Community Spring

🎉 Let's welcome Wolf to Community Spring! 🎉 (Anne) Wolf, PhD is working with Community Spring as a consultant to support our fellowship and narrative shifting projects. Wolf is driven, highly organized, and brings so much to us. We are so happy to be working with them.

This is why we are advocating for the reduction of fines and fees. We ask for your support in our efforts to minimize the many burdens of incarceration in our county. Learn more at csgnv.org/decrim

If these debts go unpaid, a person can lose their license, face problems with their credit, and even end up reincarcerated.

According to NAMI, Black people are no more prone to addiction, criminality or mental health issues than white people. Systemic racism and structural poverty cause disproportionate arrests and economic hardship to Black residents in Alachua County.

Check out Community Spring fellow Skyler Thornton's first video of Decriminalize Poverty Explained! 🎬 In this video, Skyler discusses fines and fees in relation to civil and criminal court debt and payment plans. buff.ly/49PwHHP

Community Spring supporters, we need you! There are only FOUR days left to have your recurring donation matched. We just need 40 more monthly donors to reach our goal. Will you be one of them? Donate today at csgnv.org/donate

Help build up the leaders of tomorrow. Become a recurring donor today at csgnv.org/recurring-donor

Why become a recurring donor for Community Spring? 🤔 I think our Executive Director, Lindsay Kallman, sums it up nicely. Become a recurring donor of $25/month or more until March 1st and award-winning novelist, Lauren Groff, will add an extra $10 every month! 🤑

At Community Spring, we hire those who've faced poverty to combat its causes in their communities. Until March 1st, new recurring donors will have an extra $10 added to their monthly contribution for a year! Become a recurring donor today at csgnv.org/recurring-donor

The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic.

Have you checked out the podcast 'Uncarcerated" hosted by our former fellow, Leigh Scott, and our Just Income Program Director, Kevin Scott? If you haven't, check out this article and read more about it! buff.ly/42xb5gM

Today, Executive Director, Lindsay Kallman, and Communications Coordinator, Lacorya Lynn had the honor to present for the Altrusa Club of Gainesville, Fl. We talked about our organization, poverty, and how understanding Black history is integral for making change in the community

Learn more about unjust fines and fees at csgnv.org/decrim and check out the report “Debt Sentence” by the Fines and Fees Justice Center.

Fines and fees for criminal court debt cause food insecurity and housing hardship nationwide. The Fines and Fees Justice Center has found that 51% of people with court debt had to cut back on two or more essential needs like food and healthcare.

The data comes from the Fines and Fees Justice Center. Learn more at buff.ly/3G3UQxC

License suspensions in the state of Florida are a reflection of financial hardship. Not a reflection on an unwillingness to pay. In 2015-2017 more than 3.5 million suspension notices were issued for unpaid court debt. This perpetuates a cycle of debt and poverty.

Calling all small business owners! 📢 Join "The Business Roundtable" hosted by Lakesha Fountain this February 8th at the Community Spring office. Whether you're a startup or already established, this event is for you. Don't miss out! Register now at buff.ly/42s51GE.

Nobody should be too poor to be free.

Last week, our Community Consultant, Julius, attended the City of Gainesville's "Empowering Communities Through Art" event. The inspirational event showcased countless examples of how life imitates art and vise versa. It is crucial that we have an artistic outlet in our community