Katal Center For Equity Health And Justice Inc

KATAL WORKS TO BUILD THE LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZING CAPACITY OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX TO SELF-ADVOCATE AND TAKE ACTION TOGETHER FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE. THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, WE WORKED TO ADVANCE EQUITY, HEALTH, AND JUSTICE.

THIS YEAR, KATAL CONDUCTED OUR FLAGSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM-- BUILDING LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZING CAPACITY (BLOC). PARTICIPANTS IN BLOC LEARN: COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND HARM REDUCTION TOOLS AND STRATEGIES, AND HOW TO USE THEM FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE; HOW TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN GROUPS, COALITIONS, AND CAMPAIGNS; AND HOW TO ORIENT ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY WORK TOWARD UNDOING SYSTEMIC RACISM AND BUILDING MOVEMENT.BLOC PRIORITIZES THE INCLUSION OF YOUNG PEOPLE, WOMEN, AND PEOPLE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WHO WANT TO ENTER THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FIELD. THIS YEAR, WE TRAINED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, CAMPAIGN STRATEGY, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. WE COACHED DOZENS OF INDIVIDUAL LEADERS, ADVOCATES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ON STRATEGY AND PRACTICE. WE ALSO TRAINED DOZENS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, ADVOCACY AND POLICY GROUPS, NETWORKS AND COALITIONS, FOUNDATIONS, FAITH GROUPS, AND MORE. KATAL EXPANDED OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE ACROSS CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC, WE MADE THOUSANDS OF NEW CONTACTS, MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE, AND TRAINED DOZENS OF NEW COMMUNITY LEADERS. THIS EXPANSION OF OUR REACH ALLOWED US TO EXTEND OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. KATAL STAFF AND MEMBERS EDUCATED DOZENS OF LAWMAKERS ABOUT ISSUES UNDER REVIEW IN STATE LEGISLATURES. WE MET LAWMAKERS TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT POLICIES AND PROPOSALS RELATED TO EQUITY, HEALTH, AND JUSTICE. KATAL'S COMMUNITY ORGANIZING LED TO THE PASSAGE OF MAJOR PAROLE REFORM LEGISLATION IN NEW YORK. AS A RESULT, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE RELEASED FROM JAILS AND PRISONS. AND IN CONNECTICUT, PRISON CLOSURES CONTINUE.