Amelia herrera

chapter organizer | baton rouge

I have always perceived society as divided between the haves and the have-nots, but it wasn't until I experienced the impact of the criminal justice system that I truly understood the starkness of that division. The injustices faced by formerly incarcerated individuals and their families don't dissipate upon reentry into society; instead, they intensify. The dearth of support and resources, particularly for people of color and, notably, women serving as the heads of their households, is strikingly inadequate. The repercussions of these injustices ripple through families and the communities to which they belong. It is this awareness that fuels my advocacy for the rights of formerly incarcerated individuals and their families, focusing on critical areas such as housing, mental health, employment, and education. In a world supposedly founded on principles of freedom and liberty for all, I believe these rights should be extended universally, eradicating the biases and barriers that perpetuate the distinction between the haves and the have-nots.