Ashley's 2017 NOLA to Angola Bike Ride

As many of you know, I was accepted to participate in a bike ride in October raising funds to provide transportation to families in New Orleans that have family members in Angola Prison, the largest maximum security prison in the country. Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the country and New Orleans is certainly impacted. Many families, including those with young children, have parents or family members who are or have been incarcerated.  

This ride supports those family members in New Orleans (and Shreveport) with free, comfortable, safe transportation from New Orleans to Angola to visit family members that are incarcerated. While this doesn't change the broken criminal justice system we currently have, it does remove barriers to transportation so that families can stay connected with their loved ones. This is an incredibly important fundraiser, especially to our community in New Orleans. With the amount of families affected by incarceration in this city, we are all directly and indirectly impacted by the loss of those in our communities. I am SO grateful that I get to participate in the ride this year and if you haven't already, I highly encourage you to read/watch the resources I've provided in this email and on my fundraising site (see link(s) below), especially if you live in New Orleans.

 While any donation is appreciated, my greatest hope is that you'll learn something new and start a conversation with others about Angola Prison and Louisiana's criminal justice system, our nation's prison system as a whole, and race and the criminal justice system. Maybe it will even make you want to do the ride next year or get involved in criminal justice reform! Please take some time to read below about NOLA to Angola, fundraising info, and other resources.

WHAT IS NOLA TO ANGOLA?

Nola to Angola is an annual three-day, 170-mile bicycle ride fundraiser. We ride from Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans to Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Each rider raises money by soliciting sponsorships from family and friends. The funds raised support the Cornerstone Builders Bus Project, which sends free buses every month for family members to visit their incarcerated loved ones.

The ride has grown from about a dozen riders to 50-60 and continues to expand each year, raising $25,000 – $30,000 for Cornerstone annually. This has enabled Cornerstone to send a full schedule of buses, to develop long-term sustainability, and to expand their services to Shreveport. Click here to read more about Cornerstone Builders Bus Service.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
-100% of the donations you raise will go to funding FREE buses from New Orleans and Shreveport to several different prisons across Louisiana. We raised over $30,000 for Cornerstone last year, which meant they could send several buses each month. We hope to at least match that this year. Here and here is more info on the important work Cornerstone does.

To give you an idea:

• 1 bus from New Orleans costs $1200
• 1 bus from Shreveport costs $2000
• $25 funds one round-trip ride from New Orleans
• $50 funds both a parent and child from New Orleans
• $75 allows one individual to visit 3x per year
• $100 funds a four-person family from New Orleans

Please know that every little bit helps, so ANY amount donated is appreciated!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• The Farm, Angola USA (documentary) is available on Netflix.com
• Angola Prison Hospice: Opening the door
• The End of the Line: Rehabilitation and Reform in Angola Penitentiary 
• American Slavery, Reinvented
• The New Jim Crow (Criminal Justice)

And many more on the Nola to Angola Additional Resources page.

Thanks so much for supporting the NTA ride!