Supporting Brother Charles Berry
Donation protected
Dear Friends, Family, and Community,
We are reaching out for your support in helping us raise $2,500 for our beloved community member, Charles Berry, who will be turning 25 years old on June 2nd! Charles is an organizer, community leader, and activist committed to imagining, creating, and manifesting freedom in the fight against mass incarceration.
At the age of 16, Charles was charged as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. After taking his case to the parole board for the second time last year, his parole was officially granted and he was finally able to return to his family and community last February. This means that this will be the first time in 8 years that Charles gets to celebrate his birthday at home with his community and loved ones. As a birthday gift, we are asking the community to help up us build a savings account for Charles as he enters this new chapter of his life!
Upon his release, Charles has been proactively finding ways to support himself. In addition to participating in every certification program, wellness group, and workshop provided at his transitional housing facility, he has been diligent in trying to find employment by regularly attending job and resource fairs in the community.
But, we know that the prison industrial complex does not make it easy for formerly incarcerated people to access the jobs and opportunities they need to be able to support themselves. Without a stable income, Charles is constantly needing to find ways to pay for basic necessities like his transportation costs and phone bill, which requires additional funds for him to be able to contact his comrades inside.
Raising money for Charles will not only help in supporting the important political work he does for his community, but also in his reentry. If the system does not invest in our livelihood, stability, and right to self-determination, then it is critical that we invest in each other! We know how powerful the outcomes are when we call upon our community, so we hope that you help us in donating what you can, spreading the word, and helping us reach our goal. Please read Charles' bio below to learn more about his personal story, work, and the dreams he has to uplift himself and his community.
We all we got.
Best,
Charles' Team
About Charles Berry:
Charles Berry grew up in South Los Angeles. Born just a couple months after the 1992 Uprising, Charles experienced the direct aftermath following the crack epidemic, war on drugs, and militarization of the police. Charles was raised by his auntie, as he witnessed his mother struggle with drug addiction and many of his family members got swallowed up by the jail system. These experiences inevitably shaped the decisions he made and the direction his life would take. At 9 years old, Charles’ aunt struggled with major health issues, so he turned to the streets to get the guidance and care she was unable to give him. In 2009, at just 16 years old, Charles was charged with intimidating a witness and found guilty, just a day short of his birthday, making him the 7th person in his family to be sentenced with life in prison.
After being incarcerated, Charles made a commitment to educate and empower other young men, like himself, by dedicating his time to building programs, participating in support groups, and investing in the power of both learning and teaching. Charles is the co-founder of Success Stories , a 15-week program that focuses on the rehabilitation and healing of those incarcerated by creating space for its members to reflect, be accountable, and heal from their experiences and decisions. Members create action plans to access their dreams, uplift their skills, and contribute to society upon their release.
Charles also co-created a workshop series called Supporting Black Women, which uses Beyonce’s visual album, Lemonade, to engage incarcerated black men in difficult conversations around patriarchy, violence, accountability, and supporting black women. Charles is also a board member of Initiate Justice , a grassroots organization advocating for California state ballot initiatives aimed at building healthy and economically empowered communities free from mass criminalization; and a member of Dignity and Power Now , a grassroots organization based in LA that fights for the dignity and power of incarcerated people, their families, and communities.
Charles is not just a political leader, but also a brilliant artist. He is part of a group called Trapped Artist, a collective of both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated poets, rappers, and hip hop artists from the Soledad Correctional Facility; they are currently in the process of publishing a book. Some of the other activities Charles has been involved in include reading, teaching Hebrew language classes, and providing spiritual guidance to those around him. Charles is considered a reliable source of support because of the encouragement, care, and hope he provides to those struggling to keep their faith alive. He is also a gifted motivational speaker, life coach, and support counselor.
Just months after his release, Charles has a 40-hour HAZWOPER and Forklift Operator certification, and recently graduated from Guest Service Gold, a nationally recognized customer service program. He continues his work as an organizer and board member of Initiate Justice and recently spoke at a press conference held in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s revised budget proposal, which included an unprecedented 11.4 billion dollars going to the California Department of Corrections. He is also a new participant of Forever Rooted , Dignity and Power Now’s leadership series focused on building movement by uplifting the leadership and empowerment of formerly incarcerated people and their communities. In addition to the great leadership and volunteer work Charles is engaged in, he continues to search for employment opportunities that will provide him with meaningful work and financial stability.
We appreciate you donating and feel grateful that we have community members like yourself to lift us up.
We are reaching out for your support in helping us raise $2,500 for our beloved community member, Charles Berry, who will be turning 25 years old on June 2nd! Charles is an organizer, community leader, and activist committed to imagining, creating, and manifesting freedom in the fight against mass incarceration.
At the age of 16, Charles was charged as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. After taking his case to the parole board for the second time last year, his parole was officially granted and he was finally able to return to his family and community last February. This means that this will be the first time in 8 years that Charles gets to celebrate his birthday at home with his community and loved ones. As a birthday gift, we are asking the community to help up us build a savings account for Charles as he enters this new chapter of his life!
Upon his release, Charles has been proactively finding ways to support himself. In addition to participating in every certification program, wellness group, and workshop provided at his transitional housing facility, he has been diligent in trying to find employment by regularly attending job and resource fairs in the community.
But, we know that the prison industrial complex does not make it easy for formerly incarcerated people to access the jobs and opportunities they need to be able to support themselves. Without a stable income, Charles is constantly needing to find ways to pay for basic necessities like his transportation costs and phone bill, which requires additional funds for him to be able to contact his comrades inside.
Raising money for Charles will not only help in supporting the important political work he does for his community, but also in his reentry. If the system does not invest in our livelihood, stability, and right to self-determination, then it is critical that we invest in each other! We know how powerful the outcomes are when we call upon our community, so we hope that you help us in donating what you can, spreading the word, and helping us reach our goal. Please read Charles' bio below to learn more about his personal story, work, and the dreams he has to uplift himself and his community.
We all we got.
Best,
Charles' Team
About Charles Berry:
Charles Berry grew up in South Los Angeles. Born just a couple months after the 1992 Uprising, Charles experienced the direct aftermath following the crack epidemic, war on drugs, and militarization of the police. Charles was raised by his auntie, as he witnessed his mother struggle with drug addiction and many of his family members got swallowed up by the jail system. These experiences inevitably shaped the decisions he made and the direction his life would take. At 9 years old, Charles’ aunt struggled with major health issues, so he turned to the streets to get the guidance and care she was unable to give him. In 2009, at just 16 years old, Charles was charged with intimidating a witness and found guilty, just a day short of his birthday, making him the 7th person in his family to be sentenced with life in prison.
After being incarcerated, Charles made a commitment to educate and empower other young men, like himself, by dedicating his time to building programs, participating in support groups, and investing in the power of both learning and teaching. Charles is the co-founder of Success Stories , a 15-week program that focuses on the rehabilitation and healing of those incarcerated by creating space for its members to reflect, be accountable, and heal from their experiences and decisions. Members create action plans to access their dreams, uplift their skills, and contribute to society upon their release.
Charles also co-created a workshop series called Supporting Black Women, which uses Beyonce’s visual album, Lemonade, to engage incarcerated black men in difficult conversations around patriarchy, violence, accountability, and supporting black women. Charles is also a board member of Initiate Justice , a grassroots organization advocating for California state ballot initiatives aimed at building healthy and economically empowered communities free from mass criminalization; and a member of Dignity and Power Now , a grassroots organization based in LA that fights for the dignity and power of incarcerated people, their families, and communities.
Charles is not just a political leader, but also a brilliant artist. He is part of a group called Trapped Artist, a collective of both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated poets, rappers, and hip hop artists from the Soledad Correctional Facility; they are currently in the process of publishing a book. Some of the other activities Charles has been involved in include reading, teaching Hebrew language classes, and providing spiritual guidance to those around him. Charles is considered a reliable source of support because of the encouragement, care, and hope he provides to those struggling to keep their faith alive. He is also a gifted motivational speaker, life coach, and support counselor.
Just months after his release, Charles has a 40-hour HAZWOPER and Forklift Operator certification, and recently graduated from Guest Service Gold, a nationally recognized customer service program. He continues his work as an organizer and board member of Initiate Justice and recently spoke at a press conference held in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s revised budget proposal, which included an unprecedented 11.4 billion dollars going to the California Department of Corrections. He is also a new participant of Forever Rooted , Dignity and Power Now’s leadership series focused on building movement by uplifting the leadership and empowerment of formerly incarcerated people and their communities. In addition to the great leadership and volunteer work Charles is engaged in, he continues to search for employment opportunities that will provide him with meaningful work and financial stability.
We appreciate you donating and feel grateful that we have community members like yourself to lift us up.
Organizer and beneficiary
Haewon Asfaw
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Charles Berry III
Beneficiary