A new local advocacy group to help formerly incarcerated people tackle barriers — especially by campaigning for policy change — marks its official start Saturday at Bloomington's Miller Park.
The Fully Free BloNo launch party from 3 to 7 p.m. includes a hog roast and other food and drinks. There’s no cost to attend, and it’s open to the public. The event aims to build community, but it’s also a call to action, according to organizers.
“A person’s felony shouldn’t have to follow them the rest of their life. We feel like once they complete their sentences, it should be over with,” said Toy Beasley, a Bloomington resident and an organizer who helped launch the group.
More than 3 million Illinoisans live with old arrest or conviction records. And those cause many to get turned away by landlords and employers, he said. That can follow them for decades — even if they have good tenant histories, or if they are educated and qualified for jobs.
“Those barriers are still up” for many people, he said.
The Clean Slate Act, a bill that would have made Illinois the 13th state to seal nonviolent criminal records, passed the House in May but failed to get heard in the Senate before the spring legislative session ended. Beasley said advocates like himself remain optimistic the bill will become law later this year.
“It should not be the punishment after the punishment,” said Beasley, adding that one piece of Fully Free BloNo is to help educate the community about these barriers friends and neighbors face.
The Bloomington-Normal area is the first of several Fully Free chapters planned in Central Illinois cities. They’re being organized through the Chicago-based Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments. Beasley is EndPP’s Central Illinois regional coordinator. He’s tasked with launching these satellite groups.
Launch party a time to find community, build empowerment
Fully Free BloNo member Shayla Woodworth of Normal is looking forward to Saturday’s launch party as a way to meet people impacted by the criminal legal system, like herself.
"I draw hope from other people's stories," she said, adding it helps her connect with her community.
“[The group is] there just to network, and you know, talk to people, hear their stories — help empower them to use their voice,” she said.
Woodworth has an incarcerated parent, so she knows how it can affect the entire family.
She also served a sentence for a nonviolent offense herself. But she's been working to get her life back on track in the two years since. She's volunteered as a peer recovery support specialist, and been involved with groups like Fully Free BloNo.
Still, for a long time Woodworth said she didn’t feel like her voice mattered.
“I thought that I was always going to be looked at for my absolute worst moment, and not for all the progress that I have made,” she said, noting being involved in EndPP and the Fully Free BloNo chapter launch has helped her find her voice. She wants to share that empowerment with others.
“You’re not alone. There’s unfortunately a lot of people who are going through this, and we need each other to create change,” she said.
It's been nearly 30 years since Toy Beasley last was incarcerated. He knows firsthand the challenges people with old felony records face. But he went to school and has spent his career serving as an advocate and counselor. Among his many hats are his role with EndPP to create Fully Free BloNo, and as president of the McLean County Reentry Council.
As part of the outreach for Fully Free BloNo, Beasley and other leaders want to help group members learn the strength in their own voices, and their stories, he said. The group hopes to use grassroots organizing techniques to develop leaders from within, too.
“Ultimately the goal is to get people to find out who their legislator is. So, we can build power around policies that affect people with a criminal background.
“The only way that we can change the punishment after punishment is changing policy,” said Beasley.
Teaching Fully Free BloNo chapter members how to connect with their elected officials — local, state and federal — is one of the leadership team's major goals, he added.
First, many people don't know who their representatives, or local city council members are, the organizer said. Second, they say they wouldn't know what to tell an elected official anyway.
"I say share your story, because they don't know what you went through," said Beasley.
Push for Clean Slate Act
At this time most individuals with a nonviolent record can apply for sealing or expunging the case. But that’s a costly bureaucratic process that roughly 9 of 10 eligible Illinoisans don’t even attempt, according to EndPP's website.
One of Fully Free BloNo’s first goals is to help push to get the Illinois Clean Slate Act through.
Formally known as SB 1784, if made into law, the state would change policy to automatically seal or clear records for people meeting the eligibility. In basic terms, the law would apply only to nonviolent cases, and take effect only after sentence, probation and an additional set period of time.
It passed the House in May with an 81-28 vote. Next it heads to the Senate. If it passes there, Illinois would become the 13th U.S. state to have such Clean Slate legislation.
Statewide goals
The Clean Slate Act is a high priority for EndPP, Beasley said. But it’s not the only focus. Fully Free BloNo and other chapters that follow are intended to be a holistic approach to building community.
Beasley already is working forward. Leadership training for the Fully Free Peoria chapter begins July 25.
After that, he plans to organize similar groups in Springfield, Decatur and Champaign-Urbana.
As for the Bloomington-Normal chapter, Fully Free BloNo will begin hosting monthly meetings and teach-ins on topics such as "Know Your Rights." More info will be available at the launch party.
Organizers ask people to register, to better prepare for meals. But registration is not required. People can just drop by.
To register for Saturday’s event at Miller Park, or to learn more about the missions for the Fully Free chapters, or the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, visit the nonprofit’s website at endpp.org or email Beasley directly at tbeasley@endpp.org.
