We had the good fortune of connecting with Amani Sawari and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amani, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to create a space where incarcerated people are welcome to share ideas, learn more information related to politics, publish their work and advocate for criminal justice reform changes that are desperately needed today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m most excited about the Black August Showcase launching this month in honor of prison reform movements who recognize the impactful work of George Jackson during this month. The Showcase highlights a series of articles, poems, artwork and personal narratives contributed by incarcerated readers of the Right2Vote Report. A huge challenge in consolidating this archive was reading through hundreds and hundreds of letter in order to identify which pieces to digitize and include in the final product. Three interns and one full time staff were able to organize, digitize, rename, tag and create summaries for the archive conclusions over the summer of 2022 in preparation for the August 8, 2022 launch date

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
An Awe Inspiring Visit to Detroit

eat and drink – Eastern Market, Detroit riverwalk

visit and hang out, Campus Martius park, Belle Isle

more places with significant people – Detroit Justice Center

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Nearly 40,000 people incarcerated in state prisons across Michigan

Website: sawarimi.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawarimi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SawariMi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SawariMedia/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCcrN87DyoMgRKV9no69w_A

Other: Showcase link: https://sawarimedia.press/submissions-showcase/

Image Credits
Myself pictured at demonstrations in Washington State where SawariMedia was recruited by Jailhouse Lawyers speak to coordinate the 2018 National prison strike as spokesperson Incarcerated contributor, Chanton Miles in MDOC holding up past issues of SawariMedia newsletters

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.