Andrus Family Fund

05/31/2024

Youth First Justice Collaborative is leading a national movement to abolish youth prisons by partnering with and supporting youth decarceration campaigns across the country. AFF Director Mishi Faruqee shares some insight about why Youth First focuses on youth organizing and leadership development:

“Youth First really changed the field in the way people do this work ... these campaigns can’t be successful unless we have young people that were directly impacted by incarceration in the leadership of the campaigns.”

For a deeper understanding, watch this video from Youth First.

05/17/2024

Grantee partners Movement for Family Power, JMacforFamilies, Operation Stop CPS and upEND Movement advocated for mothers affected by the family policing system on Mother’s Day. Joining forces with a coalition of other Black-led orgs, they led the Black Mothers March on the White House to demand the abolition of the family policing system.

Learn more about the Black Mothers March and find a recap of last weekend’s events here:
https://www.blackmothersmarch.com/

On Mother’s Day, Black mamas brought it all to the streets of DC: our love, our grief, and our power.

Movement for Family Power was honored to be on the steering committee of the Black Mother’s March along with co-chairs Operation Stop CPS and the African National Women's Organization and a coalition of other Black-led orgs. This year, we organized a lineup of community events, including a film screening of To Be Invisible, a people’s tribunal, a block party, and of course, a march and rally.

The strength displayed this weekend is a testament to the extraordinary power of Black mamas, families, and communities. We continue to show up for each other, as we always have, with boundless love, deep care, and unwavering resistance.

“When Black families are under attack, what do we do? Stand Up! Fight Back!”

05/09/2024

As Mother's Day approaches, our grantee partners are advocating for mothers impacted by the family policing system.

Join Movement for Family Power, JMACforFamilies, upEND Movement and more in Washington D.C. for the Black Mothers March on the White House. This powerful event unites black-led organizations fighting to rescue children from state custody. Together, they shine a light on the systematic attack on Black women and families by the U.S. government.

For more info, visit here: https://buff.ly/3yghvpu

05/09/2024

As Mother's Day approaches, our grantee partners are advocating for mothers impacted by the family policing system.

Join Movement for Family Power, JMacforFamilies, upEND Movement and more in Washington D.C. for the Black Mothers March on the White House. This powerful event unites black-led organizations fighting to rescue children from state custody. Together, they shine a light on the systematic attack on Black women and families by the U.S. government.

For more info, visit here: https://buff.ly/3yghvpu

05/03/2024

Our board members recently visited Montgomery, Alabama for an educational opportunity focused on the legacy of slavery and racism in America. The visit included tours of the Legacy Museum, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the "Mothers of Gynecology" monument. This retreat deeply moved attendees — challenging them to reimagine the true story of our nation, confront past injustices and honor the courage of overlooked heroes.

Browse our photos to see highlights from the visit and gain insight into this collective experience by reading a reflection by our Program Officer here: https://lnkd.in/eARFCHWn

04/15/2024

We recently spoke with new board member Lucero Noyola about her journey from direct service to philanthropy. Lucero’s path challenges conventional norms, showcasing the immense value of lived experiences in driving meaningful change.

Read the full blog post to learn how Lucero is embracing her role on the board and using her insight to shift power in service of communities. ➡️ https://affund.org/the-value-of-lived-experience-meet-aff-board-member-lucero-noyola/

03/22/2024

The last episode of our podcast series Organizing for Abolition. Envisioning Liberation. featured two of the leading voices in the family policing abolitionist movement, Kristen Weber of the National Center for Youth Law and Alan Dettlaff of upEND Movement. In our new bonus episode, Kristen and Alan continue the conversation — sharing alternative policy and advocacy strategies that can hold family policing systems accountable while ending harm and improving conditions for families.

Watch the full episode here: https://buff.ly/4asFtfh

You can also listen to the conversation here (or on your favorite podcast player): https://buff.ly/3x3q4DD

03/07/2024

The Action Lab NY will kick off two new fellowships in April for organizers who want to accelerate their impact.

1. The Art of Purpose will enhance your strategic skills, foster relationships through embodied practice, energize your community and align your staff.

2. Strategy School will deepen your understanding of organizing forces, master strategic campaign fundamentals and sharpen your analysis.

Both cohorts begin on April 17, 2024, with retreats in Ossining, NY. 📆 Deadline to apply is March 15, 2024. 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://buff.ly/3v5ZetN

Updates Strategy School & Art of Purpose Cohort Applications are Live! The Action Lab will launch its 2024 cohorts in April, and all interested organizers are invited to apply. In both, participants will build fellowship with one another to learn how we are shaped by our history and current conditio...

02/14/2024

We recently got the chance to speak with new board member Tyler Pakradooni about his experience with AFF so far. From a lifelong connection with family philanthropy to evolving perspectives on abolition, learn more about Tyler's journey in this blog post:
https://buff.ly/3SFjKsW

01/30/2024

While youth incarceration has decreased over the past decade, youth of color still face higher incarceration rates than their white peers. Recent data from grantee partner The Sentencing Project indicates that the disproportionate incarceration of Black and Tribal youth remains largely unchanged compared to a decade ago, whereas Latinx youth have seen reduced disparities compared with their white peers.

Get a detailed understanding of state-by-state incarceration rates by race and ethnicity in The Sentencing Project’s fact sheets: https://buff.ly/3S9mBKM