About The PinkPrint
Obscured by the larger scale men's incarceration, the carceral experience of women is often reduced to a footnote. Although women represent the fastest growing carceral population, justice-involved women have been rendered largely invisible due to a "gender-neutral" framework that is applied throughout the criminal legal system. To address the unique needs of justice-involved women, the PinkPrint was created to address the state of invisibility by providing educational opportunities and gender-responsive resources with the goal of designing a pinkprint for success.
The Design (Mission Statement)
To provide gender-responsive services and educational programming for justice-involved women to survive on the inside and thrive on the outside.
Meet the "DC" Architects
The architects of the PinkPrint are a coalition of community-based and educational providers that utilize awareness, information, and education to assist justice-involved women with designing a "pinkprint" for success in preparation for reentry. Delivering high quality, gender-responsive programming, the architects of the PinkPrint are pivotal in designing the pinkprint for success. Here are a few of the architects that are providing pinkprints for the Department of Corrections in the District of Columbia (DC).
Georgetown University Prison Justice Initiative (PJI)
The Georgetown University Prison Justice Initiative turns carceral spaces into college classrooms. Through transformational liberal arts courses taught by Georgetown faculty, scholars expand their thinking and knowledge, challenge themselves academically, and build self-confidence. Additionally, PJI offers professional training, leadership development, mentorship, and career support for justice-involved citizens.
Brave Behind Bars (BBB)
Brave Behind Bars is a prison education initiative sponsored by MIT that offers college-accredited computer science courses. The '21 pilot cohort consisted of 25 women from correctional facilities across New England and has expanded annually. The goal of BBB is to develop skills in digital literacy, web design, and career readiness to aid in reducing the digital divide while improving employability post-incarceration.
Howard University Higher Education in Prison (HU-HEP)
In partnership with the Social Justice Consortium, Howard University offers detained scholars non-credit bearing courses in-person and virtually via the APDS educational portal. The hybrid teaching model includes online modules and assignments that will enhance in-person instruction and workshops. The courses are combined sessions with Howard University undergraduate students.
Community Family Life Services, Inc. (CFLS)
Community Family Life Services, Inc. is a community-based organization providing wraparound services for women who are returning home following a period of incarceration by assisting justice-involved women as they move into self-sufficiency. From housing and family reunification to employment and entrepreneurship, CFLS provides inclusive, gender-responsive and trauma-informed services to assist anyone who identifies as a woman and is a survivor of domestic violence, homelessness, and the justice system.
Voices for a Second Chance (VSC)
Voices for a Second Chance is a community-based oragnization that is bridges the gap between incarceration to the community. "Helping Individuals Find Hope, One Voice at a Time," VSC provides services that ensure successful connections for justice-involved individuals post-release to create, maintain, and strengthen family and community ties. VSC also collaborates with the DC legal system and community stakeholders to provide comprehensive services to justice-involved women to create positive outcomes and reduce recidivism.
Mayor's Office for Returning Citizens Affairs (MORCA)
The Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens Affairs is the first legislatively-mandated office specifically serving returning citizens. MORCA serves as the principal contact point for returning citizens by removing barriers to reentry while empowering residents to connect to services for employment, health, education, housing assistance, and family needs. MORCA has grown to provide case management services, family unification engagements, prison outreach, and critical vital records assistance.