Stigmatization vs the power of humanizing and rehabilitation

• We believe that providing an authentic window into the lives of the currently and formerly incarcerated, their stories of success and struggle, can change the way they’re viewed by society, make the criminal justice system more rehabilitative, and dramatically reduce the stigma that perpetuates barriers to their restoration.

Dignity for all

• We believe that all sides portrayed in the stories of the incarcerated deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity, and journalistic values provide a framework for achieving that goal.

Real, uncensored, unfiltered voices

• ​We believe that the real, uncensored voices of the incarcerated need to be elevated, based on their own decisions about which stories are important to tell, using their own skills in journalism and storytelling, without the filter or repackaging of mainstream media tastes to promote an inclusive narrative

Teaching to fish

• We believe that if you teach someone to fish, you feed them for a lifetime.  In everything we do, we prioritize empowering the incarcerated to achieve success through education and their capability and efforts, elevating their own voices using platforms that they build and manage.  

Accountability and integrity and trust

• We believe in transforming the system (criminal justice, carceral, and societal) to be more humane, just, rehabilitative, and restorative; and we practice a high standard of accountability and integrity to honor the trust of those in the system who we work with.  

Importance of nourishing and honoring a diverse community

• We believe that powerful systemic change occurs at the community level.  We have a duty to cultivate and nourish diverse communities of progress and honor the contributions of their members and supporters.

Collaboration over competition, lifting all boats

• We believe every voice should be elevated to make a difference. We value mission-aligned organizations and support efforts to elevate the voices of all system-impacted individuals.  We prioritize collaboration over competition and believe the progress of each part of our collective community will lift all boats.