Learning together

Why I changed my mind on having second chances at life after prison : The Hill 
...Georgetown University professor Marc Howard invited me to address a group of several dozen prisoners who are enrolled in the Georgetown Prison Scholars Program last month to discuss American national security policy inside the jail. That same afternoon, Marc had taught a lesson to a group of students, half from Georgetown University and half incarcerated individuals from the facility, as part of his course for credit on criminal justice and prisons. I had not seen so many people in orange suits in one place since the last time I visited an American military jail in Afghanistan, where members of the Taliban made up the majority of the detainees. My experience in the District of Columbia was much more uplifting because of the attitudes and aptitudes of the individuals with whom I spoke.
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How Indianapolis employers are adjusting to hiring ex-offenders amid tight labor market
William Troutman Jr., 46, got his second chance at a recycling center. He started as a picker on the presort line, then he got his forklift certification. He was recently promoted.  He makes $10.50 per hour working the floor where recycled material gets compressed and shipped away. "This place opened the doors when they didn’t have to for a lot of offenders, and opening doors really gives offenders a new light," he said. Troutman said he first become involved in the justice system at 16 in the early 1990s.
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College Behind Bars: PBS A film by Lynn Novick. Stream all episodes November 25 at 9/8c.
Explore the transformative power of education through the eyes of a dozen incarcerated men and women trying to earn college degrees – and a chance at new beginnings – from one of the country’s most rigorous prison education programs. 
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#AirGo! Episode 211 
AirGo Radio brings you Monica Cosby: organizer, activist, and mother who was incarcerated for 20 years in the state of Illinois. She now works for the Westside Justice Center, is the lead organizer of Moms United Against Violence and Incarceration, and is a wonderful and valuable spirit in the Chicago movement community. She talks about growing up in Uptown, the lessons about liberation and abolition she learned while inside, the transition after coming home, and a very special moment that makes Damon cry.
Check it out on Apple Podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/…/ep-211-monica-co…/id1016530091…

Self-led Learning page lists historic offerings and more to help deepen your knowledge.

UUPMI Events

PIC 101  ::  Second Unitarian
Sat. February 1st      ​10 am - 2:30 pm
656 W Barry - Chicago IL
Register here

Events you should know about

Black & Pink Holiday card party
Chicago Freedom School
719 S State St, 4th Floor, Chicago
Sunday December 15th - 1 - 6 pm

An evening with Daniel Epstein:
Institutional bias and corruption in Illinois's court system, and how to fix it.
Unitarian Church of Evanston
Wed. January 29th @ 7 PM
         DATE CHANGE
Daniel Epstein served clients in the Supreme Court of the United States and in jurisdictions across the country, including Illinois, where he witnessed deep systemic problems in our justice system. 
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Click here for more information about events

Our Mission

We equip UU's in Illinois to ​transform institutions and support people harmed by the prison industrial complex.  Read More

HUGE Celebrations for Monica Cosby:
FIELD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST LEADERS FOR A NEW CHICAGO AWARD RECIPIENTS -- The Field Foundation today announced the 14 recipients of its inaugural Leaders for a New Chicago award, supported by a $2.1 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to expand the definition of leadership in Chicago.
“In Chicago we have no shortage of brilliant minds working every day to change lives and reshape our city,” said Angelique Power, president, the Field Foundation. “We are so honored to be in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation as we hand over a megaphone, share resources, and then sit back and watch as these incredible people continue to soar, bringing our city to more just and beautiful places than we could’ve ever imagined.”

THE 2019 LEADERS FOR A NEW CHICAGO AWARDEES ARE:
• Monica Cosby, a leader of the participatory defense work at Westside Justice Center and one of the leading advocates for incarcerated women and the fight for post-incarceration rights in Chicago.
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We need your help! We can sustain this ministry only if we have the support of people who care about our shared humanity with people in prison. Your contribution will help fund our quarter-time minister’s salary, benefits, and travel costs, plus the costs of our education offerings to congregations.

The In Prison Ministry works to create a spiritual space where all people can come as they are and be affirmed in their inherent worth and dignity, no matter their identities or past harm they may have caused. 

The outside work of the UU Prison Ministry focuses on preparing our congregations to become radically welcoming places for formerly incarcerated and convicted people. We embrace the call of Unitarian Universalism to make our congregations accepting of all people.

​The Prison Ministry will also connect UUs to local and state-level policy  initiatives that seek to build a world community of peace, liberty and justice for all.

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UU Prison Ministry of Illinois is a 501(c)3 organization, so your contributions are tax-deductible.

​We are funded in part by the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility - and grateful for their support.