Center for Community Alternatives

“The only people unfortunately who are not in support of Second Look are those individuals who believe that their livelihood is based on keeping people in prison for longer periods of time.” - Patrick Stephens

During a recent Men of Impact session, young people from Rochester Youth Services stepped into a team challenge: build the tallest structure with limited materials and time. What looked like a simple activity sparked real moments of connection and creativity. As each group…

CCA Youth Services Leadership Fellow Patrick Stephens joined an important conversation on prison education in New York State, hosted by Assemblymember Tapia and led by the Bard Prison Initiative. He shared, “I don’t think there should be a different standard for what you see…

The CUSE Center was proud to represent CCA alongside partners like Food Bank of CNY and Prevention Network. Thanks for having us, Crouse Health!

CCA organizer Ismael Diaz is featured in this @cleanslateny PSA, For the Record, which won a Telly award! Do you have an old conviction record and want to know what Clean Slate means for you? Join our organizers on the second Monday of every month to learn more about your own…

SUNDAY: Join us at 12:30pm at Art in the Atrium in Syracuse for "When I Think of Freedom," a public event featuring the voices behind Project Mend, a publishing initiative that centers the stories of those impacted by the criminal legal system. You'll hear powerful readings from…

Red, white, and CUSE! Our 4th of July celebration at the CUSE Center was filled with food, games, and all the greatest hits. Staff and members made it a day to remember!

APPLY BY JULY 7: "The institute really gave me an opportunity to connect with others, but deep down, it has given me an opportunity to learn more about myself. And it's given me an opportunity to realize that I'm more than just a docket number. And so are you." - Cristino Chavez,…

"HALT is a duly enacted law, and the people have a strong interest in seeing the implementation of laws enacted by their elected representatives.” Judge Daniel Lynch ruled the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision could not invoke emergency provisions to…

NEW: Results from the New York City mayoral primary race indicate that voters want a serious, solutions-oriented approach to crime and safety. In a city where safety remains a top concern for voters, "tough on crime" messaging fell flat, according to Vera Action exit polling. 🧵

Join us on Thursday, July 10, as we build a movement to end mass incarceration. Learn more and get updates on Communities Not Cages, No Price on Justice, and the Youth Justice and Opportunities Act. RSVP bit.ly/JoinTheFight20…

“The second look act would have created a pathway for people to demonstrate transformation and deliver justice rooted in dignity and safety.” - Latrice Walker

“The Second Look Act, the Earned Time Act and the Marvin Mayfield Act. There are not just bills, they are life-saving legislation. They offer a real chance at restoration at transformation and at reuniting families who have suffered too long.” - Demond Meeks

“We learned about other stories similar to ours, and it ignited a fire inside of us.” - Latasha, CCA Leader Rochester Are you ready to join the fight? Apply for our Summer Organizing Institute! bit.ly/CCAsoi2025

PRESS STATEMENT: "While the current heat wave has started to break, more extreme temperatures are expected, and the conditions inside New York State prisons are not just inhumane, they are deadly. Incarcerated people are reporting temperatures in excess of 110 degrees, little or…

“The fire of this movement can only grow stronger as it is fueled by our undying belief in the redemption of incarcerated people and their remarkable transformation will always inspire us to keep pressing forward.” - Mujahideen Muhammad, CCA Leader Are you ready to join the…

At the end of session, @SalazarSenate —sponsor of the Second Look Act—called for action: “This omnibus bill brings much-needed accountability to a prison system that lacks it. It’s a response to a crisis—two men, Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi, were murdered by corrections…

“We have built a ton of power this year, we have gained our seat at the table. We are going to win this fight and we will keep fighting for #CommunitiesNotCages.” - Melanie, CCA Leader Are you ready to join the fight? Apply for our Summer Organizing Institute!…

MUST READ: Thomas Gant, a community organizer at the Center for Community Alternatives, said that Ms. Hochul’s budget priorities showed how politics were overtaking good policy. Even though attempts to shorten sentences for good behavior have “extensive support and would address…

Join CCA this fall for our Public Speaking & Storytelling Lab! You’ll learn how to shape your story for different audiences, use narrative strategy to challenge harmful myths, and speak with confidence and power bit.ly/CCASpeakingTru…