Cohort Three launched in Spring 2023, with the goals of focusing on the development of abolitionist campaigns on student campuses and providing a national communal space to share about campaigns, deepen organizing skills, workshop any barriers or challenges students might face, share successful strategies, and build relationships with people at other schools across the country.
There were 20 students from 6 different schools in Cohort Three:
- Boston University School of Public Health
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
- Howard University
- University of Minnesota Medical School
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health
Students worked on a variety of projects, including starting their own formal student organizations about abolition on campus, holding events with local community organizing groups, working with faculty to incorporate abolition into their curricula, starting social media campaigns, and more.
Testimonials from Cohort Three:
“I learned how to ground myself in conversations about abolition, how to seek comfort/support from like-minded folks, how deeply ingrained police mentality is entrenched in institutions with hierarchy, and how to feel safe in conflict heavy discussions.”
“I feel like I got a lot out of our bi-weekly meetings. I always left feeling empowered and motivated to continue the work.”
“Thank y’all so so much for creating this space. I felt like I could always show up as my imperfect self, which is something I never have felt before in an organizing space. Being able to see that there are folks all across the country fighting for the same future as me was immensely comforting, especially in the shit show of contemporary politics.”
