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Meet the Team Behind: Katal

Katal focuses on equity, health, and justice in New York and Connecticut, focusing specifically on prison reform and drug criminalization. Their programs focus on developing effective leaders and advocating for lasting change, with the ultimate goal of ending mass incarceration. Learn more about their work here

What is Katal’s mission?


Katal works at the local, municipal, and state level to end mass incarceration and the drug war in Connecticut and New York. At the core of our mission and our approach is developing leadership and the organizing capacity of directly impacted people and community groups. Through this work and our organizing, we strengthen communities and amplify the strength of our collective actions to build and sustain the criminal justice reform movement. We envision a world where all communities have the resources and power to exercise self-determination and participate meaningfully in the democratic process. 


What does your work focus on?


Katal is focused on three big, interrelated goals: equity, health, and justice. At Katal we think of equity broadly and believe that an equity-oriented approach to policy-making benefits all communities. Considering health in the context of poverty and systemic racism, we see the ravages of mass incarceration and the war on drugs. Katal’s vision of justice centers on dignity, accountability, and compassion. As a community organization and collaborative partner, we build leadership and organizing capacity of neighborhood residents, as well as organizers, advocates, and community groups, to effectively drive and shape systemic change. 


Can you explain your programs? 


Katal’s flagship training program is Building Leadership and Organizing Capacity, where participants learn community organizing and harm reduction tools, how to build relationships that increase participating in coalitions and campaigns, and how to origent organizing and advocacy work toward undoing systemic racism and building movement. We train people and organizations in the theory and practice of community organizing, campaign strategy, and leadership development. Katal also works on the COVID-19 public health crisis in jails and prisons, encourages parole reform, and advocates for better conditions for inmates on Rikers Island. 


How can individuals get involved in your work?


To realize our mission, we share the work we are doing across Connecticut and New York through our Weekly Updates and uplift other movement partners during our monthly statewide criminal justice calls in New York and Connecticut. On our website, individuals can find their elected representatives in New York and Connecticut by entering their address. Once you have learned about your legislators, you can support Katal’s work by contacting your lawmakers directly. We also have petitions on our website that you can sign to help further our mission. Right now, we have a petition to shut down Rikers Island jail due to horrific conditions and a petition to cut the number of people detained in Connecticut jails and prisons. 


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