This is really meaningful point that I think people (myself included, for sure) need to be reminded of. Fully embracing your own and others’ creativity can lead to ideas that encourage growth and change.

The connection between abolition and the destruction of capitalism is very cohesive with what we have been exploring so far. I agree with your point that the issue of violence needs to be attacked at its core, and from all of its roots, which includes capitalism.

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People can and do change- This can be applied to people who have done harm who then learn to change their ways through the 3 R’s. This also be applied to people who initially do not want to fight for the 3 R’s, who then realize that this work is necessary and take action.

“We’ll figure it out by working to get there.”- It is important to be open and observant throughout a process rather than asserting something upfront and sticking with it regardless of how it is playing out or working/not working. This goes hand in hand with the idea that 1000 different experiments are needed, and that we cannot just subtract prison and hope for the best. We must fully imagine, create, and follow through on reforms.

I would create an axiom saying that abolition is interdisciplinary and benefits from coalition-building and collaboration. There are skills and knowledge within many fields that can inform abolition, and can be amplified further by collaboration across these fields.

Hi! I appreciate the reflections you shared about your personal experiences in community with incarcerated people. Additionally, resilience is a principle that I want to hold at the forefront of my studies and professional work. Thank you for the reminder to be intentional in our learning and engaging. Looking forward to collaborating!

Hi! I also look forward to being inspired by abolitionist thinkers. I am curious to see how your fields of study will inform your learning, engagement, and contributions (particularly Ancient History). Your advice to be open-minded resonates with me; I also value observation over assumption. Can’t wait to further connect with you!

(a) I am motivated to learn more about abolitionist work and specifically that of the Abolitionist Sanctuary because I want to see how religion can transformatively inform social change. I understand that faith-based communities can be an underlying support to those who want to further the mission of collective abolition, but how can it and its principles actively play a role in doing so? Specifically, I am highly curious about Christianity’s role, as I practice Judaism. I am also interested in how intersectionality can be practically implemented into this work.

(b) I hope to be able to better incorporate the 5 C’s into my life and professional career, and combat and shift away from the vices that counter them. Additionally, I am eager to learn from my peers and leave with a multitude of diverse perspectives to reflect upon.

(c) Re-read if you find yourself engaging only passively at times. Also, take scheduled breaks to keep your focus sharp for when you return to the material.

I appreciate the axioms that emphasize imagination and rebuilding. I want to add to those axioms: have courage to imagine. Sometimes it’s overwhelming and intimidating to rebuild. For this reason, allow yourself to be challenged by complex ideas and trust your creativity.

The axiom that resonates the most with me is #7: Abolitionism aims to eliminate sources of violence. When so many people hear about abolition, their immediate response is “so you’re going to just let [insert criminal type] onto the streets?” This reaction stems from two primary places. First, it stems from the idea that policing and prisons are meant to keep non-criminals safe. Second, it assumes that prisons are correcting harms. Both of these ideas are wrong. This became most clear to me when I went to a talk at my college where one of the speakers discussed the people in the Epstein Files. She spoke about how sending these men to prison would not do anything to correct the power structures that enabled their abuse. In locking away the transgressors, the problem would appear to be solved. But this does nothing to prevent other people from committing that crime. It does not get at the root of the violence. This is not to say that justice should not be administered; it is…

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Ivy, thank you for sharing this. I think it’s especially powerful that you’ve been able to learn both from your father’s work and directly from incarcerated people themselves. I really appreciate your advice about learning with intention. That’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind throughout this course.

Hi everyone! My name is Haila, and I am a rising junior at Barnard College studying Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, with a minor in Ancient History.

I am motivated to learn about abolitionist work because I am interested in understanding how systems of power and oppression are created, maintained, and challenged. Much of my academic work focuses on liberation movements and the ways race, gender, and sexuality intersect within larger social and political structures. Abolitionism is particularly compelling to me because it asks us not only to critique existing institutions, but also to imagine and build alternatives. I am excited by the opportunity to learn from abolitionist thinkers, organizers, and practitioners who are working toward transformative approaches to justice and community care.

Through this experience, I hope to deepen both my theoretical and practical understanding of abolitionist thought. While I have encountered abolitionist ideas…

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A) Growing up, I often learned from my dad (who is a criminal defense lawyer) about destructive and life changing experiences that people faced going through the prison system. Additionally, this past semester in school, I took a class with incarcerated people. It was shocking to learn about the extent to which they were deprived of agency and I was constantly inspired by their resilience. I am motivated to learn about abolitionist work because I know from my experiences that the prison system tears apart people, families, and communities.

B) Something I hope to get from this experience is learning how to create and maintain community spaces. I also want to learn what inspires, motivates, and challenges my peers.

C) I think it’s important to learn with intention so my advice is to remind yourself of whatever that may be.