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A Better Way Foundation (ABWF) is a Connecticut-based organization dedicated to shifting current drug policy from a paradigm that prioritizes incarceration to one that prioritizes public health, treatment and public safety. ABWF engages in research, education, advocacy and organizing in order to enable progressive drug policy reform and criminal justice agendas. ABWF develops and trains future activists of the drug policy, criminal justice reform and public safety communities by using organizing principles with a focus on resident and community empowerment.

ABWF’s local and national work is governed by the following ethics, beliefs and principles:

• We do not do for others what they can do for themselves.
• People directly affected by the issue are the best representatives.
• Organizing thrives when new knowledge is built and existing knowledge is analyzed and criticized.
• Targeted direct action and occupying political spaces are forms of communication.
• Employing existing networks are just as valuable as establishing new networks.
• Measuring success through leadership development and victories around an issue.

Despite its reputation as a progressive state, Connecticut not only has one of the highest incarceration rates of all Northeastern states, the state justice system also leads the nation in racial disparities. ABWF’s work was borne of the need to resist reactionary public policies that have resulted in the incarceration of tens of thousands of Connecticut citizens for drug offenses and nonviolent crimes.

A Better Way Foundation staff

Lorenzo Jones, Executive Director, A Better Way Foundation

In 2003 Lorenzo joined ABWF as a member of the Connecticut Alliance leadership team, representing Create Change. Lorenzo Jones was hired with the unanimous vote of ABWF’s Board of Directors as its interim Executive Director in September of 2005. After serving as the interim Director, Lorenzo was hired in January 2006 as the official Executive Director of ABWF. As Executive Director, Lorenzo oversees the operations of ABWF, including staff meetings, work plans, organization and leadership development. Prior to joining ABWF, Lorenzo served as the Director of Organizing at United Connecticut Action for Neighborhoods where he founded, organized, and coordinated Create Change.

During Mr. Jones’ 18-year career he has had extensive experience as a community organizer in the Hartford area as well as national consulting on organizing strategies and organizational development. Locally, Lorenzo has served as a technical assistance provider, trainer and consultant to over 40 community based organizations through out the New England region.

 

LaResse Harvey, ABWF’s African American Policy Director. She is a formerly incarcerated single mother with over 10 years experience in community activism on issues of a women’s right to choose, housing, reentry, drug treatment, and custodial parental rights. Ms. Harvey holds several Associate Degrees. They are Human Services, Liberal Arts and Science, and General Studies. In Spring 2009 Ms. Harvey will receive her Bachelors in Social Work from Saint Joseph ’s College

Currently Ms. Harvey is organizing residents, business owners, advocates, and social agency staff to address issues of reintegration, housing, homelessness, hunger, and child support. She also works with young women ages 10-14 yrs old on racial justice, advocacy, life skills, and public speaking.

Send a letter to your elected officials!
Click on the above link to quickly and easily write and send an e-mail to your elected officials in Connecituct. You can choose from a preformatted letter that we have made available about key policy issues currently before the Connecticut General Assembly or, write your own.

Get involved and let your voice be heard.

If you believe that the current "war on drugs" policies are as miscalculated and unjust as we do, then get involved.

Here are several ways you can get involved:

1. Sign up to receive action alerts and other informational e-mail from A Better Way Foundation Connecticut by contacting Lorenzo at abwf1991@yahoo.com.
2. Educate yourself on the issue.
   Click the Legislative Priorities link to read more about medical marijuana, sentencing disparity and other issues here in Connecticut..
3. Let others know about the issue
   E-mail your friends, family and co-workers and let them know about this web site and ask them to sign up to get alerts.
4. Let us know what is going on.
   Although we might like to, we can't be everywhere to read every article or see every television show. If you read a newspaper article or listen to a television show, forward the article to us at ABWF or call to let us know what you heard on the television show.
5. Invite ABWF to speak to your school, Church, classroom, group, work place, professional network, and/or house meeting about "war on drugs" policies and ways to make a difference in Connecticut.
6. Tell your story.
   If you are negatively impacted by current war on drug policies, write your testimony and send it to us. Are you a patient who wants to use medical marijuana for medical purposes? Do you know someone in prison on an inflated drug charge? Can you not find a job because of your felony drug record?
7. Volunteer.
   Volunteer to make phone calls, write op-ed article to newspapers, help organize meetings and make presentations.

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All Contents © 2005, A Better Way Foundation, New Haven, Connecticut, USA