Lioness
Justice Impacted Women's Alliance

Mission

Lioness: Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance is a nonprofit organization led by currently and formerly incarcerated girls, women, and gender-expansive people. Our mission is to end the incarceration and systemic devaluation of our population within the Texas criminal legal system, while also building power within our communities.

Vision

We envision a society where we are spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically free from all forms of violence and harm in the criminal legal system. Our vision can be achieved through radical advocacy, leadership development, community building, grassroot organizing and civic engagement.

Values

We believe that lived experience is the guiding force to change.

We believe in honoring each other’s differences while striving to bring one unified voice of currently and formerly incarcerated girls, women and gender expansive people in Texas into all spaces.

We believe that jails and prisons by nature perpetuate harm and violence.

Equity Statement

We are committed to nurturing a space rooted in the intersectionality of the women's rights movement and grounded in the lived experiences of justice-impacted individuals. We recognize that while all girls, women and gender expansive people face systemic oppression, the ways in which we all experience oppression are different, by race, age, class, gender identity, sexuality, disability, and more. We strive to ensure that every person who connects with our work feels seen, respected, valued and represented.

Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization





Angel Carroll

Board Treasurer

Alexa Garza

Board Secretary

Lori Mellinger

Board President

Chris Sederburg

Board Member

Jennifer Toon

Executive Director

Mandi Zapata

Director of Development

Marci Marie Ray

Director of Community Engagement

Chanel Jones

Director of Programs

Diane Thompson

Director of Outreach

April Towery

Administrative Assistant

Koretta Brown

Lead Organizer for Harris/Fort Bend Counties

Destiny Villarreal

Lead Organizer Bexar County

Demetras Toney

Lead Organizer for Dallas County

Ashley Mooney

Lead Organizer for Collin/Grayson Counties

Donise Cherry

Lead Organizer Tarrant County

Arianna Mellinger

Lead Organizer for Gregg/Rusk/Smith Counties

Extreme Temperatures

Check out our most recent efforts to bring tempature control to Texas prisons,

Read More  

Higher Education

Lioness continues to highlight the challenges faced by incarcerated women when pursing higher education opportunities.

Read More  

Disciplinary

We continue the fight to end the over policing of women and girls while in custody. Read studies about how women are punished more severely and more often for minor infractions.

Read More  

Solitary Confinement

Solitary confinement also known in Texas as administrative segregation, is cruel and unusual punishment that affects women in very specific ways. We remain committed to ending it.

Read More  

Youth Injustice

Read about the history and the most recent corruption, abuse, and mismanagement within the Texas youth justice system.

Read More  

LGBTQA+ and Texas Prisons

Gender expansive people in the Texas criminal legal system are constantly attacked and harrassed. We stand together for justice for our trans men and women. Read recent articles about their struggles.

Read More  

Parole and Probation

Community Supervision can be a set up for failure for many women. Read the report on how the system doesn't work and what we can do to fix it.

Read More  

County Jail and Bail

County jails in Texas are often unsafe, dirty and dangerous, especially for women and gender expansive people. We are working on advocating around conditions and bail reform. Check out some articles about what's going on here in Texas.

Read More  

Free Melissa Lucio

Learn more about the compelling evidence supporting her innocence and the ongoing efforts to secure her release.

Read More  
  • PO Box 12051, Austin, Texas 78711

COMPREHENSIVE DATA

COMPREHENSIVE DATA

How many women are held in prisons, jails, and other correctional facilities in the United States? Why are they there? How are their experiences different from men’s? Check out the reports to understand the reasons for their incarceration, and the unique challenges they face compared to men.

Learn More
RESOURCES FOR ADVOCATES

RESOURCES FOR ADVOCATES

It can be confusing and overwhelming knowing where and how to start advocating for yourself and your community. These are a few resources that we often use that help inform and guide our efforts.

Learn More
  •  8/3/2024 08:00 PM
  •   620 East Main Street, Gatesville, TX, USA

Join us as we honor and remember the incarcerated Texans who have lost their lives due to extreme temperatures in Texas prisons. We also stand in solidarity with the incarcerated Texans and TDCJ staff still suffering under these dangerous conditions. 🕯️Battery operated candles will be provided. Feel free to bring posters, pictures of loved ones, etc. 🎤Rep Carl O. Sherman will offer opening remarks. Rev Joanna Crawford will lead us in non-denominational prayer.

  •  5/4/2024 11:00 AM - 5/4/2024 04:00 PM
  •   711 W Arapaho Rd, Richardson, TX 75080, USA

Join us for the first-ever Lioness Wellness Resource Fair co-hosted by Simply Grace! Featuring yoga, sound healing, open microphone speakers, and tons of resources. Help us inspire one another and Build Our Force!

  •  3/30/2024 06:00 PM
  •   2200 Tillery Street, Austin, TX 78723, USA

What better way to celebrate women's history month than with the most vilified women in Texas? Join Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance on March 30th, 6pm-9pm, at Austin Cinemaker Space, as we explore what it truly means to be the most dangerous women in Texas.

  •  2/10/2024 01:30 PM
  •   3823 Airport Blvd d, Austin, TX 78722, USA

It's time to Speak Now! Join the Central Texas Lioness Regional Group for an Open Mic event! Come share your story to empower others while bringing unity and healing to the community. Also, experience a sound healing meditation as we process through our journey together.

  •  10/7/2023 10:30 AM
  •   620 E Main St 3rd floor, Gatesville, TX 76528, USA

Join us for a restorative Peace Walk that aims to bridge the divide between formerly incarcerated individuals and the community where they were once incarcerated. We invite residents, business owners, Faith leaders and other community leaders, to hear and share stories of inspiration and hope beyond the history of incarceration. We are so much more than our past. Come join us!