Join the women of The W.I.R.E. (Women Involved in Reentry Efforts) for this special event to learn more about the challenges women face returning home from jail and prison, and how you can support a more gender-responsive reentry process. The program will include stories and poetry from the women of The W.I.R.E. There will be a number of door prizes, and refreshments are provided. Please RSVP by registering here.

The W.I.R.E. is a network of previously incarcerated women who have joined together to provide support to women currently incarcerated and women returning from incarceration. The W.I.R.E. provides peer advocacy, and peer mentoring to women involved in the criminal justice system. The women of The W.I.R.E. advocate for gender responsive criminal justice reform that includes: policies, programs, and services that will benefit women and children impacted by mass incarceration.

The women of The W.I.R.E. are also members of The National Council of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls (NCIFIWG). Alongside the council, the women advocate for national legislation including the recent bill introduced by Senator Cory Booker and Senator Warren: Dignity for Incarcerated Women’s Act.

The women of the W.I.R.E. endeavor to elevate the voices of formerly incarcerated women to raise awareness about the mass incarceration of women who are primarily mothers suffering through trauma and endemic violence.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to The W.I.R.E. Training Program. In March of 2017 the first cohort of ten women participated in The WIRE training program. The full day training involved developing skills to improve: leadership, peer coaching, public speaking, and peer advocacy.

Funds will also support holiday resources for a family or families raising children with an incarcerated mother. We will also be accepting toy donations at the event.

Additional funds will benefit our effort to provide children who have an incarcerated mother access to visitation and mentoring.

Why You Should Help?

• Millennial women are being incarcerated at higher rates than any women in American History.
• DC women who are serving time in the Federal Bureau of Prisons are currently housed in facilities as far as Waseca, MN, Carswell, TX and Aliceville, AL.
• Children are denied access to visitation.
• The vast majority of women in prison are mothers with children under the age of 18.
• Growing up with a parent in prison is recognized as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE).
• Providing a mentor young people growing up with incarcerated mothers can fuel their resilience.

RSVP to event