Silicon Valley De-Bug

“The executive director is also the officer/board member who is not independent.”

“The Executive Director and Associate Director review the form 990 and address questions for the professional preparer. The Executive Director then reviews the 990 with members of the Board highlighting key areas.”

“Board members are annually asked to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.”

“The executive director is the only officer/board member who receives compensation. The Organization uses comparability salary data from the web to determine the executive director's compensation.”

“Governing documents, policies, and financial statements are made available upon request. Documents can be viewed at the Organization's office.”

“Board members are annually asked to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.”

“Board compensation reflected hours worked in a volunteer capacity, which was for an event coordination, rather than remuneration for fulfilling board duties.”

“Participatory Defense Network (continued) Since 2008, the Organization's participatory defense activities have resulted in 10,208 years of "time saved" potential court sentences and incarceration time to youth and community members. The tremendous power of participatory defense has contributed to families being made whole, loved one's home, and numerous youths going to college instead of spending their transitional years in prison. Because the Organization's organizational compass has always been guided by the ones most affected by the criminal justice system, their organizing campaigns have been led, championed, and won by the very families touched by the criminal justice system. Through the leadership of the Organization families, they have won changes in policing, charging of gang enhancements, separation of immigration and criminal justice policies, and improvements of conditions in detention. The Organization has grown their Participatory Defense Network from eleven hubs to now over 40, all trained in the principles, strategies, and tactics of participatory defense. On any given day of the week, there is a participatory defense meeting happening around the country, where families are supporting each other to navigate through the criminal, juvenile and immigration systems that threaten to tear families apart. The Organization is winning by keeping families and communities whole, while fueling a ground up movement to end mass incarceration.”

“Community Organizing (continued) Their organizing and community-building work comes in many forms all aimed at how the collective can protect, support, and lift up the aspirations of those who are part of their community. The Organization's community organizing work is an expression of the youth and families' directions, and often where story-telling work is applied. The participants come in the form of goal-oriented campaigns aimed at making system-wide changes that can measurably change the lives of those within the Organization as well as the larger community. Their campaigns have been local policy-setting, state legislation, and moving the national political landscape. Led by youth and families most directly impacted by the issues they address; they have campaigns to Push for alternatives to incarceration and detention that prioritize rehabilitation, services, programs, and counseling. Push for protection for tenants from unjust evictions. Call for law enforcement accountability and stop police killings. Challenge racist criminal justice policies and practices that fuel mass incarceration”