Read our newest Impact Report Resilience in Action: Our Journey Through 2022 and 2023 – a testament to the enduring strength, hard work, and collective power of our communities.
It reflects our visionary leadership in decarceration, economic justice, and leadership development for those historically left out of systems of opportunity.
Letter from Amika Mota
Dear Community,
As a co-founder and the first Executive Director of Sister Warriors, I am continually inspired by our members’ relentless fight for justice and dignity. We are a mighty team of warriors, many of us having endured the pain of incarceration and family separation, which gives us a deep understanding of the reality facing women and trans people of all genders behind California’s prison walls. We know that no one is coming for us but us, and we carry the voices and power of thousands of Sister Warriors with us into every room we enter. We are no longer asking for permission—we demand immediate change.
In 2022 and 2023, we worked tirelessly to end the widespread sexual violence by prison staff in women’s prisons. We spoke with 700 incarcerated people and produced a legislative report that informed policy changes to better protect those inside and respond to incidents of assault. We also launched our first ambassador program inside prisons to build a robust membership among incarcerated people.
The work over the past two years has been incredibly difficult. Many of us are triggered daily by the trauma we’ve experienced, yet we understand the power we must command to create the change we are charged with making. We are steadfast in our mission to realize Freedom 2030 and end the criminalization and incarceration of women, girls, and trans people of all genders in California. Our commitment is unwavering as we work to end state-sanctioned violence and create pathways for healing, re-entry, and reunification.
We take this work seriously, knowing that the path to freedom is in our hands. Together, we are demanding transformation, holding hope, and pushing forward toward a future where safety and justice belong to all of us.
In Solidarity,
Amika Mota
Executive Director, Sister Warriors