The City of Tacoma will provide $10,000 to AIDNW for phone funds for detainees!  City Council Member Olgy Diaz, along with co-sponsors Mayor Victoria Woodards, and Council Members Kristina Walker and Joe Bushnell presented a funding resolution to the Council, and it passed unanimously.

Diaz noted, “People who are detained are held without guaranteed access to legal help, while being largely isolated from their loved ones…Tacoma is a city where people try to look out for one another.”

AIDNW gives over $2,000 each month in $20 phone cards to detainees to connect with friends, family, and legal advocates.–over $74,000 in the last four years!  “AIDNW understands that communication is not just a lifeline; it’s a pathway to hope and justice,” says AIDNW Executive Director Deborah Cruz. “By establishing phone fund programs inside detention, those detained have a voice amidst their silence, empowering them to connect with loved ones, legal counsel, and support networks. It’s not just about calls; it’s about restoring dignity, amplifying voices, and making a profound difference in the journey towards freedom and fairness.”