“I did this work because the criminal justice system is not founded on justice — it disproportionately harms the Black community. Once exiting the system, mothers are further criminalized. As an artist in this movement, and one who is not grieving family being taken by the system— I think it's my responsibility to show up for those who are.”
- Cristy Road Carrera | @croadcore
JAILS ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS!
LET'S GET OUR PEOPLE OUT OF THEM!
When art = freedom. Since 2018, the People’s Paper Co-op (PPC) has collaborated with the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund on their annual Mama's Day Bail Out campaign. Each year, the PPC works with a powerful cohort of women in reentry to co-create a poster series and corresponding set of exhibitions, parades, press conferences, and events to raise awareness and funds for the campaign. Their posters, prints, and t-shirt sales have raised over $150,000 to free Black mothers and caregivers.
Celebrate and support this powerful collaboration between formerly incarcerated women at the People’s Paper Co-op and artists across North America. Every poster sold will help free Black mothers and caregivers for Mother’s Day!
Posters are available as a full set here!
The People’s Paper Co-op is a women led, women focused, women powered art and advocacy project at the Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia. The PPC looks to women in reentry as the leading criminal justice experts our society needs to hear from and uses art to amplify their stories, dreams, and visions for a more just and free world.
In spring of 2021, the PPC partnered with artists from across North America to co-create a poster series to raise money to bail out Black mothers and caregivers for Mother’s Day. The women at the PPC sent their poetry, photos, protest slogans and art to artists who then transformed their art into a powerful set of posters.
Majority proceeds from your purchase from Justseeds will go directly to the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund and the National Bail Out; organizations dedicated to reuniting families and friends separated by our broken justice system. We hope you will put them in your homes, schools, public spaces, offices, and anywhere you feel these amazing women need to have their voices heard.
Endless thanks to the artists who contributed to this series: Alex Aldrich Barrett, Lisa Congdon, Molly Costello, Angelica Frausto, guard n' flags, Kill Joy, LMNOPI, beyon wren moor, Cristy Road, Rommy Torrico, Monica Trinidad, Loveis Wise
To learn more, visit:
www.peoplespaperco-op.com // www.phillybailout.com // www.nationalbailout.org
People’s Paper Co-op Fellows 2016-2021: Faith Bartley, Aesha Barnett, Val Bell, Rusty Bentley, Carmelita Bird, Evonia Bivens, Latyra Blake, Jonquil Brown, Catherine Brown, Toni Brown, Antionette Carter, Crystal, Kelly Conway, Hakima Cooper, Nashae Cooper, Kerri DeLeo, Jamila Harris, Tinika Hogan, Stephanie Jackson, Ivy Johnson, Kitty Marrero, Rosa McKnight, Latonya “T” Myers, Janaya Pulliam, Tonya Randolph, Veronica Rex, Ros Ryder, Teresa Saunders, Michelle Scales, Lisa Shorter, Nikkie Lee-Smith, Sheri Lopez, Carolyn Smith, Amy Tlapa Stephanie Waters, Heather Wiester
In loving memory of our friends, Catherine Brown, Kelly Conway, and Amy Tlapa
The PPC is coordinated by co-directors Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist
#FREEBLACKMAMAS
#PRISONSDONTWORK
#ENDCASHBAIL
