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A BETTER WAY FOUNDATION
A Better Way Foundation (ABWF) is a Connecticut-based organization dedicated to shifting current drug policy from a paradigm that prioritizes incarceration to one that prioritizes public health, treatment and public safety. ABWF engages in research, education, advocacy and organizing in order to enable progressive drug policy reform and criminal justice agendas. ABWF develops and trains future activists of the drug policy, criminal justice reform and public safety communities by using organizing principles with a focus on resident and community empowerment. ABWF’s local and national work is governed by the following ethics, beliefs and principles:

  1. We do not do for others what they can do for themselves.
  2. People directly affected by the issue are the best representatives
  3. Organizing thrives when new knowledge is built and existing knowledge is analyzed and criticized.
  4. Targeted direct action and occupying political spaces are forms of communication.
  5. Employing existing networks are just as valuable as establishing new networks.
  6. Measuring success through leadership development and victories around an issue.

A Better Way Foundation Staff

Lorenzo Jones
Executive Director:
lorenzo.jones@abwf-ct.org

LaResse Harvey
Policy Director and Campaign Manager
860-293-0626
127 Martin Street
Hartford, CT 06120
Laresse_harvey@yahoo.com

A Better Way Foundation Board of Directors

Michelle Yorio - President
Andrea Comer - Vice President
Afua Atta-Mensah, Esq. - Secretary
Gina Brassaw - Treasurer

Key Advisors and Volunteers:

Robert Rooks – National Training and Organizational Development
Deacon Art miller - Office for Black Catholics
Dawn Fuller-Ball – Donor Campaigns
Laura McCarger – Youth Development
Janice Flemming – Community Organizing
David Samuels – Media and Public Education
Barabra Fair – Grassroots Communication
Sally Joughin – Grassroots Communication
Orathai Northern – Written Media
Maureen Price-Boreland – Organizational Development
James Butler – Faith Based Outreach
Tim Black – Academia Outreach
Judy Greene – Criminal Justice Research
Yolanda Allen – Media and Messaging

HISTORY
During 1999-2004, ABWF Foundation facilitated a public education and policy advocacy strategy that created important changes in Connecticut’s drug policies. Beginning in 2003, ABWF added an emphasis on improving public safety through public health and prison reform efforts and made resources available to grassroots organizations to have a greater role in criminal justice policy-making. Consequently, in 2004, our work resulted in the largest single reform to Connecticut prisons in decades, as part of the building bridges campaign.

In 2004, ABWF organized the Connecticut Alliance (CT Alliance), a coalition with over 2,300 members consisting of representation from white progressive legislators, Black/Puerto Rican Caucus members, the State Democratic Party, local/national researchers, local/national media, the Department of Corrections, Mental Health/Addiction services, law enforcement, jail diversion programs, faith based institutions, juvenile justice advocates, Governor’s staff, and republican legislative/local elected officials. This coalition increased our ability to get legislative reform from 2005 through 2007 and continues to be our watershed organization.

ABWF/CT Alliance legislative successes over the last 5 years include:

In 2003–

  • Juvenile Justice Reform and Overdose prevention
  • SB 1144, An Act Concerning the Prevention Of Deaths From Drug Overdose.

In 2004–

  • Prison reform - resulting in the single largest prison population reduction in CT history

In 2005–

  • Racial Justice and Treatment services
  • $22.7 million for inpatient crack and methamphetamine treatment

In 2007–

  • Pardons Reform, Pardons Application Assistance, and Increased Pardon Board Hearings
  • $14 million renewal and expansion of inpatient crack and methamphetamine treatmentReentry and Prison Reform -
    • To provide State of Connecticut identification to all newly released individuals from Department of Corrections.
    • To complete re-evaluations of qualified persons for parole and half-way houses
    • To establish an advisory committee to provide the community with accurate Corrections data and provide Corrections with accurate community insights.

In 2008 –
Legislative and local priorities – Stay tuned for Bill numbers and proposed ordinance language

  • Successfully defeated Three Strikes and Your Out legislation
  • Treatment beds and Jail diversion in Senate Bill 07-1700
  • Support the Good Samaritan Law to prevent overdoses
  • Support for expansion of treatment beds and drug/mental services
  • Medical Marijuana proposal to protect physicians, patients, and caregivers
  • Reformation of Drug Free School Zone laws
  • Reforming local ordinances to encourage the hiring of formerly incarcerated and convicted

 

War On Drugs Clock
War On Drugs Clock

 

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All Contents © 2005, A Better Way Foundation, New Haven, Connecticut, USA