Letter from the Founder
Dear Fellow Advocate,
For the 12 years, advocating for the humanization, freedom, and dignity of marginalized communities has been my life’s work. This journey began when I moved from British Columbia to attend York University, where I pursued a degree in philosophy and later began working toward a career in law. During this time, I became deeply engaged in community work in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood, an experience that permanently shaped how I understand justice, freedom, and responsibility in Canada.
Through my volunteer work, I was confronted with the harsh realities of systemic racism, particularly as it affects people of colour. I witnessed firsthand how Black youth were disproportionately suspended and expelled from schools, only to later find themselves entangled in the criminal legal system. What I saw was the school to prison pipeline in action, a system that responds to vulnerability and survival with punishment instead of care, guidance, or protection.
These experiences led me to found Bridging Borders With Inmates. This organization is grounded in my belief that prisons, as they exist today, should not exist. I stand firm in the conviction that we cannot rehabilitate an individual by confining them to a cage around the clock. Nor can we claim to uphold democracy and liberty for all Canadians while denying the rights and humanity of those who are incarcerated. Freedom should be a guaranteed right, regardless of the mistakes one has made.
We can never truly be free as a society until incarcerated people are allowed to reclaim their humanity and are ensured access to equal services, dignity, and opportunity. To be human is not limited to physical existence. It includes the right to live without being unjustly deprived of one’s basic rights. The humanization of incarcerated individuals is not optional. It is fundamental to our collective humanity. It requires recognizing that every person, regardless of their past, deserves the opportunity to heal, to grow, and to reintegrate into society.
In our pursuit of a just and equitable Canada, excluding incarcerated people from our vision of democracy and liberty directly contradicts the values we claim to uphold. Our national identity is reflected in how we treat those who are most marginalized. By advocating for the rights and humanity of people behind bars, we affirm our commitment to freedom and dignity for all and move closer to a society rooted in compassion, accountability, and inclusion.
At Bridging Borders With Inmates, we exist to turn these beliefs into action. We work alongside individuals, families, and communities to support reintegration, prevent further criminalization, and advocate for responses to harm that are rooted in care rather than punishment. Our work is guided by a community first approach and by the belief that people are more than their worst moment.
I am deeply grateful to the communities we serve for trusting us with their stories, their struggles, and their hopes. I extend sincere thanks to our partners, educators, institutions, and collaborators who continue to walk alongside us in this work. I am especially thankful to our funders and supporters whose belief in community based solutions makes this work possible. Your investment is not just financial. It is a commitment to dignity, humanization, and a vision of justice that centers people rather than punishment.
As we move forward, we remain committed to supporting and advocating for the humanization of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, while working collaboratively with funders, partners, and communities to build safer and more just alternatives. Together, we can continue challenging systems that dehumanize and creating pathways that allow people to live fully, freely, and with dignity.
Thank you for believing in this work and for standing with us.
With Honor,
Adlynn Georgina Louidor
B.A ,PMP,SSW,J.D