Change is Possible
By Eddie Ellis Jr.
What would it look like if we didn’t treat Black & Brown children like adults in this country?
A father and mentor shares his personal journey after being incarcerated as a child and invites impacted community leaders into a conversation about the types of support needed for people rebuilding their lives after release.
Eddie Ellis, Jr. is a Washington, D.C. native, reentry advocate, author, trainer and motivational speaker who helps facilitate healing to formerly incarcerated people by teaching life, coping and decision making skills. He is the founder of One by 1, an organization designed to build safer communities. He is also the Co-Director of Outreach & Member Services at Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.
About the Issue
The United States is the only country that imposes life-without-parole sentences on minors, disproportionately affecting youth of color and reflecting systemic biases in the justice system. This harsh treatment disregards adolescent development research, which shows that children’s brains and characters are still forming and that they are uniquely capable of rehabilitation.
Despite disproven fears of a juvenile crime wave in the 1990s, policies such as trying children as adults and imposing mandatory minimums have led to extreme and unequal sentencing, with African American youth being particularly impacted.
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African American youth are serving life without parole at a per capita rate that is 10 times that of white youth.
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states are responsible for imposing two-thirds of overall juvenile life without parole sentences, despite youth in those states being no more deserving of punishment than in any other.
via CFSY
Take Action
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Support OneBy1
Support Eddie’s nonprofit focused on building youth and adults, reducing recidivism and keeping communities safe. OneBy1 provides youth development programs and services and supports to help develop youth and adults who are reentering their communities.
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Buy Change is Possible: I Never Gave Up
Eddie’s Autobiography, Change is Possible, tells the inspiring journey of Eddie, a 16-year-old athlete from Washington, DC, who became entangled in the streets, ending up in prison where he dedicated himself to personal growth and now inspires others to overcome their struggles and create positive change.
IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Eddie’s campaign focused on educating the public about extreme sentencing and the unfair treatment of Black and Brown children. His campaign drove awareness for ending Juvenile Life Without Parole reform across the country, including using his film to fight for the end of JLWOP in Michigan.
Campaign highlights:
Change is Possible was used to amplify a legislative outreach campaign designed to get people to contact Michigan legislators in support of HB 4160-64/SB 119-23. Ultimately, it helped drive over 750 emails to state legislators, which helped the legislation pass out of committee.
Subsequently, a State Supreme Court decision (which held that mandatorily sentencing 19- and 20-year-old emerging adults to life without parole (LWOP) is unconstitutionally harsh) extinguished the need for the supported legislation.
Presented the film to two classes at Georgetown University’s Advanced Law and Justice Reform Program.
Featured in Capital B’s article, They Got Life in Prison at 17. Now They’re Helping Others Avoid That Fate.
The film was screened at the Columbia, Maryland Film Festival and with DC’s Ward 5 Democrats.
Eddie’s film and story reached over 75,000 people nationwide
Special thanks to the following partner organizations:
Georgetown University’s Advanced Law and Justice Reform Program
Columbia Maryland Film Festival
One by 1 Inc
DC Ward 5 Democrats
The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
