Happy New Year! We are excited to share an overview of what you can expect to read about from Rise this year.
Rise will continue to publish stories by parents for parents about their experiences with the family policing system and recommended solutions. This year, we will continue to explore community-based solutions to harm and ways to build community care outside of system interventions. Throughout the year, we will publish a series on the intersection of domestic violence / intimate partner violence and family policing, highlighting anti-carceral, abolitionist approaches to preventing and addressing domestic violence and gender-based violence.
Our team is eager to continue learning about abolition in a variety of ways, including through a new staff book club! As we learn in community, including from other activists, partners and allies, we will publish reflections, stories and interviews about abolition, focusing on issues such as:
- reducing–and ultimately ending–mandated reporting;
- responding to concerns without engaging family policing systems (or any policing systems);
- sharing community-led, healing justice, and restorative and transformative justice approaches; and
- providing information and resources to support parents and safe, thriving families and communities, including information about legislation and parents’ rights.
We will also continue to share updates about our programs throughout the year, including how you can get involved. Here’s a quick look ahead:
- Organizing: Based on our PAR findings, we are identifying policy and campaign priorities. Our organizing team will be focused on deepening relationships with parents and community members though various community engagement and campaign-focused events.
- Peer and Community Care: We are preparing to launch peer training based on our parent-led vision. We anticipate training our first Peer Supporters this spring.
- Rise & Shine Parent Leadership Program: We are currently accepting applications for the 2022 cohort, which will begin in February!
- Community and Parent Advocate Training: We will continue to offer online training opportunities to parents and communities impacted by family policing. Core Parent Advocate training will begin again in February.
- Communications: In addition to publications, we will offer presentations about our work to community organizations as we develop and strengthen partnerships.
We hope you will continue to engage with us through our events and trainings, newsletter and social media channels (@ReadRiseMag)! Parents impacted by family policing can also complete the Get Involved form on our website to connect with us.
Please help us spread the word about our work with your networks!