It’s been wonderful to have so many new SnowFlower participants in the last two years! This article is to update everyone about MOSES because SnowFlower was one of its founding members and has been a financial supporter for 6 years.
MOSES is an interfaith organization in Madison dedicated to criminal justice reform in Wisconsin, especially the highly negative impact of mass incarceration on the poor and people of color. MOSES is one of ten WISDOM affiliates in Wisconsin. We work at the level of public policy on issues such as Reducing Solitary Confinement, Post-Release Employment, Ban the Box, Alternatives to Incarceration, etc. MOSES was responsible for getting a detailed Ban the Box/Fair Chance Ordinance passed in Madison and Dane County. We work at the City, County and Sate level.
Unfortunately, at the moment we do not have a working MOSES Justice Team at SnowFlower and we need one to seize the opportunities offered by a new governor who has endorsed the WISDOM/MOSES criminal justice agenda. A justice team usually has between 3 and 10 members. Carol Rubin is willing to chair such a Justice Team and attend MOSES’ monthly meetings on Sunday afternoons. But we need more members to periodically attend and support big MOSES/WISDOM events like the Madison Day of Action which takes place in March 2019 at the Capitol to influence the bi-annual State Budget. For example, over the years, WISDOM has gotten $7 million into the State budget for Treatment Alternatives and Diversions from prison (TAD) but we need at least $20 million to support all the counties seeking funds for Drug, Alcohol and Veteran Courts.
Another option is for 3-4 individuals to form a Circle of Support sponsored by Madison-area Urban Ministry (MUM). This requires a once/week commitment for six months to meet with a formerly incarcerated person just returning to our community, to discuss employment, family, housing and emotional challenges and help that person re-integrate into the community and stay out of prison.
MOSES will also be having its annual Fundraising Galla on Saturday, December 15 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. It is at the new Brassworks at Goodman Center and costs $65. It would be a great way to meet people from the other 23 congregations who are part of MOSES.
If you are interested in joining either the SnowFlower MOSES Justice Team and/or a MUM Circle of Support, please contact Carol Rubin at carolrubin3@gmail.com by NOVEMBER 27TH. We will then meet at 6 p.m. (in the library at the Society of Friends on Roberts Ct. before Sangha) on Friday, November 30th to learn more.
It is often refreshing to actually be out in the world practicing Engaged Buddhism.
