HOLIDAY CARDS

Last year, Liberation Library asked for 500 holiday cards to send to young people caged in the prisons we serve. Within weeks, we received over 1,500 holiday cards from across the country and around the world.

This year we want to send holiday cards to all incarcerated young people in Illinois, and hope to expand our efforts to young people across the country in any form of detention. These holiday cards are an opportunity for young people to feel thought of and cared for during what is usually a very family and community-focused season.

Host a Holiday Card-Making Party

When making holiday cards to send to incarcerated young people, the more the merrier! A card-making party can also be a great way have conversations with students, friends, and family that encourage understanding and empathy about youth incarceration. We know making holiday cards for incarcerated children can raise some questions. Here are some resources to get you started.

Discussion Prompts:

• What do the holidays mean to you?
• What were your favorite things about the holidays when you were young?
• Did you have to spend a holiday away from your family? And how did you feel?
• Has anyone or any family member ever been absent from your holidays? How did it feel?

Online Resources:

The Sentencing Project

Juvenile Justice Data

State by State Data

Teen Vogue

"Kids Incarcerated" Series

PBS Series: Sentencing Children (videos)

Part 1: Cyntoia’s Story

Part 2: The Appeal

Part 3: The Bill

Part 4: The Interrogation Process

Part 5: Reforming State Sentencing Laws

Part 6: Andrea Conte and Victim Advocacy

Part 7: From Teenage Inmate to Teen Mentor

"Last Week Tonight" with John Oliver (videos)

U.S. Prisons

Bail

Municipal Violations

Mandatory Minimums

Public Defenders

Prisoner Re-Entry

Other Links

• Sesame Street Incarceration Toolkit - Videos, written guides, printable picture books, and hands-on activities for talking with children about incarceration.
• ​When a Sibling Goes to Prison - First article in a six-part series in The Atlantic about young people with siblings in prison
• A Shared Sentence: The Devastating Toll of Parental Incarceration on Kids, Families and Communities - Report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation 

General Guidelines

Some Do's & Don'ts: 

• Write something uplifting! Inspiring quotes, funny jokes, and puns are encouraged.
• We ask that the cards be non-denominational (don't mention a specific holiday or religion)
• Make it colorful & creative! But no glitter, stickers, or glued-on pieces (will be rejected by the facilities)
• Preferably signed as "[Your Name] with Liberation Library."
• Do not date the cards.
• Do not include individual envelopes. Multiple cards should be mailed in one large envelope.​

CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED BY
​FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017
​Mail to: 
Liberation Library
c/o In These Times
2040 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago IL 60647
​