Changemaker Buddy Program
Our
Theory
Of Change
Welcome to IWOC’s Changemaker Buddy Orientation!
Here to cover
== Introductions ==
Your Name, Who You Are, Why Interested in Changemaker Buddy Program
IWOC History Pt 1
IWOC was formed through someone coming out of prison with a vision for change, and pushed by incarcerated people in Alabama and national prison strikes in 2016 and 2018.
Since 2018 we’ve focused locally and…
IWOC History Pt 2
We’ve shrunk MN’s prison population by more than 10% in the last 5 years.
We have our eye on reforms to cut it by 25%, 40%, 60% and more,
We’re working to create the organization to get people in prison real wages, self-representation, and a transformed legal system.
This has all been people powered and volunteer!
We are also working to create a Board to raise money to hire staff to level up.
Read our history: tinyurl.com/IWOChistory
Sign up to be a monthly supporter: tinyurl.com/supportTCIWOC
Mission, Vision, Values
We are a statewide union of people in prison, loved ones, & supporters working to dismantle and transform MN’s prison system.
We work for
We are…
Big Goals and What They Mean
A. End Mass Incarceration
Minnesota has increased incarceration by over 400% since 1980. Ending mass incarceration means returning to pre-1980 levels, so less than 2000 people in prison compared to the ~8000 in our prisons today.
C. Reimagine Justice
Justice is not putting people in cages because of poverty, addiction, or mental health, or continuing cycles of violence.
Justice is individuals, institutions, & societies taking responsibility for repairing the harm they’ve caused, supporting healing, and becoming people who won’t cause that harm again.
B. End Prison Slavery
People in prison are legally slaves and this needs to change!! See Article 1 Section 2 of MN’s Constitution: “There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the state otherwise than as punishment for a crime of which the party has been convicted.”
D. Create a Prisoner’s Union (shhh!!!)
This is the power we need to accomplish our goals -- organized unity, inside and out!
We’re organizing outside support committees for each prison, plus working groups for socials and media, outreach to communities and organizations, and to pass new laws.
== Main Campaign: End Slavery in Minnesota ==
The Bill to End Slavery in Minnesota (2025): “ends forced labor in correctional facilities by redefining prisoners as workers with the right to employment”
== Minor Campaign: Hope Act ==
Lifers have the lowest recidivism rates yet are having their hope taken away, including 25% who have life without parole. Everyone deserves to have HOPE to come home, and this will save money, reduce prison violence, and positively impact public safety.
Changemaker Expectations
1. Weekly phone call and email
2. Monthly visit or video visit. Sign up at: https://mn.gov/doc/family-visitor/visiting-information/
3. Complete Changemaker Workbook together, and use for initial conversations
4. Be their “outside representative”. Find a way to plug into changemaking work on a consistent basis, on a capacity that works for you, could include:
Boundary Exercise
Healthy
Unhealthy
Communications with People In Prison
Type | Pros | Cons |
Visiting | More personal, secure | Lengthy sign-up process Limited to 2 people’s lists |
Jpay.com (email) | Fast, less monitored, ability to copy/paste, send photos or video | All archived, can be monitored directly, expensive for documents |
Phone | Free | Can’t call back, 15 minute time-chunks |
Cheaper to send large documents | Slow, monitored, more likely to censor, less outside people used to it | |
Intermediaries (3-way calls, passing messages, etc) | Can add flexibility, redundancies | Officially against policy |
Changemaker Workbook
1. Developed by Prisoners in California to help people in prison change the law
2. Covers IWOC, abolition, organizing, personal connection to change, civic engagement, the legislative process, and you!
Matching to Someone in Prison FAQ
1. How do I stay up to date on what’s going on in prison? Use tinyurl.com/insidenotes, follow IWOC’s social media, come to a meeting, but most important talk to your person!
2. What if I don’t know how to help? Google it! Use the Resource Sheet at the top of Inside Notes or reach out tc.iwoc@gmail.com / 612-524-8867. You can also add to the resource sheet to make it better as we go!
3. What if me and the person I was matched with don’t get along? Give it a few months to gel. And if it truly isn’t working we can switch you with another person.
4. What if me and the person I was matched with have very different interests in terms of the work we want to do?That’s exciting you both have things you want to work on! We can figure out how to switch you and your person around to find someone to work on overlapping goals.
5. What if my life gets tough and I have less time? Please don’t commit to this if you are running yourself so ragged you won’t have time if one thing doesn’t work. People in prison are used to bad things happening, share about it, maybe do less, but please stay in relationship or don’t get involved in this work.
First Letter to Buddy
Date + Hello | 1.19.23 Dear Danny Jensen, |
Who you are | My name is David. I grew up in Ann Arbor Michigan to public health parents. I was a high school social studies teacher and community and union activist. |
Why you’re connecting | I got involved because I was bullied and hate bullies, and learned the prison system is one from a friend. I want to learn out how to contribute to changing the prison system as I’m able. I also think life sentences are so wrong. |
Skills you bring, skills to learn | I’m good at talking to people but really don’t know how prison works. I’m also into research but don’t know anything about the legislature. |
Boundary setting: time, tasks | I’ve set aside 30 minutes every Wednesday to write a jpay, and time each Sunday get a call. I’m good with whatever change making work but nothing beyond that. |
Questions for them including what they’d like to focus on | I’d like to know more about you and your story, and what you think needs most to change in prison? I also want to know what you’d like to focus on changing – the law, facility, or getting community involved? Any questions for me? |
Sign-off | Lot’s more to say, but all for now! David Boehnke, Minneapolis |
Moving Forward and Questions?
Your goal right now? Build relationship, do the workbook, and identify the ways you can work together.
What Training is Next? 1. Grievances 2. Social Mapping 3. One on Ones