The Day of Empathy is a national day of action to generate empathy on a massive scale for the millions of Americans behind bars and their loved ones. On March 5, 2019, Americans impacted by the criminal justice system nationwide and their allies will meet with lawmakers to share their stories and experiences. To reform our criminal justice system, we must first humanize and empathize with those who are affected by it.
The Day of Empathy highlights the need for #JusticeReformNOW and shares the perspectives of Americans impacted by the current justice system - from survivors of violent crime to those who are addicted to opioids or other drugs and those who are mentally ill to incarcerated individuals working to transform themselves, people with a criminal record desperately seeking a second chance, and all community members impacted by crime, public safety, and violence.
Without empathy, we cannot achieve meaningful policy changes that keep our communities safe, our families whole, and our economy strong.
The Day of Empathy shines a light on people impacted by the criminal justice system , to uplift their voices and win over hearts and minds towards the idea that transformation is possible.
Join Nation Outside and the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, along with our co-sponsors at Safe and Just Michigan, the Detroit Justice Center, the American Friends Service Committee, Advocacy Resources Reentry and Outreach (A.R.R.O), the Carceral State Project at the University of Michigan, Justice Through Storytelling, and the Michigan Prison Doula Initiative on March 5th, 2018 from 8:30am-12:00pm for breakfast, programming, and personal testimony at the Central United Methodist Church (215 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing, MI). From 12:00pm-4:00pm, individuals will have the opportunity to speak with their legislator about one of three different policy priorities:
1. Dignity for Incarcerated Women
2. Clean Slate Legislation
3. Michigan's Raise the Age campaign
If you have any further questions or comments, please email Tara McManus at
tmcmanus@miccd.org or call MCCD at (517) 482-4161.
Thank you!