End of Year Message from Sheena Meade

Dec 16

The end of a year is a natural time for reflection — so let's take a moment to reflect on all the incredible things we accomplished together in 2022.

We're closing out this year with seven active state campaigns and several other states working to launch their own campaigns. This year we passed Clean Slate legislation in Colorado and Oklahoma, and our friends at Californians for Safety and Justice passed legislation in California. Our team also made progress on support for federal Clean Slate legislation. Every day, you work hard to deliver real second chances to folks in your states, and each win – no matter how big or small – fuels the growth of this movement.

Another accomplishment close to my heart this year is our effort to center the voices of the people we're trying to help. As someone who's directly impacted, I know first-hand how important it is to make sure these voices are heard. Our Clean Slate Storyteller series is a prime example of this work.

My favorite part of this year was when I got to gather with so many of you at our first-ever Annual Convening! It was amazing to watch so many different players from a wide range of fields across the political and movement spectrum come together united with one goal: advancing Clean Slate. We're already planning our second Annual Convening. Stay tuned for more information on that in the coming months.

Clean Slate's momentum is remarkable, and people are taking notice. Earlier this year, The Clean Slate Initiative received a generous gift from novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. That gift helped us broaden the scope of our work, and put the Clean Slate movement at the forefront of donors' minds for future support.

Our staff growth this year is another great achievement — and just like all of our other work, the momentum isn't slowing down. We still have several positions open at The Clean Slate Initiative, and we can't wait to grow our team even more in 2023. Meet our newest team member below.

My wish for all of you is that you close out 2022 feeling proud of what you've accomplished this year, and filled with hope for the great things ahead. Remember: we're not just here for the low-hanging fruit. We're planting trees.

In Solidarity,