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Power Blossoms

@powerblossoms.bsky.social

SoCal-based abolitionist org, bringing together queer & trans people on both sides of prison walls in the fight against hierarchies & State oppression powerblossoms.org/links

74 Followers  |  157 Following  |  11 Posts  |  Joined: 02.08.2023
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Posts by Power Blossoms (@powerblossoms.bsky.social)

Now some of those inside members are with us out here. Now we work with the lawyers and the reentry programs - and, astonishingly, give advice to multimillion-dollar nonprofits on how they could better run their mail programs like ours. It took work; it takes work. (Just ask the 8,000+ stamps we’ve used so far.) We’ve heard you like our aesthetic – thank you! –but there’s little glamor in supporting prisoners. We negotiate lesser defeats more often than we notch victories. You’ll think you’ve helped someone and then your letter to them gets returned, marked DECEASED with no explanation. You want to quit.

Now some of those inside members are with us out here. Now we work with the lawyers and the reentry programs - and, astonishingly, give advice to multimillion-dollar nonprofits on how they could better run their mail programs like ours. It took work; it takes work. (Just ask the 8,000+ stamps we’ve used so far.) We’ve heard you like our aesthetic – thank you! –but there’s little glamor in supporting prisoners. We negotiate lesser defeats more often than we notch victories. You’ll think you’ve helped someone and then your letter to them gets returned, marked DECEASED with no explanation. You want to quit.

But our trans & queer siblings behind bars do not and cannot quit. Their survival is no performative activism: it’s a testament to an irrepressible spirit no empire will ever succeed at stomping out. They’re not going anywhere, and neither are we. Here’s where we say, “We couldn’t have done it without you,” and we mean it. Thank you for the birthday cards! For penpaling! For donations and for volunteer-ing! We need more of all of it, and we’ll spend the weeks ahead pulling back the curtain on our work to explain why that is and explore where the next 5 years might take us.

But our trans & queer siblings behind bars do not and cannot quit. Their survival is no performative activism: it’s a testament to an irrepressible spirit no empire will ever succeed at stomping out. They’re not going anywhere, and neither are we. Here’s where we say, “We couldn’t have done it without you,” and we mean it. Thank you for the birthday cards! For penpaling! For donations and for volunteer-ing! We need more of all of it, and we’ll spend the weeks ahead pulling back the curtain on our work to explain why that is and explore where the next 5 years might take us.

For now, though, let’s end by honoring our inside members who haven’t breathed free air since some of us were 5 years old. Do you know them? Are they a part of your community? You could; they should be. In 19th-century Brazil, it’s said that escaped slaves hid on farms where they grew camellia flowers that were sold to help fund the abolitionist movement their petals also symbolized. It’s late spring, and the camellias are still in bloom. When will we plant them together? Think and dream what else takes root on the day our power blossoms.

For now, though, let’s end by honoring our inside members who haven’t breathed free air since some of us were 5 years old. Do you know them? Are they a part of your community? You could; they should be. In 19th-century Brazil, it’s said that escaped slaves hid on farms where they grew camellia flowers that were sold to help fund the abolitionist movement their petals also symbolized. It’s late spring, and the camellias are still in bloom. When will we plant them together? Think and dream what else takes root on the day our power blossoms.

Close-up of a white camellia flower with a soft yellow center, blooming in natural light against a background of dark green leaves.

Close-up of a white camellia flower with a soft yellow center, blooming in natural light against a background of dark green leaves.

08.05.2025 19:42 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
A stylized black number “5” on a pink gradient background, decorated with pink flowers and sparkles. Below the number, the word “Years” appears in bold, playful black text. The overall style is celebratory and whimsical.

A stylized black number “5” on a pink gradient background, decorated with pink flowers and sparkles. Below the number, the word “Years” appears in bold, playful black text. The overall style is celebratory and whimsical.

A graphic with the "Power Blossoms" logo (a pink pixelated title and a black flower with pink highlights) and the heading "Established April 2020." Below is the text: 5 years of Power Blossoms might merit a self-congratulatory post or a quick call to action, but I wanted to commence our anniversary celebration with a more personal reflection: Cynthia and I founded Power Blossoms amidst turmoil: we’d only been in touch with our first few incarcerated members for a couple months when a novel coronavirus began sweeping through California prisons in a devastating fashion. (We didn’t have a full in-person meeting as an org until November 2022.) Knowing what fires to focus on was hard. Handling piles of physical mail as two people working to keep a virtual penpal program operational was hard. Recruiting new volunteers we lost constantly to ‘Zoom fatigue’ was hard.

A graphic with the "Power Blossoms" logo (a pink pixelated title and a black flower with pink highlights) and the heading "Established April 2020." Below is the text: 5 years of Power Blossoms might merit a self-congratulatory post or a quick call to action, but I wanted to commence our anniversary celebration with a more personal reflection: Cynthia and I founded Power Blossoms amidst turmoil: we’d only been in touch with our first few incarcerated members for a couple months when a novel coronavirus began sweeping through California prisons in a devastating fashion. (We didn’t have a full in-person meeting as an org until November 2022.) Knowing what fires to focus on was hard. Handling piles of physical mail as two people working to keep a virtual penpal program operational was hard. Recruiting new volunteers we lost constantly to ‘Zoom fatigue’ was hard.

But our inside members kept us on track: “We need accurate health information.” “We need funds to buy supplies to keep ourselves even a bit safer.” “We need penpals who stick with us through the isolation of endless lockdowns.” So we made and mailed out a COVID guide that focused on accessible and grounded info. So we raised thousands of dollars to buy care packages and put money on people’s books. So we didn’t just match penpals and move on: we constantly retooled our program to ensure connections were maintained and resulting in real solidarity.

But our inside members kept us on track: “We need accurate health information.” “We need funds to buy supplies to keep ourselves even a bit safer.” “We need penpals who stick with us through the isolation of endless lockdowns.” So we made and mailed out a COVID guide that focused on accessible and grounded info. So we raised thousands of dollars to buy care packages and put money on people’s books. So we didn’t just match penpals and move on: we constantly retooled our program to ensure connections were maintained and resulting in real solidarity.

How can we collectively engage with the hundreds of incarcerated LGBTQI+ people we know who can’t always afford the time or postage to write to us? Mass mailings: a quarterly newsletter, a guide for obtaining your stimulus checks, encouragement to weigh in on the prison system’s policy for housing trans people. How can we individually support the people inside writing to us about their organizing work, the traumas they’re enduring, their bids for freedom? Zines; phone zaps; support letters for parole hearings, resentencings, deportation proceedings, clemency applications.

How can we collectively engage with the hundreds of incarcerated LGBTQI+ people we know who can’t always afford the time or postage to write to us? Mass mailings: a quarterly newsletter, a guide for obtaining your stimulus checks, encouragement to weigh in on the prison system’s policy for housing trans people. How can we individually support the people inside writing to us about their organizing work, the traumas they’re enduring, their bids for freedom? Zines; phone zaps; support letters for parole hearings, resentencings, deportation proceedings, clemency applications.

Happy 5th Anniversary to Power Blossoms! We’re celebrating this month by sharing with you all how a grassroots abolitionist prisoner-support org makes it this far – along with plenty of ways you can support or join our work in the months and years ahead. Lots more to come! 🌸

08.05.2025 19:42 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image 08.05.2025 19:39 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
A light pink background with small dots patterning the background in the bottom left corner. Top large text reads, "Volunteers Needed!" Under the large text is more small text and a clipart envelope with a piece of paper sticking out. The text next to the envelope reads, "We've received more mail than usual this month and we need your help!" Below that is a solid lavender bar and the text over that reads, "September 27, 7:00-9:00PM, ProjectQ Community Center, 4709 Fountain Ave Los Angeles 90029"

A light pink background with small dots patterning the background in the bottom left corner. Top large text reads, "Volunteers Needed!" Under the large text is more small text and a clipart envelope with a piece of paper sticking out. The text next to the envelope reads, "We've received more mail than usual this month and we need your help!" Below that is a solid lavender bar and the text over that reads, "September 27, 7:00-9:00PM, ProjectQ Community Center, 4709 Fountain Ave Los Angeles 90029"

Volunteers needed! Bring your laptop and help us out with some mail! Masks are required but if you forget yours we have some available. There is street parking available, plus nearby public transportation.
If you have accessibility needs or questions, please comment/DM/email us 💞

20.09.2023 22:11 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
A flyer consisting of a photo and text. Photo is of a group of people over a table reading papers that have people's bios. This group is trying to decide which incarcerated individual they are going to write to. The first text box says, "Workshop." The next title says, "Queer Abolition and Liberation: Doing the Work. October 12, 2023 7:00PM, Los Angeles LGBT Center Advocate & Gochis Galleries." The image also includes the logo of One Archives Foundation that is simply made of block text.

A flyer consisting of a photo and text. Photo is of a group of people over a table reading papers that have people's bios. This group is trying to decide which incarcerated individual they are going to write to. The first text box says, "Workshop." The next title says, "Queer Abolition and Liberation: Doing the Work. October 12, 2023 7:00PM, Los Angeles LGBT Center Advocate & Gochis Galleries." The image also includes the logo of One Archives Foundation that is simply made of block text.

We are excited to announce our next event October 12 7-9PM! Hear us talk about queer abolition, what we get up to and come dip your toes in prisoner support work! Write a birthday card, read/process some mail, or respond to someone's letter. Link to FREE tickets in bio!

18.09.2023 17:20 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

To support her in her parole board hearing prep, we were able to connect her with re-entry housing and we wrote her a support letter to the parole board. The combined efforts of two orgs and Kelly’s hard work was enough to get her out. We are so happy she will be let out soon!

15.09.2023 19:34 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
This image is a screenshot of a dark blue messaging app. The message shown is from Kelly at 1:56PM and she says, “Hi, I did not receive a message from you yesterday, but I did receive your note from a few minutes ago. I just got back for my parole hearing and I was found suitable for parole, I should be release in 4-5 months-thank you and power blossoms for all your assist:-)!!!”

This image is a screenshot of a dark blue messaging app. The message shown is from Kelly at 1:56PM and she says, “Hi, I did not receive a message from you yesterday, but I did receive your note from a few minutes ago. I just got back for my parole hearing and I was found suitable for parole, I should be release in 4-5 months-thank you and power blossoms for all your assist:-)!!!”

We are so happy to share that one of our inside members, Kelly, will be getting out in a few months!!! Kelly is a Mexican trans woman who has been in prison for almost 30 years that we have been in contact with for years.

15.09.2023 19:34 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
A large stack of mail with mostly white envelopes and some yellow in a small PO box a little less than halfway full.

A large stack of mail with mostly white envelopes and some yellow in a small PO box a little less than halfway full.

Volunteers needed tomorrow 7-9PM in East Hollywood! This is the mail we picked up today at our PO Box and we need help going through it! Meet us at ProjectQ at 4709 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles 90029 from 7-9PM!

13.09.2023 00:53 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

We currently have FIFTEEN people on our site waiting for birthday cards!!! There are about two weeks left to submit and we need your help getting these cards written 💓 head to our website to write a card today!

11.09.2023 17:10 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
A central column of text is surrounded on either side by beautiful sandy tan flowers against a peaceful blue backdrop. The text reads, “Write birthday cards online: Celebrate with an incarcerated trans or queer person! We’ll print out and mail your submission. Submit at powerblossoms.org by August 24”

A central column of text is surrounded on either side by beautiful sandy tan flowers against a peaceful blue backdrop. The text reads, “Write birthday cards online: Celebrate with an incarcerated trans or queer person! We’ll print out and mail your submission. Submit at powerblossoms.org by August 24”

September birthdays are up & ready! Head to the link in our bio to write a card to an incarcerated LGBTQ Californian today.

02.08.2023 01:04 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 2
Preview
Power Blossoms

We’re looking for new volunteers to help us process mail from our incarcerated queer & trans members! Sign up here: powerblossoms.org/get-i…

02.08.2023 00:56 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0