Gina Clayton-Johnson

Essie Justice Group

Essie Justice Group is the nation's leading organization of women with incarcerated loved ones taking on the rampant injustices created by mass incarceration. We are building a loving and powerful network to equip women with incarcerated loved ones with the tools and resources to heal family, community, and make social change. Using our innovative Healing to Advocacy curriculum, designed by and for women, we seed groups for women to give and receive support. With nearly 2 million people living behind bars in the United States, millions of women with incarcerated loved ones are left behind. Today, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 2 Black women have an incarcerated loved one. Women with loved ones behind bars face stigma and isolation and are regularly left to care for children, family, and finances alone. Together, we work with women to access their collective power as leaders and advocates building a movement for change in communities and American society.