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The Problem
We are in the midst of a national reckoning over crime and punishment, and what it will take to achieve public health and safety. Yet for decades, lawmakers and the media have overlooked the perspective, voice, and expertise of those closest to mass criminalization. As a result, misinformation spreads, fear wins out over reason, and the status quo prevails.
ZEALOUS AIMS TO RIGHT THIS HISTORIC IMBALANCE.
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Our values
Building.
Zealous listens and supports. We don’t “empower” or “give voice.” We provide opportunities for local partners to grasp their power and find the voice they always have had.
Relationships.
Zealous doesn’t invite ourselves into local jurisdictions or coalitions. We are always invited to do the work.
Arts.
At Zealous arts are integral to this work and our process. Artists are not just hired guns. They are partners from the very beginning.
Awareness.
Given the half-century of fearmongering media, press, and politics that has driven mass incarceration, we don’t downplay the power of awareness.
Process.
Collaborative Advocacy means working intentionally and meaningfully in partnership on initiatives, in recognition of the fact that how we work matters as much as the work itself.