Who We Are
She Was Once Inc. is a policy and advocacy organization led by people who were directly impacted by the United States legal system. It is based in Hartford, Connecticut, and serves people across the country.
She Was Once Inc. provides leadership, mentoring, and training for people who are interested in tackling complex systems that affect people of color. She Was Once Inc. utilizes tools through education, leadership, and policy change to shift systemic barriers for people impacted by the United States legal system which has traditionally oppressed people. Our activities place humanity, dignity, and constitutional rights of all directly impacted people at the forefront while recognizing that trauma has endured much of our lives before and after incarceration.
MISSION
Our mission is to address issues related to the United States legal system by implementing knowledge, skills, and practices that prevent violence, incarceration, and reduce harm.
She Was Once Inc. works locally and nationally. We use a harm reduction framework in that we “meet people where they are at” in rehabilitation, recovery, and current knowledge of policy and advocacy. We strive to bring people forward by training and active learning.
VISION
Our core values are justice, fairness, and equity. We strive to bring humanity to harmful practices.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is composed of people with various backgrounds including women and men of color. The board of directors has extensive experience in violence prevention, community organizing, social work, policy, advocacy, and live experience of the United States legal system.
They have worked closely with people who come from various backgrounds and have trained a number of people on best practices to reduce harm. Some are founders of grassroots organizations, licensed professionals, JLUSA alumni, and employed by partners such as Yale University.
She Was Once Inc. Advisory Board consists of people with “lived experience” who are considered to be experts in their experience in the United States legal system. This includes family members.
She Was Once Inc. engages people impacted by the United States legal system as “experts” in their experiences from the outside to the inside, and back to the outside of society. She Was Once Inc. to build capacity for training and education of others interested in dismantling the United States legal system as we know it. It is harmful practices and procedures have historically torn individuals, families, groups, and communities apart.
Our Programs
What We Do to Make a Difference in the Lives of People Who Were Formerly Incarcerated by the Legal System in the U.S.
The Pardon Program
The Pardon program was designed by formerly incarcerated people to assist other people impacted by the legal system to receive a pardon expungement in Connecticut. It is a no-cost service utilizing a peer-to-peer model. This program is unique in that it addresses the trauma and anxiety of people impacted by the legal system to navigate and complete the application to receive an expungement pardon in Connecticut. It is a series of 2- two-hour sessions with comprehensive mentorship throughout the process from start to end. People are required to pay for their own fingerprints and statewide background check at the time of application. This program is held in the capital city four times a year and is available to those with access to a computer via the internet.
CT Inside Voice Podcast
The purpose of CT Inside Voice Podcast is to be the voices of those deliberately silenced at the moment. We bring awareness to issues faced by people inside prison walls. This podcast was also established in order to create systemic change by educating people who are not aware of issues and move them into action.
Policy, Advocacy, Projects in Supporting Formerly Incarcerated
At She Was Once. Inc, interns are assigned projects related to policy and advocacy work for people who were directly impacted by the legal system in the United Stae
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