Help me move forward with my life after prison
Donation protected
My name is Angelique Evans, and I'm asking for help with paying my court fees and taking care of my 13 year old son.
I left prison a year ago after serving 10 years and came to A New Way of Life Reentry Project in LA. A New Way of Life is an amazing program that helped me turn my life around. I gained my sobriety, moved into permanent housing, and got engaged to the love of my life! A few months ago, A New Way of Life asked me to become their very first policy fellow so now I work full time doing grassroots organizing and advocacy on behalf of my formerly incarcerated brothers and sisters. It brings me so much joy to be part of this work! I know now that this is what I want to do with my life.
Right now we are working hard to make sure that Senate Bill 144 passes in California to get rid of the burdensome fees that hold formerly incarcerated people back when they get out of prison. When I left prison I had no idea that a $3000 bill was waiting for me. These fees are different from restitution. They're just administrative fees. For most formerly incarcerated people, finding a job is really difficult, and the median income for people coming out of prison is $2,500 a year. I am lucky to have a good job and benefits, but my debt is still overwhelming.
I am asking for $2,000 to pay off the rest of my debt to LA County and another $500 so I can take care of my son, who right now lives with relatives in Oakland. When I left prison, it was my dream to buy his school clothes, but finding out I had to pay for my fees prevented me from being able to take care of him the way I wanted to.
I was recently interviewed about my situation by The New York Times. If you want to, you can read that article here . A New Way of Life also wrote a blog about my life story, which you can read here .
It's always hard to ask for money, but after the Times article people have been asking how they can help. I appreciate any and all support I am given! Thank you!!!
Here I am speaking on behalf of SB 144 at Senator Holly Mitchell's press conference at the California State Capitol.
I got off probation early, on May 3, 2019! It feels so good to be out of the system for the first time in so many years.
I left prison a year ago after serving 10 years and came to A New Way of Life Reentry Project in LA. A New Way of Life is an amazing program that helped me turn my life around. I gained my sobriety, moved into permanent housing, and got engaged to the love of my life! A few months ago, A New Way of Life asked me to become their very first policy fellow so now I work full time doing grassroots organizing and advocacy on behalf of my formerly incarcerated brothers and sisters. It brings me so much joy to be part of this work! I know now that this is what I want to do with my life.
Right now we are working hard to make sure that Senate Bill 144 passes in California to get rid of the burdensome fees that hold formerly incarcerated people back when they get out of prison. When I left prison I had no idea that a $3000 bill was waiting for me. These fees are different from restitution. They're just administrative fees. For most formerly incarcerated people, finding a job is really difficult, and the median income for people coming out of prison is $2,500 a year. I am lucky to have a good job and benefits, but my debt is still overwhelming.
I am asking for $2,000 to pay off the rest of my debt to LA County and another $500 so I can take care of my son, who right now lives with relatives in Oakland. When I left prison, it was my dream to buy his school clothes, but finding out I had to pay for my fees prevented me from being able to take care of him the way I wanted to.
I was recently interviewed about my situation by The New York Times. If you want to, you can read that article here . A New Way of Life also wrote a blog about my life story, which you can read here .
It's always hard to ask for money, but after the Times article people have been asking how they can help. I appreciate any and all support I am given! Thank you!!!
Here I am speaking on behalf of SB 144 at Senator Holly Mitchell's press conference at the California State Capitol.
I got off probation early, on May 3, 2019! It feels so good to be out of the system for the first time in so many years.
Organizer
Angelique Evans
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA