Advocacy in Washington, D.C.

My advocacy journey spans 25 years. A lot was learned. Mostly resiliency from frustration and disappointment when progress seems to slow down or halt altogether. It was in those times I learned to be kind to myself to feel the sadness of the fight but lean into the grit of determination to believe my advocacy for the ones I was advocating for deserved a fair and equitable sentence- it was their right to have a just sentence.

To achieve that goal I established allies whose platform and influence surpassed my reach. I present my cause to legislators, judges, attorneys, journalists, and criminal justice organizations to get their support to champion alongside me or lead the effort. Many times I smiled, but I was tired and desperate for my advocacy to pay off.

The D.A.P.A. Impact understands the various emotions you are going through. We are here to educate, support, and give tools to be an effective advocate. Having the tools to be an effective advocate is empowering to give you the confidence needed to ask the right questions and understand the legal process to assess if your legal counsel is working on behalf of their client. Being an effective advocate not only brought those I was advocating, but my advocacy contributed to Congress clarifying the true intent of the Mandatory Minimum Penalties for 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) statute and President Donald Trump signing the First Step Act of 2018 into law. I am here to say being educated in your advocacy strategies can be effective and impactful! My advocacy journey ended in the summer of 2022.