State Allies
State Allies are volunteer liaisons with the Worthy Now Prison Ministry who help us stay faithfully connected to more than 1900 incarcerated members.
Because many of our members are transferred frequently, keeping up with accurate mailing addresses can be challenging. Without up-to-date information, CLF and Worthy Now mail may never reach them. Our goal is simple but profound; to make sure no one feels forgotten.
What is the role of State Allies?
As a State Ally, you’re assigned a list of members and take responsibility for periodically verifying their current mailing addresses. Each month, you’ll check the address of those with that birth month and send a brief birthday greeting. You’ll also help with our seasonal outreach by sending a holiday message to your assigned list.
How many State Allies are needed?
This is quiet, behind-the-scenes work but it has a real and immediate impact. A steady, reliable presence can be a lifeline for someone navigating the isolation of incarceration. Today, we have 43 individual State Allies, plus one team dedicated to our Federal incarcerated members database. Our dream is to have at least one Ally for every US state, with multiple Allies in states with larger populations. We’re also growing our “Flex Team,” volunteers who step in to help with special projects or offer backup when another Ally needs support.
Covenant for this Role
- Maintain impartiality and non-judgment
- Practice patience and flexibility in the face of slow systems and deep suffering
- Uphold the sacredness of privacy and the dignity of all members
- Commit to protecting and uplifting those who are too often forgotten
- Maintain open communication with CLF staff
Qualifications
- A Unitarian Universalist, but does not need to be a penpal
- Open to learning Black liberation/anti-racism/anti-colonialism, abolition, transformation
- Respectful of boundaries and confidentiality
- Basic tech competence: basic skills in Google Doc and/or Sheets files, internet, and email
- Accountable, communicative, self-directed, and courageous
Become a State Ally
If you feel called to support this ministry of presence and accompaniment by becoming a member of our Worthy Now State Ally team, please click the button below and complete our interest form.
We Need Your Support
We rely on the support of thousands of donors to continue this life-saving ministry. This staff-intensive ministry costs us about $300 per member to provide at a bare minimum level. The ministry we would like to offer would cost about double that.
Few of our incarcerated members have the resources to be stewards of their congregation, though they would like to. Because they are legally enslaved, we do not require financial contributions from these members. It is a moment of significant pause to hold a $20 check sent in from a member we know is earning $0.20 an hour at their prison job.
Can you help?