EPIC AMBASSADORS

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The Fellowship Program

The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM) EPIC Ambassadors Fellowship Program trains women who are impacted by the criminal legal system to be legislative advocates, grassroots organizers, and lobbyists. Ambassadors will deploy nationwide and in Trinidad and Tobago to spearhead reform in locations with high rates of incarceration and significant populations under community supervision.

The innovative program addresses policies and practices that harm women and girls who are impacted by the criminal legal system. The Ambassadors will focus on improving reentry services, ending cash bail, and supporting juveniles who are impacted by the system. They will also advocate for family reunification policies, parole and probation reform, housing equity, and reproductive justice in Wisconsin, Tennessee, New York, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Over the course of six months, the Ambassadors will build relationships with community leaders, organizations, and policymakers to implement widespread change and restore dignity to individuals impacted by the criminal legal system.

80% of women in U.S. jails are mothers.

More than five million children in the United States have had a parent behind bars.

There are 1.3 million women under state and federal supervision.

Meet the 2021 EPIC AMBASSADORS

Cheri Branham wants to end crimeless revocation, revise expungement laws, and address the lack of treatment and diversion programs in Wisconsin.

Demetrus Coonrod wants to determine how states can reduce the incarceration of Black men due to child support, amend current child support policies, and draft new legislation.

Denise Cosom wants to write a Clean Slate bill to end barriers to housing, higher education, and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons.

Emma Cornelius wants to improve reentry support services for women to assist them in healing traumas, reuniting with their families, and building a better future.

Judith Negron wants to advocate for children that suffer when their mothers are incarcerated, often thousands of miles away with no means of proper bonding.

Montrell Carmouche wants to end money bail in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.

Nicole Hutchison-Moore wants to write a reentry bill that mandates the reentry process commence during intake.

Novlette Haughton wants to advocate for juvenile justice reform in the state of Maryland.