Hi Friends,
I'm excited to share that this April, I'll be shipping up north to run in the 122nd Boston Marathon! Over the years, running has allowed me to explore new cities, meditate on issues I'm grappling with, challenge myself, and find joy in unexpected places. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the sport I love than by sharing it with thousands of other runners this spring!
Boston will be my first ever marathon and I'm pretty terrified, but I know that every mile from here to the finish line will be worth it because I'll be running for an important cause: fighting for a more just criminal justice system. With your help, I'm trying to raise $2,620 ($100 per mile) for the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund.
Every year, 45,000 New Yorkers and millions of Americans are incarcerated simply because they can't afford to post bail. Faced with the choice of awaiting trial at Rikers Island or pleading guilty and returning home, many waive their rights to a fair trial and presumption of innocence, gaining criminal records that will follow them for the rest of their lives. Those who do remain in jail risk losing their jobs, being evicted from their homes and in some cases being deported, not to mention spending an unknown time away from family and loved ones. It's a cruel system that drives mass incarceration while punishing people for being poor.
The Brooklyn Community Bail Fund pays bail for New Yorkers charged with misdemeanors who can't afford to pay their own. Free to return home while they prepare for trial, clients are twice as likely to have their case settled favorably. 95% of clients appear for all of their court dates, at which point their bail money is recycled back into the fund to help more people. The Fund also works with partner organizations to advocate for an end to the cash bail system.
I love my home in Brooklyn and feel grateful every day to live, work, play and run in this vibrant, wonderful city. I hope you'll consider making a small donation to keep fellow New Yorkers out of prison and at home where they belong.
Thanks so much for your support!
Caela
