Back to the Start

Back to the Start Producing narratives by incarcerated people to highlight our nation's systemic and racial inequities.

✨Policy Highlight✨SB 1009 would require a court to reconsider whether continued detention in the juvenile hall is necess...
06/16/2026

✨Policy Highlight✨
SB 1009 would require a court to reconsider whether continued detention in the juvenile hall is necessary whenever the court orders a minor detained in Juvenile Hall. This bill also prohibits detention based solely on minor property offenses that pose no risk to the youth or to others, and requires courts to consider less restrictive alternatives before ordering detention.

🔗 Visit our website at https://www.backtothestart.org/advocacy-legislation to learn more about the bill and what YOU can do to support!


On June 9th at the New Parkway Theater, in collaboration with BAY-Peace, we hosted a duo-film screening of our film ""Re...
06/11/2026

On June 9th at the New Parkway Theater, in collaboration with BAY-Peace, we hosted a duo-film screening of our film ""Reflections Behind Bars"" and a film created by BAY-Peace called ""Free Our Kids"". There was a panel Q&A session right after the films.

It was a packed house. One of our co-leads Jessie Milo, shared his artwork and it was up on display at the theater. Our executive director, Dr. Jenny Espinoza, moderated the amazing intergenerational panel, which included, Brian Asey Gonsoulin, Leilani Salvador, Anthony Ammons, and Tandi ""Tae"" Thomas.

One of the most powerful moments, among many, was when The BAY-Peace Youth Arts Company did interpretive dance performance to the words of a poem by Jessie Milo, who is incarcerated at San Quentin, called ""Change the Future"".

We are so grateful for the opportunity to work with BAY-Peace, and it was a great experience to hear different perspectives and the need for childhood investments in upstream development. We are excited to continue working with allies and help spread the word about these films and the important work that is being done in our communities.

If you would like to partner with us in showing our film, please visit our website at https://www.backtothestart.org to learn more and how you can get involved! 📚 🔗





✨Policy Highlight✨AB 1659 would ensure juvenile court school students have adequate support as they transition from the ...
06/05/2026

✨Policy Highlight✨
AB 1659 would ensure juvenile court school students have adequate support as they transition from the court school during detention and back to their home school district upon release, closing a gap in the current transition process. 📚

🔗 Visit our website at https://www.backtothestart.org/advocacy-legislation to learn more about the bill and what YOU can do to support!


We are pleased to announce that Assemblymember Mia Bonta will be joining our Reflections for Freedom Event on June 9th a...
06/03/2026

We are pleased to announce that Assemblymember Mia Bonta will be joining our Reflections for Freedom Event on June 9th at the Parkway Theater in Oakland.

Stay tuned for announcement of our the rest of our amazing panelists in the next few days.

Brought to you by Back to the Start and Bay-Peace, this double-feature film event and community conversation that uplifts stories at the intersection of intergenerational trauma, poverty, and incarceration. Hear directly from individuals whose lived experiences challenge dominant narratives and deepen our understanding of how cycles of harm take root and how they can be transformed.

Access the QR code or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-for-freedom-tickets-1985963744019?aff=oddtdtcreator to RSVP or for more info.

✨Policy Highlight✨Today, we're putting the spotlight on AB 2247, a bill that provides funding for youth survivors and wi...
06/01/2026

✨Policy Highlight✨
Today, we're putting the spotlight on AB 2247, a bill that provides funding for youth survivors and witnesses of gun violence to receive free, timely mental health and counseling services regardless of immigration status or prior/current involvement with the juvenile justice system.

Visit our linktree to learn more and see how YOU can get involved! 📣


✨Policy Highlight✨Today, we're putting the spotlight on AB 1969, a bill that would reduce child poverty and increase eco...
05/28/2026

✨Policy Highlight✨
Today, we're putting the spotlight on AB 1969, a bill that would reduce child poverty and increase economic mobility's for children and famlies who are disproportionally affected by intergenerational poverty.

🔗 Visit our website at https://www.backtothestart.org/advocacy-legislation to learn more about the bill and what YOU can do to support!

🎥 ‼️ WE ARE 2 WEEKS AWAY from our Reflections For Freedom and Free Our Kids Film Screening! Join us to uplift stories at...
05/28/2026

🎥 ‼️ WE ARE 2 WEEKS AWAY from our Reflections For Freedom and Free Our Kids Film Screening! Join us to uplift stories at the intersection of intergenerational trauma, poverty, and incarceration. Hear directly from individuals whose lived experiences challenge dominant narratives and deepen our understanding of how cycles of harm take root and how they can be transformed.

Access the QR code or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-for-freedom-tickets-1985963744019?aff=oddtdtcreator to RSVP now! 🎟


👏 Thank you to College of Marin and the Rising Scholars program for showing our film ""Reflections Behind Bars"" last We...
05/13/2026

👏 Thank you to College of Marin and the Rising Scholars program for showing our film ""Reflections Behind Bars"" last Wednesday, May 6th! 👏

💜 Shoutout to all the panelists that consisted of the amazing Rising Scholars students and Back to the Start co-founders Brian and Jenny! We appreciate all the panelists being vulnerable and sharing their life experiences and journeys.This film viewing was the kickoff to a much larger event for the general public planned for this fall.

Visit our website at http://www.backtothestart.org to stay updated.

On Tuesday, April 27th, Back to the Start had the opportunity to join numerous organizations and coalitions in the Allia...
05/08/2026

On Tuesday, April 27th, Back to the Start had the opportunity to join numerous organizations and coalitions in the Alliance of Boys and Men of Color Policy Day at the Capitol in Sacramento. We met with numerous Assembly member's offices and advocated for multiple bills with aligned priority areas including Community Safety, Youth Leadership, and Justice.

There were youth and system-impacted individuals from all across California that shared testimonials to assembly member's staff about their experiences, and how each of the bill resonates with them and why its important to advocate and pass each of the bills.

We ended our day with a reception where we were able to connect with different organizations who share similar values and we look forward to further collaborations and advancing legislative efforts to support youth and families.

Visit our website at https://www.backtothestart.org/advocacy-legislation to stay updated on our policy priorities.

We are launching our legislative policy priorities for 2026! Join us as we gear up for action! 📣📚Back to the Start's 202...
04/23/2026

We are launching our legislative policy priorities for 2026! Join us as we gear up for action! 📣📚

Back to the Start's 2026 Legislative Priorities are focused on Health and Education, Investments in Families and Communities, Youth Justice. Investments particularly in upstream development remains our focus, rather than mass incarceration which are only treating the symptoms of policy failures. 📝

Stay tuned in the next few weeks, as we will be highlighting each of the legislative policies.

For more information, to lend support individually or organizationally, please visit https://lnkd.in/g4AhPR8X! 🔗

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PO Box 150778
San Rafael, CA
94915

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