Advocacy

&

Systems

Change

The After Life Initiative (ALI) is driving transformative systems change by eliminating the structural barriers that prevent directly and indirectly system-impacted individuals from building stable, successful lives. Ali actively working to remove restrictions on occupational licensure that disqualify qualified individuals based on past convictions.

As Keeairra Dashiell prepares to become a licensed attorney, she leads the charge in advocating for equitable policies that promote fair chance hiring, expand access to professional careers, and eliminate the long-term consequences of criminal records.

We also advocate for a shift in policies from focusing on locking up individuals to deter crime to creating opportunities for them to be part of building inclusive, peaceful, and productive communities. Our ultimate objective is to give back to our community by enhancing public safety and cutting the pipeline from juvenile facilities to county jails and then prison.

By advancing legislative reforms, enforcing ban-the-box initiatives, and pushing for automatic record expungement, After Life Initiative is not just supporting reentry—they are building a new system rooted in opportunity, restoration, and justice.

This Year's Initiatives

Every Step Forward Is a Step Toward a More Equitable Community

Here are some of the initiatives that we are standing behind in 2025:

SB 245

SB 245 builds on the foundation of AB 2147 by expanding expungement opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals who served in fire camps, allowing more of them to clear their records and access meaningful employment—particularly in firefighting and other public service roles. Currently introduced in the California Senate, the bill represents a critical step toward recognizing the contributions of system-impacted individuals and removing barriers to successful reentry.

ACA 6

Proposition 6 seeks to ban all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude in California, including in prisons.

It ensures no person is forced to work against their will, affirming basic human rights and dignity for all.

SB 672

SB 672 allows people sentenced to life without parole for crimes committed at age 25 or younger to be eligible for parole after 25 years.

It mandates that youth offender parole hearings for these individuals be held by January 1, 2028.