Get Involved
MILK NOT JAILS is an all volunteer-run statewide initiative working to build a new urban-rural dynamic. We believe that building relationships between urban and rural people is critical to transcending the current political and economic climate. Relationship building takes time, and we need your help to make the connections necessary for our grassroots movement.
- Monthly Planning Meetings
- Become a Summer Intern
- Subscribe to our Mailing List
- Working Groups
- Make a Donation
- Upcoming Events
- Contact Us
The easiest way to get involved in MILK NOT JAILS is to join our monthly planning meetings by phone or in person. At our monthly meetings we hear report-backs from the MILK NOT JAILS working groups [link to section below], and make decisions about future work. This is also a great place to get all of your questions directly answered! Monthly meetings are held on the THIRD TUESDAY of every month from 6:30-8:30pm. The meetings are typically held at the office of the Center for Constitutional Rights in Manhattan. The call-in number for our meetings is always (712) 775-7200 and the Access Code is 257779#. Check out our Events Calendar [link to page] for a schedule of upcoming meetings.
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news about our work and how you can get involved. To join, send a blank email to milknotjails-subscribe@lists.riseup.net.
MILK NOT JAILS has 6 working groups that focus on different components of the campaign’s strategic plan. Read the descriptions of the working groups below and contact us [direct link to contact us page] if you are interested in getting involved in any of these specific projects.
Dairy Cooperative Working Group is creating a cooperative business for dairy farmers, and eventually other types of farmers, to sell their products through the MILK NOT JAILS brand. Farmers will continue to produce their goods individually, but the cooperative will market, brand, and distribute the cooperative’s products to consumers.
Education & Outreach Working Group creates public education materials and events to mobilize the public, the media, and people in prison to participate in the campaign’s political and economic activities. The group creates all of the materials and games used at MILK NOT JAILS ice cream socials.
Marketing & Sales Working Group develops a marketing strategy and generates sales for the dairy marketing cooperative. It is currently researching opportunities for the dairy marketing cooperative to sell products to CSAs, day cares, coffee shops, and supportive housing units.
Policy Working Group researches policies to add to the MILK NOT JAILS policy agenda, produces educational materials to train the public about MILK NOT JAILS’ political demands, and organizes opportunities for MILK NOT JAILS to demand change.
Fundraising Working Group organizes fundraising events and other income generating opportunities. This group also researches and writes grants and requests for in-kind donations.
Chapter Development Working Group works to establish a local presence for MILK NOT JAILS in regions throughout New York State. We are interested in creating chapters in NYC’s five boroughs as well as the Hudson Valley, Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Ithaca, Binghamton, and the North Country.
Help fund the movement! MILK NOT JAILS is a volunteer-run statewide initiative. Your donations help us pay for postage, gas, and other materials we need to build a new urban-rural relationship. Each donation is greatly appreciated. Don’t have money but want to contribute in some way? MILK NOT JAILS also needs your in-kind donations of space, photocopies, volunteer hours, etc. Learn more about how to get involved!
Check out our upcoming events, meetings, and volunteer days!
The food coop to which I belong in Albany NY purchases a majority of its dairy products from farmers w/i 100 miles. In fact all of our purchases make local a priority. There are “Local” labels indicating all such products. If it would help, I can provide the names of the local dairy farmers. I can also send your fact sheet to our buyers, and submit an article to our monthly newsletter.
I am totally involved. I am a peson with a felony history and was just released from NYSDOCS after serviing nearly 13 years of a 16 year sentence. throughout that timespan i enrolled in the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) and completed my BA in social studies with a focus on environmental studies. within that scope I particulalry focused on food, agriculture. i completed my degree from Bard by doing a senior research project on food and penality and the sociology around such an issue in the Hudson Valley, in particular within the NYS DOCS.