upEND Movement

I want to read more about the family policing system (all aspects) does anyone here have recs for me?

upEND @upendmovement.org has a great syllabus to go along with their podcast series, and it's also based on a book, so you can approach the topic from a few directions
upendmovement.org/syllabus/

Another way out: The U.S. sacrifices children everywhere We should not expect a country that’s proud about its campaigns of terror against children to be repentant now

"We should not expect a country that’s proud about its campaigns of terror against children to be repentant now… All of this death and ruin is a call for youth liberation,” writes @williamcson.bsky.social for @prismreports.org.

Thank you to everyone who came to our virtual screening! If you would like to show #AVisionOfGrace in your community, let us know more about the event you want to host, and we’ll send you a toolkit with all of the materials you need. 🔗 form.jotform.com/251765258416...

upEND’ s Josie Pickens writes that the so called Big Beautiful Bill “will cause more family separations, not because Black mothers are unfit, but because we are under-resourced.” newsone.com/6305294/how-...

We're going live in one hour! Get tickets to the virtual screening of our new documentary. The recording will only be available for registrants, so don't miss it! 👀🎬🎟️ #AVisionOfGrace

www.eventbrite.com/e/a-vision-o...

Waiola is the resident Mother of Montrose Grace Place in Houston and one of the stars of our film #AVisionOfGrace. At our Houston premiere, she talked about what finding and creating chosen family has meant to her.

Get tickets for our VIRTUAL SCREENING Thurs, July 10! 🎟️ buff.ly/OBGOD0u

The upEND Team is at @socialismconference.org! Yesterday we kicked off the conference with a session on “Reproductive Justice, Family Policing, and Abolition” and now we get to hear from the incredible activists and organizers presenting this weekend. If you see us around, say hi! #Socialism25

Congress passed the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” that viciously attacks our communities & guts the resources necessary to keep families together.

This only makes it clearer: we’re the ones who keep each other alive.

Join our Movement Syncs to strategize together: bit.ly/movement-syncs-MFP

The upEND team is on their way to @socialismconference.org to talk about Family Policing Abolition & Reproductive Justice! Catch our session Thursday July 3, 2025 at 2:30pm. #Socialism2025

A collage of photos from upEND’s work includes behind the scenes images of filming our documentary, a group photo of the upEND team at a conference, and images from upEND’s Convenings.

“We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.” Ella’s Song by Sweet Honey in the Rock

Movements evolve. Understanding deepens. New conditions arise: Shrinking the System with Abolitionist Steps, Partnering with the Reproductive Justice Movement, Imagining Non-Carceral Responses to Harm, Centering the Voices of Impacted Youth, Clarifying Language Around “Poverty is not neglect”, Building Cross-Movement Solidarity

Movements evolve. Understanding deepens. New conditions arise.

What lessons have you learned from the family policing abolition movement, and how are you growing in your analysis and your organizing? We’d love to hear from you too.

upendmovement.org/2025/06/19/r...

Reflections on upEND’s 5th Birthday - upEND Movement Five years ago, around Juneteenth—a celebration of delayed but hard-won freedom—a small collective of insiders-turned-abolitionists planted the seeds of upEND.

In 2021, we published "How We endUP: A Future Without Family Policing” which provided a collective vision for ending the separation of children from their families.

Now, we are revisiting this document to incorporate lessons from the past several years.

upendmovement.org/2025/06/19/r...

Reflections on upEND’s 5th Birthday - upEND Movement Five years ago, around Juneteenth—a celebration of delayed but hard-won freedom—a small collective of insiders-turned-abolitionists planted the seeds of upEND.

Today we’re celebrating #Juneteenth and upEND’s 5th birthday!

upEND’s Program Director Josie Pickens (@jonubian) writes about what we’re learning and how we’re growing in a new blog post.

🔗 upendmovement.org/2025/06/19/r...

Breaking Down Family Policing Copaganda in the New 'Lilo & Stitch' - upEND Movement by Sydnie Dan’el Mares  Disney’s latest live-action remake, Lilo and Stitch (2025) grossed $341 million in its opening weekend at the box office. Set in Hawai’i, against the backdrop of violent family...

NEW BLOG POST: Breaking Down Family Policing Copaganda in the New ‘Lilo & Stitch’ - by @syddanel.com 🎬

The new movie is poised to impact the way millions think about family policing and the termination of parental rights, and we need to talk about it. ⚠️

upendmovement.org/2025/06/09/b...

Local Group Declares June As Stolen Children’s Month Stolen Children's Month aims to highlight the voices of survivors and demand changes to laws perpetuating family separation.

“We demand the abolition of all systems that steal children and separate families. That means the family policing system, the adoption industry, ICE detention and deportation machine, and the prison industrial complex.” — Josie Pickens. buff.ly/vesv8Sr

Local Group Declares June As Stolen Children’s Month Stolen Children's Month aims to highlight the voices of survivors and demand changes to laws perpetuating family separation.

“I need for all of our communities to stop softening the truth. What we are witnessing is state-sanctioned family separation violence that is being justified as child protection. It’s not, it’s not protection. It’s genocide.” — Ashley Albert
buff.ly/vesv8Sr

Local Group Declares June As Stolen Children’s Month Stolen Children's Month aims to highlight the voices of survivors and demand changes to laws perpetuating family separation.

“Stolen Children’s Month was born from my pain, blood, sweat, and tears. I was put on trial for the love of my children to prove if I was safe enough to have my kids, and to prove that I was a mother who loved my children.” — Ashley Albert
buff.ly/vesv8Sr

Local Group Declares June As Stolen Children’s Month Stolen Children's Month aims to highlight the voices of survivors and demand changes to laws perpetuating family separation.

On Monday, people impacted by forced family separation, along with advocates, attorneys, and organizers, held a virtual rally via Zoom to declare June 2025 the first annual Stolen Children’s Month.

buff.ly/vesv8Sr

Reclaiming Safety for Children of Parents with Disabilities - upEND Movement Justice for parents with disabilities and their children first and foremost means power to exert lived experience expertise about one’s own situation, condition, and wellbeing.

We’re excited to share the next essay in our #ReclaimingSafety series! Read “Reclaiming Safety for Children of Parents with Disabilities" by Charisa Smith. Editors Angela Burton and @alandettlaff.com

buff.ly/ksJ0oUd

Flyer for IG Live with Josie Pickens on May 21 at 1:00 pm CST.

TODAY! Tune in for a special IG Live with Josie Pickens, Executive Producer of @upendmovement.org’s new documentary “A Vision of Grace,” who will preview the film and its first screening at the upcoming Black Alphabet Film Festival!

Malcolm X’s Childhood Trauma And The Case For Abolishing Family Policing On what would have been the 100th birthday of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, writer Josie Pickens discusses the role family policing played in his childhood trauma.

On what would have been Malcolm X's 100th birthday, @upendmovement.org's Josie Pickens writes about the trauma he experienced from the family policing system and makes a case for abolition as "the only way forward."

READ HERE: newsone.com/6165220/malc...

Malcolm X’s Childhood Trauma And The Case For Abolishing Family Policing On what would have been the 100th birthday of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, writer Josie Pickens discusses the role family policing played in his childhood trauma.

upEND’s Program Director Josie Pickens writes for @newsoneofficial.bsky.social: Malcolm X’s early life—shaped by racist terrorism and family separation—planted the seeds of his radicalism. He saw through the lie of state benevolence.

newsone.com/6165220/malc...

We also want to mention that (free!) tickets are available now for our ‘red carpet’ premiere and virtual screening. #AVisionOfGrace #Houston #PrideMonth

Visit upendmovement.org/grace to learn more.

The poster for A Vision of Grace features a young black woman wearing a fur hat and smiling with her hands over her mouth. Additional information reads: An upEND Movement Film in collaboration with Montrose Grace Place and Rennob Productions. Official Selection: Black Alphabet Film Festival Houston 2025.

The T.R.U.T.H. Project, Inc. presents Black Alphabet Film Festival Houston. The theme is Southern Vibration. At MATCH Gallery, 3400 Main, Houston, TX. 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM May 31, 2025.

CELEBRATING BIG NEWS!

“A Vision of Grace,” upEND’ s first short film, is an official selection for Houston’s inaugural Black Alphabet Film Festival! 🎬 🌿

May 31, 11 AM -7 PM
Houston, TX

Watch the trailer and see upcoming screenings: buff.ly/fGFSZx1

YouTube video by upEND Movement Why He Trains Abortion Doulas

Ash Williams trains new abortion doulas so that they can use their “bodies, hearts, and minds to turn up on the state.”

Video: youtube.com/shorts/uvbCb...

Full Episode: upendmovement.org/podcast/epis...

#ReproductiveJustice #AbortionBans #TransLivesMatter #GenderAffirmingCare

Why We Need Abortion Doulas | The upEND Podcast Season 2, Episode 7 - upEND Movement

The Season 2 Finale is out now!

Reproductive justice has always been the foundation of upEND’s work to abolish the family policing system. That’s why we wanted to speak with Ash Williams, a Black trans abortion doula and community organizer.

buff.ly/QpBD88q

Movie poster for the documentary film, "A Vision of Grace" featuring an image of one of the youth featured in the film superimposed by the title.

The @upendmovement.org team has created an incredibly beautiful film and I'm so excited for you all to get to see it. We'll be hosting an in-person premiere on June 27 followed by a virtual screening on July 10. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

More info here: upendmovement.org/grace/

Another Black child was kidnapped today.

Join us at the 4th annual #BlackMothersMarch (5/11) to demand an end to the state-sanctioned kidnapping of our children.

RSVP: BlackMothersMarch.com 🖤

Why We Need Abortion Doulas | The upEND Podcast Season 2, Episode 7 - upEND Movement

The Season 2 Finale is out now!

Reproductive justice has always been the foundation of upEND’s work to abolish the family policing system. That’s why we wanted to speak with Ash Williams, a Black trans abortion doula and community organizer.

buff.ly/QpBD88q

YouTube video by upEND Movement A Vision of Grace Trailer

We’re excited to finally release the trailer for our upcoming short documentary, “A Vision of Grace.” 🎬

Executive Producer - Josie Pickens
Director - @syddanel.com
Cinematographer/Editor - @lovesequel.bsky.social

Trailer: youtu.be/aLSiHbx1LQQ

Tickets are available at upendmovement.org/grace