MELJ Center

Happy first official week of July! 🎇 Our July Newsletter has been released! If you haven't subscribed yet, visit the link in our bio to stay informed about all things MELJ.

It was great having activist and community organizer Atma Meek on Iron Sharpens Iron last week with our Executive Director, Latreese Cooke!

Be sure to tune in every Wednesday from 12:00–1:00 p.m. on KAZI FM 88.7!

Last week, some of our staff at MELJ sat in on a Travis County Commissioners Court Voting Session! It was an impactful and exciting experience for us, as staying informed about issues in our local communities is crucial.

Tune into Iron Sharpens Iron today from 12-1 p.m on KAZI 88.7 FM. Joining us this week is Atma Meek.

Atma Meek is an activist, abolitionist, and community organizer based in Austin, Texas. System-impacted and justice-involved, Atma works in homelessness, recovery, and reentry services, focusing on the intersections of poverty, incarceration, addiction, and community wellness. He serves as Programs & Partnerships Coordinator at The Other Ones Foundation and also as the Reentry Advocacy Fellow at the Austin / Travis County Reentry Roundtable.

He is a frequent speaker on issues surrounding reentry, homelessness, harm reduction, and systemic reform, Atma blends lived experience with frontline work and movement organizing. His writing and advocacy focus on building alternatives rooted in dignity, mutual aid, accountability, and collective care.

The Intake Department serves as the front door to MELJ's services, helping connect community members with the resources they need to move forward. This year alone, we have completed nearly 40+ client intakes and assisted individuals in achieving important goals such as obtaining food assistance benefits, transitioning from halfway houses into stable housing, securing employment and career training opportunities, and accessing rental and eviction assistance. We have worked with clients who are currently incarcerated, as well as individuals recently discharged from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), helping them navigate the challenges of reentry and build a foundation for success. MELJ remains a strong resource provider for those in need of support coming from prison, ensuring they have access to opportunities, guidance, and services that can help them successfully reintegrate into their communities. Every intake represents a person taking a step toward greater stability and opportunity, and we are proud to support them through that process with compassion, respect, and dedication.

MELJ Center wishes everyone a happy Juneteenth! As Juneteenth celebrates freedom and progress, those values inspire our work every day as we help individuals overcome barriers and pursue new opportunities. ❤️🖤💚

Last week, Iron Sharpens Iron featured guest Community Developer Remy Jules , with our team member Edyn leading the discussion. Don’t forget to tune in to Iron Sharpens Iron on Wednesdays from 12-1 PM on KAZI FM 88.7! KAZI 88.7 FM - The Voice of Austin

This is an important report that brings to light the often-overlooked challenges faced in U.S. prisons and jails. Here at MELJ Center, we support formerly incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives and reintegrating into society. We recognize the challenges they encounter, and research like this helps highlight issues such as prison conditions and sleep deprivation. Improving these factors could aid their successful transition back into communities.

A new report from the LBJ School's Prison and Jail Innovation Lab, "The Nightmare of Sleep in Prison," examines how chronic sleep disruption is widespread and overlooked in U.S. prisons and jails, with serious consequences for health, safety, and rehabilitation.

The report offers evidence-based recommendations for corrections agencies to improve sleep conditions without compromising safety or security.

🔗 Read the full report: https://lbj.utexas.edu/new-report-exposes-impact-chronic-sleep-disruption-us-prisons-and-jails

Today, we're highlighting our program, FOR REAL, dedicated to assisting formerly incarcerated people. To learn more, contact us at (512) 473-2525 or [email protected]

We'd like to officially welcome our amazing summer interns to the team! 👏🎉