Insite Consultants is working with Mass Liberation Arizona in an effort to find a writer or writers to change the narrative of social justice in the state, as well as combating gentrification in Phoenix.
Insite has had a history of working with organizations, institutions and other community groups to develop systems of change by means of social justice and racial equality through workshops and ongoing projects.
Mary Stephens, one of the consultants at Insite, said the consulting group is always seeking to do work with those communities and institutions like Mass Lib have racially equitable outcomes.
“We’re dedicated to fighting anti-blackness and dedicated to really making sure that community members, especially those that are impacted are leading the strategies that find solutions, not a part of it, not included in it, but leading,” she said.
Insite has worked with the likes of the City of Phoenix, Only Human, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation in the past or present, in an effort to create change to impact equitable outcomes, something an organization like Mass Lib AZ seeks.
Mass Liberation AZ began organizing in 2018 after receiving training from the Oakland-based Mass Liberation Project, this organization of formerly incarcerated people has focused on the liberation of the black community and the abolishment of the criminal legal system as we know it.
Joe Larios, another Insite consultant and organizer for Mass Lib, says the working relationship is based around the same goals which revolve around equity and the discussion of change and abolishment.
“A lot of the work that happens at Insite is in alignment with abolitionist values and also history,” Larios said. “We can’t really address those things unless you have a solid analysis about the system, how it’s created, designed, a lot of the conversations are similar.”
As their message continues to grow, they are looking for black writers in the state of Arizona to tell the stories that are happening within the community and abolitionist movement.
Larios is hopeful in finding and invite more black writers and black journalists to write these stories through the eyes of abolitionists and the greater community they represent.
“We can’t be the only ones, I’m sure we’re not the only ones, I think that community building and finding each other is part of our work and part of what we’re trying to do, it’s a community effort,” Larios said.
In light of events that occurred last year, Larios points out that more people have come to see that the current system is not designed to hold everyone and if these issues are going to be addressed, abolition could offer a clear framework on how to think about these things.
Stephens says change is what Insite is built off of, to account for and assist organizations like Mass Lib to make their message, to forget and undo old ways of thinking that no longer serve the greater good and transform it into something that will resonate with more people.
“We’re accountable to those who are most impacted, and Mass Liberation is an organization that is founded by formerly incarcerated women of color who is doing institutional and community change against policing,” Stephens said. “That’s exactly the kind of organization we hold ourselves accountable to.”
If you are interested in participating or may know someone who is, the deadline to submit an application is May 15, and you can contact Insite Consultants for further inquiries and information.
Contact the reporter at jaross16@asu.edu.
