The Western Prison Project is pleased to announce...


Third Regional Conference for Criminal Justice Reform
April 20-21, Salt Lake City, Utah


Building on the success of previous conferences, we are inviting
criminal justice reform activists from across our region (OR, WA, UT,
NV, ID, MT and WY) to gather in Salt Lake City, Utah. The conference
will include numerous opportunities to share information with other
grassroots criminal justice reform activists in formal and informal
settings. Connect with other activists, brag about your successes,
lament your defeats with a group of your peers --- people who
understand what you are talking about. This is a chance to recharge,
learn, and build our collective strength.


Regional Activist Conference -- Saturday April 20, 9AM to 4PM,
Jubilee Center

The day will begin with State Activism Updates-- we'll learn about
each others struggles and victories, share strategies and tactics.
Come prepared with materials, and a brief description of your group's
work this last year.

In the afternoon, we are pleased to present Laura Sager from Families
Against Mandatory Minimums, who will conduct a 3 hour Community
Action Network Training. We'll cover how to more effectively mobilize
our members, pinpoint and recruit allies, and work the media to move
our issues onto the table and push for the reforms that we want.
Laura has presented this training all over the country, and has been
working in social justice movements for the last 25 years. She is a
nationally recognized leader in mobilizing grassroots support for
criminal justice reform.

Community Film Screening -- Saturday April 20, 7 PM Orson Spencer
Hall on University of Utah Campus

We will be screening two recent films on the need for prison reform.
Corrections looks at the roots of prison privatization, from the
old "convict leasing system" to the modern "entrepreneurs" who are
shaping the "Crime and Punishment" debate across the country. New
Orleans Jazz Funeral examines an action carried out by family members
and others working to shut down the infamous Tallulah Facility in
Louisiana, which has been the target of critics for years because of
the abuse and neglect of the youth incarcerated there. Following the
films, Ashley Hunt, the films' director, along with Brigette Sarabi,
Director of the Western Prison Project, will be available for
discussion of the films and the latest developments in this arena on
the national level.

WCJRC Business Meeting -- Sunday April 21, 10 AM to 2 PM Jubilee
Center

The Western Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (WCJRC or Regional
Coalition) will meet to discuss setting up Coalition communication,
an Executive Committee, and what our options are for a winnable joint
action in 2002. This meeting is only open to WCJRC members. If you
are not a member, contact us at the Western Prison Project and we can
explain the steps to becoming a member, and get you the information
you need for your group to decide if you wish to join.

All Those Pesky Details
We have a conference brochure available for folks who do not have
email. if you know someone who may be interested and doesn't have
email, contact us and we can drop it in the mail.
The fee for Saturday is $10 per individual from WCJRC member groups,
$20 per person for individuals not connected with a member group.
There is no fee for the Film Screenings or for the WCJRC meeting.
There are some travel scholarships available, priority will be given
to WCJRC member groups. If you have questions about travel to Salt
Lake, we may be able to help. Contact us.
We have some information about low cost lodging and some community
housing available. Please let us know when you register if you will
need community housing.
Registration forms are available by mail (or email on request). We
need a registration form for each person who plans to come so that we
can plan meals and materials correctly. Please register by April 10,
if possible.
If you have any questions, please contact us at the Western Prison
Project. All contact info is below.

Hope to see you in Salt Lake!

Kathleen


Kathleen Pequeño
Western Prison Project
PO Box 40085 Portland, OR 97240
(503) 335-8449 fax (503) 232-1922
kathleen@...
http://www.westernprisonproject.org