Sisters in Solidarity Reentry Network
Supporting the leadership of formerly incarcerated Black women who are championing the movement for culturally-affirming, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed reentry services for women and girls.
The Sisters in Solidarity Reentry Network supports the leadership of formerly incarcerated Black women championing the movement for culturally-affirming, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed reentry services for women and girls. It is a collaborative space where members learn, share their expertise, and organize to address the most pressing issues facing formerly incarcerated Black women and girls returning home from incarceration.
Our Vision
Black women and girls returning home from incarceration have equitable access to resources, services, and supports they need to transition home, reconnect with family, achieve economic prosperity, feel safe, and to heal.
Why We Created the Sisters in Solidarity Reentry Network
The number of reentry programs and services targeting Black women and girls does not match the current need. The Prison Policy Initiative estimates that 1.9 million women are released from prisons and jails each year—that means about 1 in 8 people released from prisons and more than 1 in 6 people released from jails are women. Despite the growing number of women with incarceration experience—many of whom are Black, as they represent a disproportionate share of the women’s prison population (29%), compared to 13% of women in the community—the vast majority of reentry services are designed for men and are not responsive or equipped to address the needs of women. Women returning home from incarceration have greater and more intensive service needs than men, as well as different needs altogether. Black women, in particular, face significant barriers to service.
Formerly incarcerated Black women have been at the forefront of advocating for increasing the availability of gender-responsive and trauma-informed reentry services, often creating their own programs to support the women whose freedom they are fighting for.
What We Do
The Sisters in Solidarity Reentry Network supports the leadership and amplifies the expertise of formerly incarcerated Black women leading reentry programs and advocacy centering Black women and girls.
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Network members share programming and advocacy best practices within the network and with the field at large and steer the development of practitioner resources (such as guides and toolkits).
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Network members engage in deep, strategic discussions on issues and topics affecting their work.
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Network members receive training and attend workshops (such as fundraising strategy, launching advocacy campaigns, narrative storytelling, self-care, and preventing burnout) to enhance their knowledge and skills, focusing on organizational capacity and sustainability.
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Network members are awarded grants, coupled with technical support, to help them to develop or scale projects, initiatives, programs, and campaigns.
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Network members collaborate on advocacy campaigns advancing safety, wellbeing, and opportunities for directly impacted Black women and girls.
Network Goals
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Increased availability and access to culturally-affirming, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed reentry services for women and girls.
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Broad recognition and public support for reentry services created with, for, and by directly impacted Black women and girls.
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Demonstrated commitment from policymakers at all levels of government to invest in and ensure that reentry services meet the needs of all people returning home from incarceration, especially Black women and girls.
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Deep connections and partnerships between network members that strengthen individual and joint efforts to serve and advocate for formerly incarcerated Black women and girls.
Members of Sisters in Solidarity Reentry Network
