NEW YORKERS UNITED FOR JUSTICE SENIOR ADVISOR APPOINTED GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR UNITED NATIONS-SPONSORED INITIATIVE, WILL HELP LEAD NATIONAL INCARCERATION REFORM POLICY
NYUJ Congratulates Topeka K. Sam appointment as the Goodwill Ambassador of the Global Festival of Creative Economy
New York, NY—The Global Festival of Creative Economy, a United Nations sponsored event, has announced the appointment of Topeka K. Sam, senior advisor for New Yorkers United for Justice (NYUJ) and the Executive Director and Founder of The Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM) as the Goodwill Ambassador to the Social Justice of Incarceration Reform.
“Topeka’s passion for social justice is unmatched, and she will be a powerful voice for all those that have been marginalized by broken systems,” said Alexander Horwitz, Executive Director at New Yorkers United for Justice. “Her appointment to be a Goodwill Ambassador will help make sure her important insights around decarceration and post-incarceration inform a larger global discussion around the need for criminal justice reform. We can’t wait to see what her strong background in social justice brings to the festival’s goal of igniting opportunities for all people to participate in the creative economy.”
“I am honored to be able to continue the ongoing fight around the world for criminal and social justice through this new platform as Goodwill Ambassador and be a part of the inaugural team for the Global Festival of Creative Economy. The Global Festival of Creative Economy can bring the importance of criminal justice reform to the forefront – just like NYUJ does in New York – for a new audience and can show the world how important and intersectional this issue truly is,” said Topeka K. Sam, Senior Advisor at New Yorkers United for Justice.
Topeka, a native New Yorker, currently serves as a Senior Advisor at NYUJand is the Executive Director and Founder of LOHM. Since her release from Federal Prison in 2015, she has become a leading activist and advocate in the fight for criminal justice reform. Topeka has played a significant role in passing criminal justice reform legislation like the First Step Act. Topeka was one of the figures present at the Oval Office when the First Step Act was signed. Through LOHM, Topeka has helped create and implement the Hope House NYC initiative, which provides housing for up to one year for single women who have experienced incarceration and are returning to New York City. She also serves on a wide range of nonprofit boards including the Coalition for Public Safety.
About New Yorkers United for Justice (NYUJ):
New Yorkers United for Justice is a statewide coalition of local and national non-profit organizations committed to supporting a movement that will bring much-needed criminal justice reform to New York State and ensure that policies promote safety and fairness. NYUJ aims for legislative urgency to fix a broken criminal justice system that punishes the poor and communities of color, tears families apart, and makes New Yorkers less safe. NYUJ believes that a system that ensures equal access to justice for anyone accused in New York State, regardless of age, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or religion, must be the standard.
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