Our Focus Areas:
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By working closely with currently incarcerated community members, the Internal Investment Program provides opportunities for healing, career development, and building relationships. Upon Release, the 3L Program holistically supports individuals to land safely in community, learn the tools and skills necessary for stability and launch into their role in community.
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Our organization serves as the fiscal sponsor and host of the Re-Enfranchised Coalition, a group of justice-impacted leaders from organizations across the state. We amplify their voices and champion meaningful policy changes through strategic advocacy initiatives.
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The Incubate Business Initiative provides UWAAF Movement with a sustainable structure and creates the ecosystem for our program fellows and community partners. Ownership of a business property allows space for 15-20 offices or businesses at fair market value rent to our program fellows and community partners. Keeping our community resources within the ecosystem and providing sustainable income to UWAAF Movement.
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Recognizing the importance of stable housing, we are dedicated to acquiring residential properties that offer safe and affordable housing options with a pathway for home ownership.
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As a justice impacted founded and led organization, we consult and educate in a wide variety of justice related areas.
Our Programs
Internal Investment Program.
The investment towards the internal needs of those who are currently incarcerated is the pathway to success and liberation. Through application process, UWAAF serves the individuals in Minnesota Correctional Facilities who have taken the steps necessary to be a role model and leader while incarcerated. We support these individuals by providing and connecting them to the work happening in community and providing access to an educational budget for books and materials while removing the financial barriers to success. We do this by covering the costs of communication (phone and stamps), canteen/commissary, and building a re-entry savings account that we contribute to every month. Internal investment is essential to ensure our future community members come home with a sense of belonging and stability. If we have no leg to stand on, were bound to fall. We strive to build solid foundations for individuals to land on upon release.
Family and community ARE basic essentials
3L Program.
•Post-release, Land, Learn, and Launch
•Day of Release: Welcome Home Kit + clothing/shoes funds + The reentry savings account funds.
•First 60 Days Home: Fellows receive a project stipend to work collectively on various justice related projects while they identify personal long-term goals. As the fellows begin to identify their own skills and pathways, UWAAF Movement covers the costs associated with business startups, supplies, and/or general launch costs based on the individual's goals.
Fellows receive individual and collective sessions focused exclusively on learning the skills in the areas each individual feels most unprepared. The sessions may focus, on things such as- technology & internet, professional development, social and relational development, family reunification, balance & self care, community organizing and leading.
Welcome Home Kits
UWAAF has developed Welcome Home Kits, which provides a tangible way to directly support the individuals who receive them by providing all the necessities for a person transitioning out of incarceration. We have used our own personal experiences and expertise in reentry to determine exactly which items are necessary and helpful for individuals in the reentry process. UWAAF offers these kits gender specific, for men and women.