Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative, addresses campaign strategists, the media, and the general public in an open letter, urging careful consideration of the language used in the final few months of the presidential race.

Our team put together this year’s annual report to provide our donors, supporters, allies, and partners with a comprehensive and interactive overview of the work we tackled in 2023. Read more in this end of year recap from our CEO, Sheena Meade.

“It’s officially the season widely recognized for gratitude, so I want to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to every person who makes Clean Slate progress possible.” Read more in this note from our CEO, Sheena Meade.

In February, I learned that, along with the National Council of Churches of Kenya and more than 300 other deserving nominees, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. I am proud to have been one of the founding members of FRRC …

Second Chance Month aims to raise awareness about the importance of ensuring people have access to meaningful opportunities after obtaining an arrest or conviction record. Clean Slate policies have created the largest impact of second chance efforts in recent years, made possible by sustained bipartisan support at the state and federal levels. As a result, over one million people in America have received a second chance through automated record sealing of eligible arrest or conviction records. Millions more are in line to have their record automatically sealed as additional states implement policies already signed into law and more states continue to advance additional Clean Slate legislation.

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.

I am sharing this message with mixed emotions: Erin George, National Campaigns Manager for Clean Slate Initiative has transitioned out of our organization and into what is a dream role for her. Erin has moved into a leadership role as National Director of Policy at The Bail Project, and I am so excited for her new chapter.

As we honor those who served in our armed forces this Veteran’s Day, I think about how we can serve our veterans as well as they have served us. according to the Veterans Justice Commission's preliminary report, “[e]mployment is one of the most well-documented barriers to successful reentry for individuals leaving prison.” Learn more in this blog post by Sheena Meade.