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Dignity and Power Now was born out of deep personal loss, collective trauma, and visionary organizing. In the early 2000s, our founder—artist, abolitionist, and community organizer Patrisse Cullors—was navigating what many Black families in LA know too well: the overlapping crises of incarceration, police violence, and the neglect of mental health. Her father cycled in and out of the carceral system. Her brother was brutally assaulted while incarcerated in LA County jail—an experience that exposed the unchecked violence happening behind bars and catalyzed what would become years of organizing, learning, and movement-building.

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In 2011, the ACLU launched a class action lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for widespread abuses in the jail system. Having read the 86-page report detailing those abuses, Cullors was inspired to create a performance art piece that centered her brother’s story and illuminated the violence taking place inside LA County jails. The result was STAINED: An Intimate Portrayal of State Violence, a piece that helped dissolve the disconnect between people inside and the community outside.

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After touring STAINED across the county for a year, it became clear that audiences wanted more than awareness—they wanted systemic change. That momentum led to the formation of the Coalition to End Sheriff Violence, a project that brought together formerly incarcerated people, survivors of sheriff violence, and their families to share their testimony and demand oversight of the LA Sheriff’s Department. At the time, the coalition was the only community-led voice calling for civilian oversight. Within a year, they helped secure two votes from LA County Supervisors in support of oversight—a major milestone in a fight that would soon become much bigger.

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It became clear that confronting mass incarceration required more than a single campaign because state violence doesn’t just harm those in custody—it impacts their families and neighborhoods. It is deeply entangled with poverty, housing injustice, the criminalization of mental illness, and everyday policing in Black, Brown, and under-resourced communities. Ending it would require a multifaceted, trauma-informed approach—one rooted in healing, care, and leadership from those most impacted.

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So in 2012, Dignity and Power Now (DPN) was created to be the principal organization in this growing LA-based movement—anchoring a wide ecosystem of projects that use creative expression, life-affirming research, holistic healing practices, and abolitionist leadership development to challenge state violence and mass incarceration at its roots.

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Why the Dandelion?

Our name reflects our core belief: dignity and power are not privileges—they are birthrights. We chose the dandelion as our symbol because of its quiet power. Often dismissed as a weed, the dandelion thrives in even the harshest conditions. It’s medicinal. It’s resilient. And it spreads wherever it lands.

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Like the dandelion, our people are grounded in hope, blossom through care, and bloom in community.

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We free us.

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What We have Built, Together

We planted our seeds in Los Angeles County—and we have never left. But over time, our vision, tools, and reach have grown. What began as a local response to sheriff violence has since evolved into a nationally recognized abolitionist organization committed to healing justice, community care, and long-term systems change.

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Together, we have helped redefine what accountability, healing, and justice can look like in practice. Some of our collective wins and ongoing efforts include:

• Stopping jail expansion: Through sustained grassroots organizing, DPN helped defeat LA County’s proposed $3.5 billion jail expansion in 2019. We continue this work by demanding the closure of Men’s Central Jail and advocating for non-carceral alternatives.
• Shifting mental health responses: Our Reimagine 109 report and advocacy led the county to adopt 63 recommendations for alternatives to incarceration, including the expansion of mental health diversion programs.
• Building abolitionist leadership: Since 2021, nearly 100 formerly incarcerated individuals have graduated from our Forever Rooted program focused on professional and personal development. Over 60% remain active in peer support networks, and nearly 10% now serve as canvassers and spokespeople in our advocacy efforts.
• Centering healing justice: We embed somatics, art, and community-based health practices into our work because we know fighting for justice and caring for one another must go hand in hand. Our healer network and holistic offerings continue to grow—serving system-impacted individuals, organizers, and community members alike.

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These milestones are powerful reminders of what’s possible when community organizes with clarity and care. And still—the fight is far from over.

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Progress, Challenges, and What’s Ahead

We are not organizing in neutral conditions. This is not a normal time.

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We are living through a coordinated and well-funded political assault on equity, education, and justice. Across the country, government-led efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are happening alongside:

• Increased police funding and militarization
• Legislative attacks on the most vulnerable communities
• Expanded criminalization of protest, poverty, and mental illness

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These are not isolated rollbacks. They are part of a broader agenda to shrink public access to care, disempower marginalized communities, and consolidate control through surveillance, punishment, and neglect. These regressions aren’t just political—they’re societal, spiritual, and psychological attacks on our right to exist, to organize, and to imagine something better.

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Right here in Los Angeles County, the disparities remain stark. The county spends over $4 billion annually on incarceration and policing—far more than it invests in care, housing, or public health. Black residents make up just 8% of LA’s population, yet account for more than 30% of the jail population. (Source: Vera Institute of Justice)

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These are not just numbers. They are evidence of a system designed to punish—not protect. And they are exactly why our movement must continue with urgency, with imagination, and with deep care.

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How We are Evolving

At Dignity and Power Now, we have always understood that liberation doesn’t come through surface-level reforms. It requires deep infrastructure, deep healing, and deep leadership.

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The past few years have called us to reimagine what that looks like. We have actively and strategically:

• Refining our internal culture and how we show up for our community.
• Investing in long-term leadership rooted in sustainability and care.
• Clarifying our focus in response to growing needs on the ground.

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Our next chapter centers four priorities:

1. Abolishing the carceral state, not just reforming it
2. Demanding a just reinvestment of public resources into housing, care, and community wellness
3. Supporting survivors and families directly impacted by incarceration and state violence
4. Growing a culture of collective healing, leadership, and joy

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Our Movement, Our Future

As we enter this next phase of our work, we are proud to share our 2024 Impact Report and introduce our new website—a reflection of how we have grown and where we are going.

This is more than a rebrand. It’s a recommitment to our mission. To our people. To liberation.

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Read the full report here: 2024 Dignity & Power Now Impact Report

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Here’s How You Can Support the Movement:

• Donate to fuel abolitionist organizing rooted in care
• Subscribe to our blog and text action list
• Share our website and work with your network
• Join us at an upcoming event
• Follow us on social media

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