had the courage to express their moral consternation.
When recent changes in drug
laws allowed judges to impose a sentence
less than a mandatory minimum life sentence,
the changes were – alas – not retroactive!
TDC therefore turned the attention of
the Third Strike Campaign to inmates who
remained subject to life sentences, even
though their offenses no longer called for
such harsh sentences.
Recently, TDC provided the Foundation
with a heartwarming update: “Your Foundation’s
grant funded the legal fees of Tadd
V., an individual sentenced to live his entire
remaining life in prison for a nonviolent
drug offense. Having already served twenty
years, Tadd had no possibility of release,
even though such a sentence was no longer
required for his offenses. Thanks to the
efforts of TDC, using your funding, Tadd
walked out of prison in December of 2021
and into an inspiring new life dedicated to
helping others. The Bronx Public Defenders
Office hired Tadd as a reentry counselor, where he develops educational
programming and provides support for individuals preparing to reenter
society. As if that were not enough, he has also led the effort to establish
an electrical journeyman apprenticeship program to help ensure that those
who have paid their debt to society can secure good employment with livable
wages upon release.”
Your Foundation Board is incredibly moved by this story, not simply
because of its effect on Tadd; but because we have little doubt that TDC
will continue to effectuate such results with our grant and with the support
of others.
MiAngel Cody, the incredible leader of TDC, quite aptly noted that the
Foundation’s grant “didn’t just save Tadd’s life, it planted a seed so that he
can help other human beings as well. This impact cannot be quantified.”
We agree, MiAngel. We hope that those of you who contribute to the
Foundation will continue your generosity, and that those of you who are
still on the cusp will be inspired to join our rank of donors.
Why? That’s an easy one to answer:
. . . Because justice can’t wait.
Joan Lukey
ACTL Foundation President
FALL 2022 JOURNAL 60