August 27, 2009
Dear NYC area FAMM supporters --
Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) is working with John Forté, a Grammy-nominated singer songwriter best known for his work with the Fugees, to raise awareness of the impact of harsh sentencing laws on families through a project called "The Waiting Project." The project will benefit In Arms Reach, a New York-based program that works with the children of prisoners.
We are looking for families in the New York City area to participate in a video shoot on September 15. We are seeking families that have been impacted by harsh sentencing laws, particularly for nonviolent drug offenses.
The video will accompany a new song by John Forté called, "Who Will Play My Cards for Me." The video begins with a photographer, played by John Forté, as he positions a mother, two children and an elderly grandfather for a family portrait. He sings as he hands the family members a card with the name and prison identification number of their missing family member. In the video, the family is photographed twice --from the front and then in profile. The photographer ushers them out and a new family enters. Their portraits are a means to tell a story. It's an endless line of families, their lives all put on hold, waiting for their loved one to return from prison.
The Waiting Project is also planning a website and book that will feature the stories of families. Families will be asked to sign a release form giving permission to use your story in the video, website and book.
Please email me at monica@famm.org if you think you know a family or are a family that can help. Families come in all shapes and sizes and we want to hear from you.
What we need:
Names and ages of everyone in the family.
A family photo.
A one page description of your experience waiting for a loved one in prison.
Available for a half day shoot on Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Please let me know by September 10 if you can participate. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Monica
Monica Pratt Raffanel
Communications Director