Resist DOC suppression of the Cultural Collective

The Cultural Collective at Stafford Creek is a grassroots organization comprised of leaders from various independent cultural groups that include the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awareness Group, Black Prisoners Caucus, Nuestro Grupo Cultural (formerly Hispanic Cultural Group), and the Native American Circle.

While prison has widely been regarded as a place that thrives on violence, isolation, and division, the Cultural Collective transcends negative stereotypes by working in solidarity to uplift the voices of those most marginalized, and empowering those directly impacted by an unjust system.

The cultural awareness groups that make up the Cultural Collective have a long legacy of resistance, tradition, and love. They provide prisoners with a platform for true growth and liberation through cultural preservation - while building community and creating safe spaces for healing.

As of March 2023, there is currently a complete shutdown of all culture groups across the state pending revision of DOC culture group policy.

Demands

1.) Reinstate

Administration to work with cultural groups to resume all group activities, meetings, and functions, especially peer-led education and cultural enrichment. This involves allowing sponsors and community organizations and stakeholders access to facilities. Officially acknowledge sponsored cultural groups, including the NGC.

2.) Inclusion and Accountability

Consider our suggestions for the new cultural policy. Include cultural groups leaders and community stakeholders in meetings. Give our community and families access and more transparency in this policymaking process that directly impacts the lives of incarcerated individuals.

3.) Protections

Protections against group suspensions and/or termination for perceived conflicting political views, advocacy work, and outside community engagement and interest. Administration should not just be empowered to shut us down arbitrarily. Do not punish us for organizing around our unique cultural identity in a way that has such a positive impact and provides a platform for growth.

The Cultural Group Policy that the Cultural Collective agreed upon in 2018 is available here:

Call to Action

These are the officials in charge from three different offices.

Please contact all officials to help us fight for accountability.

Let them know about the suspension of cultural groups, our demands, and why they should be reinstated.

Washington Department of Corrections

Name	Title	Email	Phone
Cheryl Strange	DOC Secretary	cheryl.strange@doc1.wa.gov	+1-360-725-8213
Sean Murphy	DOC Deputy Secretary	sean.murphy@doc1.wa.gov
Lisa Flynn	Director of Correctional Services	lisa.flynn@doc.wa.gov	+1-360-580-3945
Chris Poulos	Director of Person-Centered Services	christopher.poulos@doc1.wa.gov
Jarrod Irven	Accessibility Manager	jarrod.irvin@doc1.wa.gov
Yen Huynh	Equity Diversity Inclusion and Respect Director	yhuynh@ci.olympia.wa.us	+1-360-753-8447
Dawn Taylor	Family Services Manager	dawn.taylor@doc.wa.gov	+1-360-580-3945

Governor Inslee's Office

Send the office an e-message through this form.

Name	Title	Email	Phone
Jamila Thomas	Chief of Staff	jamila.thomas@gov.wa.gov
Dontae Payne	Senior Policy Advisor, Civil Rights & Racial Justice	dontae.payne@gov.wa.gov	+1-564-669-0217
Sydney Forrester	Senior Policy Advisor, Human Services	sydney.forrester@gov.wa.gov	+1-360-867-8212
Barbara Serrano	Senior Policy Advisor, Public Safety	barbara.serrano@gov.wa.gov	+1-360-810-1197

Washington Office of Equity

Incarcerated community leaders have read your policy.

It is not being implemented.

Contact their office using this form.

Name	Title	Email	Phone
Karen Johnson, PhD	Inaugural Director	info@equity.wa.gov	+1-360-902-3355
Carolyn Cole, Esq	Assistant Director, Equity, Access, and Belonging	info@equity.wa.gov	+1-360-902-3355

Collective Cultural Convictions Zine

Zine

Cultural Collective Convictions

On April 1st, 2023, community members and organizers joined in conversation with currently and formerly incarcerated members of the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awareness Group, Black Prisoners Caucus, Nuestro Grupo Cultural, Formerly Incarcerated Group Healing Together, and several other groups at the Asian Counseling and Referral Service center in Seattle, WA. This event featured voices from across the state to share information and a call to action around the negative impacts that WA Department of Corrections has placed upon the cultural awareness groups inside the state's prisons.