The Institute for Community Justice was founded as part of Philadelphia FIGHT’s commitment to working to reduce not only the number of people in prison living with HIV, but also the lasting effects of mass imprisonment on communities most affected.
The Institute for Community Justice was founded as part of Philadelphia FIGHT’s commitment to working to reduce not only the number of people in prison living with HIV, but also the lasting effects of mass imprisonment on communities most affected.
The mission of ICJ is to create a stigma-free space with innovative, prevention-focused programs that empower, educate and support people affected by the parallel crises of HIV and mass imprisonment, to protect community health, and raise consciousness around issues of social justice.
Project TEACH Outside
Treatment Education Activists Combating HIV!
Project TEACH Outside is a 5 week long educational and activist training course designed for individuals living with HIV who have been recently released from prison or jail. Topics include living healthy with HIV, basic HIV treatment information, strategies for rebuilding our lives after imprisonment, stress management and wellness, accessing supportive services and AIDS and prison activism.
TEACH Outside starts soon! See more information and an application for the class or call Elisabeth Long or Teresa Sullivan at 215-525-0460.
Enhancing Linkages Project
FIGHT offers prison linkage services to individuals living with HIV who are imprisoned within the Philadelphia Prison System. Linkage specialists are available for advocacy, support, education, and linkages to medical care and supportive services upon release. FIGHT’s Jonathan Lax Treatment Center offers expedited medical appointments for individuals returning home from jail. Case management, mental health and drug and alcohol treatment is also available.
Contact Assata Thomas, ICJ Director, at 215-525-0460 x407 or athomas@fight.org for more information.
Prison Support Program
Our Prison Support Program provides health education , advocacy and discharge
planning for individuals within the PPS. Through PSP we are able to work with people throughout their incarceration in the Philadelphia jails and their release back home to the community. Our Prison Support Specialists provide counseling, linkage to medical care and service coordination.
Contact Assata Thomas, ICJ Director, at 215-525-0460 x407 or athomas@fight.org for more information.
Reentry Center
At our Reentry Center, we work to engage and empower all individuals impacted by mass imprisonment. Our staff coordinates skills-building and educational programs focused around continuing education, digital literacy, skills-building as well as art and creative expression. Our Case Managers support individuals in accessing critical resources and information, provide counseling, and linkage to medical care and service coordination.
Our drop in center is a hub for reentry support – come and visit us!
Contact Assata Thomas at 215-525-0460 x407 or athomas@fight.org
Computer Lab and Drop in Hours
Tuesday: 1-5 PM
Wednesday: 1-5 PM
Thursday: 1-5 PM
Friday: 1-5 PM
Prison Health News
Prison Health News is an information network project of Philadelphia FIGHT. Our newsletter, published four times a year for people in prison, strives to lift up the voices, experience and expertise of currently and formerly incarcerated people. We are the only resource that responds to all types of health questions from people in prisons and jails everywhere in the United States. With the radical power of information, we work to break down prison walls and build health and social justice for all.
Prison Health News is produced by a Philadelphia-based collective of writers and editors, most of whom have been in prison and are living with HIV, and includes the work of imprisoned artists and writers.
Download PDFs of PHN or to subscribe.
Contact Elisabeth Long at 215-525-0460 x417 or elong@fight.org for more information.
Leadership Development and Advocacy
ICJ’s leadership development initiatives facilitate social justice discussions empowering participants to become active in neighborhood improvement initiatives, engaged in the local and national electoral process, and informed about relevant legislation and policy that impacts their communities. Participants work to cultivate meaningful leadership, build relationships, and mobilize communities to act to make positive social change.
