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Families & Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children | ||
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FFLIC Chapter meeting dates |
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| Families & Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children |
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1600 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard New Orleans, LA 70113 Tel 504-522-5437 Fax 504-522-5430 Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) is a statewide membership-based organization dedicated to creating a better life for all of Louisiana’s youth, especially those who are involved, or at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. As mothers and fathers, grandparents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and allies we seek to use education, direct action organizing, and peer advocacy to build strong, powerful families and communities and to fight for justice for our children and ourselves. We have united to collectively demand that the systems and institutions which are supposed to help our children grow and thrive fulfill their mandate and cease being a force of oppression against our youth and our families. From the street level to the state level, from our meeting rooms to the state capitol, we are working to build a society based on the principles of racial justice, human rights, and full participation through our tireless fight for justice for youth. For this reason, we seek to build a truly democratic, multiracial organization whose membership reflects the communities we come from. We believe that we are the "experts" on what our communities need and that solidarity and collective action are our most powerful tools in our struggle for self-determination and justice for our children and families. FFLIC fought hard and has won the struggle to close the notorious Swanson Correctional Center for Youth — Madison (Tallulah), which was first solicited at the Mock Jazz Funeral in 2001. Other reforms included the creation of a firewall between the Office of Youth Services (formally Office of Youth Development) and the adult Department of Corrections. FFLICs fight is far from over! FFLIC’s new campaign plan calls for Gov. Blanco and the state to:
Do you have a child who is currently locked up? Do you have a recently released child with stories of abuse and violence? Would you like to tell the Governor and those overseeing juvenile justice reform about your experience with the system? Call Gina Womack or Xochitl Bervera at FFLIC today. In New Orleans 522-5437, elsewhere (800) 940-7847. FFLIC’s Central Planning Committee includes GraceBauer, Lake Charles, (337) 528-1670; Ina O’Brien, Lafayette, (337) 268-9706; Minoo Bhujwalla, Avis Brock, Eileen Hawkins, and Flora Watson, New Orleans. |
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In 2001, parents organized a traveling Jazz Funeral through the rainy streets of New Orleans to mourn the dying dreams of Louisiana's incarcerated youth. FFLIC mobilized families and citizens to call for the closure of the Tallulah youth prison, one of the worst juvenile facilities in the country. Their efforts were rewarded in June, 2004, when the last youth was transferred from Tallulah. |
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Numerous trips to Baton Rouge have been scheduled to provide testimonial to the Senate Committee Hearings chaired by Senator Donald Cravins. The group is committed to joining together as a coalition to continue to amount pressure for alternative to incarceration. |
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There is a campaign underway to increase the placements for youth close to their families. By advocating on behalf of youth and directly working with local organizations to request slots to be reserved for youth remanded from the larger state facilities, our parents group is working for solutions from within the community. | |||
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We often include real stories in our advocacy and outreach literature. We invite you to share your life experience by writing to us at info@jjpl.org. |
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We encourage you to use this group as a forum to ask questions or voice concerns about your incarcerated youth. Email Avis Brock. |
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