Clinic for making this fantastic event possible – you all are the
best!

2) Stockton Film Screening

While folks were braving the weather in L.A., Books Not Bars also brought a “System
Failure” film screening to Stockton. This event in Stockton – home to three of the
eight CYA facilities – proved to be a lively experience for everyone. Staff from
CYA joined interested community members, families of CYA youth and former CYA youth
as we watched the film, held a panel discussion got postcards signed, and signed
people up to send letters and volunteer. A special thanks goes out to Escuelas Si,
Pintas No (ESPINO) for co-sponsoring the event and making it such a tremendous
success!

3) Santa Cruz Tour

While Books Not Bars staff showed the film across the state, our youth group, Let’s
Get Free went on tour to visit Santa Cruz County’s local juvenile justice system.
Santa Cruz has been touted as one of the best counties in the state when it comes to
community collaboration, alternatives to incarceration, and strong programs for
youth. Let’s Get Free members traveled with our allies AYPAL (Asian Youth Promoting
Advocacy and Leadership) to see first hand how a model county system runs. Next
month, Let’s Get Free will release a report on the trip.

== “System Failure,” Now an Award-Winning Film! ==

In the past month, our intense documentary “System Failure: Violence, Abuse, and
Neglect in the California Youth Authority,” has won two prestigious awards. "System
Failure" won the PASS award (Prevention for a Safer Society) from the National
Council on Crime and Delinquency. The PASS award recognizes journalism and media
that bring people to "understand and solve the societal problems" related to
criminal justice, juvenile justice, and child welfare. Also , our film is one of
only 16 films selected to be in the Media that Matters Film Festival.

== Thank You, Working Assets Members! ==
== Making It Happen for the Ella Baker Center! ==

Something amazing and humbling has happened. In 2004, so many customers of Working
Assets voted for the Ella Baker Center on their Donations Ballots that we have just
received a whopping $45,000 grant from Working Assets! Thank you for your votes!
Everyone on our staff is touched and inspired to know that so many people believe in
our work. In a direct and meaningful way, your vote is helping us win our fights for
the solutions that will lift our communities up instead of locking them down.

If you're not sure what this is about: Every year, Working Assets (a progressive
provider of long distance, wireless, and credit card services) gives its customers
the chance to vote for nonprofit organizations to receive money from the Working
Assets donations pool. The money granted to an organization is based on the number
of votes it gets. In 2004, the Ella Baker Center was fortunate to be one of the 50
organizations on the Working Assets Donations Ballot.

Sincerely,
Lenore Anderson
Books Not Bars

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Get more information about the Books Not Bars "Alternatives for Youth" Campaign:
http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaign

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We can't survive without the support of individuals like you. Please take a moment
to support us today. Donate here: http://www.ellabakercenter.org/donate

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