Good morning everyone,

How are you doing this morning? I hope you are energised and happy with the work you have done over the last week. There's still a few hours to go before the weekend so if you need to cram any wee achievements in you definitely have the time.

Last Friday I was reminded by the excellent Margo that writing to your elected representatives is also a good thing to do. That forms the backbone of this week's newsletter, and then there are some matters arising from last week.

And now! Writing to your representatives! Maybe you are already into this, in which case you can skip this block of text and move on to the links. If you are not, though, it might be that you feel a bit weird about writing to a stranger with your opinions. I used to feel that, certainly, but then I got used to it and now my MP knows only marginally fewer of my thoughts than, like, you do. All they need to know is:

• Here is the thing I care about

  <ul>
  	<li>e.g., I write to you today as I hope to better understand your position on restorative justice.</li>
  </ul>
  </li>
  <li><strong>Here is why I care about it</strong>
  <ul>
  	<li>e.g. ,Restorative justice has repeatedly been shown to produce significant reductions in recidivism, yet it is not a part of the approach to reducing crime in the area you represent.</li>
  </ul>
  </li>
  <li><strong>What are you going to do about it</strong>
  <ul>
  	<li>&nbsp;e.g., Please let me know what you, and your party, plan to do to advance restorative justice as an approach in the area you represent.</li>
  </ul>
  </li>
  

Once you have that scaffolding it's quite easy to add facts and evidence as wanted. Also the thing that I always forget is that you need to put your full name and address on an email to your representative most of the time.

Here's how to find who to write to in the UK:

https://www.writetothem.com/

and the US:

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/

I used restorative justice in my example up there, and you might have guessed that there is a reason for that. Here's an interview with architect Deanna VanBuren, and her work in and with prisons to advance restorative justice:

Those working in criminal justice may become defensive as their role within the context of the system appears to be under threat - or if ideas about designing spaces for refuge and rehabilitation conflict with entrenched ideas about crime and punishment. Both are often seen as soft options. Examples of New Zealand are intriguing to people and sometimes helpful in advocating for restorative justice, but often what is more impactful are the stories of our interactions with the men and women in prison.

https://www.archdaily.com/419868/restorative-justice-an-interview-with-deanna-vanburen/

Actually now that I've written all that, Reductress have also done a guide to writing to your elected officials and it might be better than mine:

People around the country are making their demands clear in efforts to defund police brutality, abolish prisons, and dismantle other systems of racial inequality. And among your protest actions, you’re going to want to learn how to contact your representatives. We’ve put together some easy tips in the guide below, which we’ve now amended to include a bit about wearing Kente cloths.

https://reductress.com/post/a-guide-to-calling-your-reps-that-now-mentions-not-to-wear-kente-cloth/

And now, an update on the bail funds analysis! Last week I could not find bail funds for New Mexico or Arkansas, and this week I can. Your contribution is going to be extremely welcome in either or both of these places:

• New Mexico (second lowest median income, fourth highest arrest rate)

  <ul>
  	<li><a href="https://abqpeaceandjustice.org/index.php/donate">https://abqpeaceandjustice.org/index.php/donate</a></li>
  </ul>
  </li>
  <li><strong>Arkansas</strong> (third lowest median income, thirteenth highest arrest rate)
  <ul>
  	<li><a href="https://www.arfreedomfund.com/">https://www.arfreedomfund.com/</a></li>
  </ul>
  </li>
  

Finally, artist Anna Chapman Parker put a series of drawings on sale, with all of the proceeds going to bail funds I highlighted in my analysis. They are beautiful, sold like hot cakes and are getting protesters out of jail:

http://www.annachapman.co.uk/wildflowers/

Have a great weekend, team 💗

A xx.