PLUS ONE society Archives - PLUS ONE society

PEACE, 2021

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, December 31, 2021, Team Wins, Black Lives Matter, Community, Community Service, fiserv, Kristen Ingram, PDX Hip Hop Week, PLUS ONE society, Social Justice, Telly Award, 0

2021 established a new meaning for resourcefulness at PLUS ONE society – community.

PLUS ONE ushered in the year with solid intentions to make up for lost time and get back to producing live events in the “new normal.”

As a marketing and events agency focused on social justice and racial equity, our work throughout the year yielded tangible results driven by our clients’ and partners’ shared goals for social impact:

Garnered over $600K in Promotional Media Value for Regina King’s Directorial Debut of One Night in Miami for Amazon Prime
Raised $625K for LIVE FREE to continue its work creating a movement of community safety
Produced the Black Panther Party Celebration of Activism and Play for Justice: Indiana Pacers
Provided over 40 Black-owned Businesses with an opportunity to leverage the $20MM media pledge by NBCU
Curated System-Impacted Art Installation for NYC Cannabis-Inspired Pop-up Activation
Directed Funds from Khris Middleton to (15) Incarcerated Fathers’ Children
Advised Fox & Rob Richardson Campaign to End Life Without Parole in the U.S.

We were fortunate to receive investments from Fiserv and Jrue & Lauren Holiday that enabled us to be a resource for other deserving Black women in the community.

In recognition of our exemplary social impact work and innovative approach of leveraging hip hop to advocate for policy reform, PLUS ONE was honored to receive the 2021 Trailblazer Award Presented by PDX Hip Hop Week as well as a Telly Award for our production of Play for Justice.

Additionally, PLUS ONE is excited to announce that in 2022 our CEO + Executive Producer Kristen Renee Ingram will be pursuing a Masters of Arts in Justice and Advocacy at Fuller Theological Seminary which will further inform the work at PLUS ONE to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”

Social justice is LOVE applied to systems, policies and cultures and spreading that LOVE is our movement.

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LIVE FREE TURNS 10

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, November 15, 2021, Champions, Community, Criminal Justice Reform, Empowerment, Equality, Event, Faith, Hope, LIVE FREE USA, Pastor Michael McBride, PLUS ONE society, Race, Social Justice, 0

2021 marked ten years of LIVE FREE committed campaigning work to build a movement of community safety.

To celebrate, in partnership with LIVE FREE, PLUS ONE society produced an event at the CIEL Creative Space in Berkeley. Special performances from Goapele, MAJOR, and Tef Poe illuminated the stage, as speakers Mr. Fab, Warryn, and Erica Campbell talked about the mission of LIVE FREE to end gun violence and mass incarceration.

The night started with a Funders’ Mixer with a curated conversation around the ten-year movement. The discussion reflected the four themes of LIVE FREE: Reducing Gun Violence, Ending Mass Incarceration, Transforming Policing, and Civic Engagement. Our donors and supporters listened as we shared the collective success of the network and future work and goals.

Following the Funders’ Mixer, Steve Kerr and W. Kamau Bell hosted the 10th Anniversary celebration. CEO and President Pastor Mike McBride and LIVE FREE National Staff and local partners filled the room, honoring the past, present, and future of LIVE FREE.

The largest faith-based grassroots organizing network, LIVE FREE, with the lead of Pastor McBride, is a national movement dedicated to ending gun violence, mass incarceration, and systematic racism.

“A decade ago, we began a small campaign to end gun violence and mass incarceration, and now we’ve grown, thanks in large part to the Faith in Action team, into a national movement of systems- impacted people, faith leaders, peacemakers, youth, and a range of community-based organizations,” said Pastor McBride.”Becoming an independent organization will allow us to pivot to answer the needs of organizers and communities across the country as we enter this new chapter.”

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PLAY FOR JUSTICE 2.0

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, October 15, 2021, Uncategorized, Community, Community Service, Indiana Pacers, PLUS ONE society, Social Justice, 0

In partnership with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) and REPRESENT JUSTICE, PLUS ONE society produced Play For Justice in the 2019-2020 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Due to the pandemic the program was put on pause, along with the rest of the world, March 2020. After 18-months, Play for Justice 2.0 kicked off with the Indiana Pacers players, coaches and leadership at Putnamville Correctional Facility on Oct. 15, 2021.

The program consisted of a heart provoking roundtable conversation and a basketball game where Pacers players coached two teams of prison residents. The Last Mile, a nonprofit which teaches technology and business training in the facility, served as the community partner along with ARC.

The Pacers organization (from the coaches/players to owner Steve Simon) were not only physically present but showed up with a mindset focused on leveraging their platform to make a positive impact on the criminal justice system. “I think today was important for me and my teammates, ” Pacers player Malcolm Brogdon said. “To come here and see people in these situations, who’ve made mistakes but are trying to do something better.”

The program brings together players, policy influencers and community organizations to uplift narratives of hope and redemption and break down stigmas associated with individuals — disproportionately people of color and the poor — who are impacted by the justice system. The involvement of policy makers like Indiana Lt. Gov. Susan Crouch and Rob Carter, Commissioner of Indiana Department of Correction, are critical to effecting equitable policy reform through empathy derived from this amazing human experience.

“The criminal-justice system is, obviously, the sole source of racial tension in this country [USA] or the key institution to resolving the opportunity gap. It is a part of the broader set of challenges that we face in creating a more perfect union.”

Barack Obama

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THE REAL GATEWAY OF CANNABIS

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, September 21, 2021, Intentional Service, cannabis, Her Highness, House of Puff, Last Prisoner Project, Mass Incarceration, PLUS ONE society, The Stone Age, Tonic, 0

Currently 40,000 US citizens are incarcerated for cannabis offenses.

Cannabis is legal in 36 states (for medicinal purposes) and fully legal in 15 states. Industry sales are expected to exceed $24B in 2021 nationwide. Full legalization is more critical than ever — despite virtually identical rates of consumption, Black people are nearly 4x more likely than their white peers to be arrested on cannabis charges.

The passing of the Cannabis Law in New York has already expunged the records of over 150K individuals and has accelerated the transition from the remnants of a (faux) war on drugs.

In an effort to shift the narrative and expand awareness around the benefits of cannabis, PLUS ONE society is working in partnership with Last Prisoner Project and The Stone Age: a premiere cannabis-inspired immersive experiential pop-up in New York City.

The pop-up will focus on the human experience of cannabis — exploring the unique connections between plant medicine, creativity, awareness, and more. The space will also feature a collection of artwork from system-impacted artists made possible by Tyra Patterson, Sam Lewis, Jose Gonzales and Richie Reseda — select works available for sale on-site; all proceeds will go directly to the artists.

Additionally, we are curating dedicated space in the retail shoppe to highlight local, minority- owned cannabis businesses like Her Highness, House of Puff and Tonic.

Cannabis isn’t a gateway drug — however, for Black people it is a gateway to arrests, incarceration, death and defamation at the hands of the state. —

For more information, visit Last Prisoner Project

Image Credit: Tyra Patterson, Russell Craig, Jayme Santini

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DEAR, HIP HOP

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, August 5, 2021, Intentional Service, Common, Community, Community Service, Criminal Justice Reform, HIP HOP, Kristen Ingram, PLUS ONE society, Social Justice, 0

On August 25, 2021, PLUS ONE society and CEO + Executive Producer Kristen Renee Ingram will be honored with the 2021 Trailblazer Award presented by Hip Hop Week, hosted by PDX Hip Hop Week Co-Founder and Portland Trail Blazers’ DJ, O.G. ONE in recognition of our exemplary social impact work and innovative approach to leveraging hip hop to advocate for policy reform.

In 2017, Kristen led the historic production of IMAGINE JUSTICE with Common and J. Cole on the steps of the CA state Capitol in Sacramento. As a result, four criminal justice reform bills were passed that year and signed into law – including an end to the cash bail system.

In 2018, she returned to IMAGINE JUSTICE and led the production of the HOPE & REDEMPTION PRISON TOUR: a series of live concerts in various correctional facilities featuring Common and a special guest appearance by Talib Kweli. The three-day Tour throughout California’s Central Valley restored hope in over 5,000 incarcerated men and women and inspired countless youth in the surrounding communities most affected by mass incarceration.

In 2019, she partnered with Good Films Impact to oversee production on all sports and music programs and events for REPRESENT JUSTICE – a social impact campaign that launched alongside Warner Bros.’ theatrical release of JUST MERCY, starring Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson and Jamie Foxx – inspired by the true story of Equal Justice Initiative founder and Executive Director, Bryan Stevenson.

Currently, Kristen is serving as an Executive Producer with Grammy Award-Winning Producer, Greg Wells (The Greatest Showman) and Academy Award-Winning Artist, Common along with four formerly incarcerated artists (Bobby Gonz, Maserati E, Richie Reseda and David Jassey) to create a one-of-a-kind album that elevates the voices of incarcerated artists.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the city that raised me — our work is our protest and we fully intend to finish this race!” — Kristen Renee Ingram

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FOX & ROB RICHARDSON

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, July 25, 2021, Champions, Community, Criminal Justice Reform, Fox & Rob, Life Without Parole, LWOP, Mass Incarceration, PLUS ONE society, 0

Fox and Rob Richardson are the subjects of the Oscar Nominated Documentary, Time, which depicts the story of their 20-year crusade to free Rob who received a 60-year sentence for stealing $5,000 from a credit union.

PLUS ONE society has partnered with Fox & Rob with the intent to build a national campaign focused on ending life without parole (LWOP) in the United States, beginning with their home state, Louisiana.

WATCH: New York Times ‘I Missed It All.’ What This Former Prisoner Is Fighting For

The U.S. is the only nation in the world that sentences people to life without parole for crimes committed before turning 18. Currently, there are 50,000 people serving life without parole (LWOP). States like Connecticut are setting the trend for reform by passing legislation S.B. 796 that retroactively eliminates life-without parole sentences for juveniles.

Visit Fox & Rob, for more information.

“We are out of prison, but we’re still not free.” — Fox Richardson

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#FUNDPEACE SUMMIT

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, June 16, 2021, Champions, Black Lives Matter, BLM, Community, Community Service, Conscious Children, PLUS ONE society, 0

What would American society look like without guns?

Over 100,000 people are injured or killed by guns every year and 40% of those shot are killed or injured again within 5 years. It has been shown that communities closest to the problem are a critical part in solving this national issue. It’s with that same spirit, PLUS ONE is committed to help amplify the #FundPeace Summit in response to the gun violence epidemic affecting our communities across the country.

#FundPeace is a coalition of Black and Brown gun violence prevention leaders joined together in response to the historic $5B commitment to community violence initiatives. The initiative is led by a growing collection of artists, athletes and advocates like Tamika Mallory, Steve Kerr, W. Kamau Bell who are leveraging their influence and platform to combat this societal issue, along with local community leaders across the country in the most vulnerable cities:

Louisville
Houston
Kenosha
Atlanta
Philadelphia
New York
Chicago
Los Angeles
Minneapolis

Ultimately, it is imperative that we drive awareness around the gun violence epidemic and pressure local state officials to allocate federal funds to community-based violence intervention outreach, hospital-based intervention programs, and therapeutic programs that support those most traumatized by gun violence.

For more information, visit livefreeusa.org

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MEMORIAL DAY

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, May 30, 2021, Blueprints, BLM, Equality, Kristen Ingram, Memorial Day, PLUS ONE society, Race, Racism, Social Justice, Whitewashing, 0

Like many other things in U.S. History that are fabricated to fit white America’s agenda, Memorial Day is another one to add to the never-ending list.

Did you know that the first Memorial Day observance was actually started by former enslaved Africans in Charleston, SC in 1865 to honor and provide a proper burial to union soldiers (who were prisoners of war) that lost their lives in the Civil War?

Historically, we’re taught that Memorial Day is about remembering the veterans who’ve fought for our freedoms as Americans, however it is not common knowledge that the first Memorial Day celebration on record was in fact started by Black people.

According to the College of Charleston, a grand gesture of care, the emancipated Black community exhumed the mass grave of roughly 260 Union soldiers in April 1865 and reinterred each soldier in their own grave in a new cemetery they built with a tall white-washed fence.

To our brothers and sisters who fought and sacrificed their lives for the people (willingly and unwillingly), we remember, honor and pay our respect.

“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” – James Baldwin

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TAX FILING 101

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, April 30, 2021, Blueprints, Community Service, Economic Empowerment, Equality, Hamilton Group, Income Tax 2021, PLUS ONE society, Tax Filing, 0

Economic empowerment is synonymous with uplifting the culture and taxes are a huge part of the equation. As a part of our commitment to (economic) equity, we connected with our Client, Anthony Paul, who advises some of the highest earners in the NFL as the Managing Director of the Hamilton Group to outline some of the key things you need to know about filing your 2020 taxes by May 17th, 2021:

Tax Credits and Deductions — the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) includes numerous tax credits for the average person.
- Recovery Rebate Credit (aka Stimulus Relief) provides eligible taxpayers who didn’t get the stimulus money that was owed to them (see line 30 of your 2020 tax return).
- Child Tax Credit — you may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $2,000 per dependent child age 16 and younger, if your household income is below $200,000 for single filers or $400,000 for joint filers.
Unemployment Benefits — the ARP act includes a provision that waives taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits for individual taxpayers, and double that ($20,400) if you’re filing jointly and your spouse also received unemployment benefits in 2020.
Medical Expenses — Only medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI) can be deducted in 2020.
Charitable Donations — Under the CARES Act, the cash donation limit has temporarily increased to 100% of your adjusted gross income. Below is a list of our extraordinary non-profit partners:

In response to people who say finances are not their “thing,” Anthony Paul says, “as 2020 showed us, finances should be everybody’s thing. Instead of looking at the cat dancing on Tik Tok, we should invest our time in things that teach us about managing and keeping our money.”

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BAY AREA UNITE

WRITTEN BY PLUS ONE SOCIETY, March 15, 2021, Uncategorized, Bay Area Unite, Black Panther Party, Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., Charles D. King, Common, Community Service, D Smoke, Erika Huggins, Fredrika Newton, Jemele Hill, Marshawn Lynch, PLUS ONE society, Ryan Coogler, The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, 0

Black History is American History despite the Government’s intrinsic need to whitewash the truth.

While the mainstream media characterized the Black Panther Party as a militant threat and violent gang (which are the same fear-mongering tactics we saw used this past year on the Black Lives Matter movement), in reality the Party’s platform, better known as the 10-Point Program, embodied its core values and goals for empowerment and self defense.

Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros) provides compelling insight into what the Party truly represented through one of its most prominent leaders, Chairman Fred Hampton: equality and political empowerment of all oppressed folks through over 60 community survival programs which included free legal/medical aid and education.

Ultimately, the Party was systematically dismantled and discredited by the Federal Government.

The Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation and Black Panther Party Alumni along with Bay Area Unite (Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, San Jose Earthquakes, San Francisco Giants and Oakland Roots) engaged PLUS ONE society to deliver an experience that celebrated both Dr. Huey P. Newton and the Black Panther Party.

The partnership produced an amazing virtual event streamed via Facebook LIVE for Black History Month and featured activists, artists and athletes like Common, D Smoke, Jemele Hill, Marshawn Lynch, Fredrika Newton, Erika Huggins, Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., Ryan Coogler, Charles D. King and more — including inspired performances by Oakland native artist, Goapele and Syncopated Ladies!

As agents working at the intersection of Sports & Entertainment and social justice, we were honored to contribute to the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation and Bay Area Unite through this unique and powerful coalition.

As Chairman Fred Hampton said, “you can murder a revolutionary, but you can’t murder a revolution.”

We are the revolution.

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THE REAL GATEWAY OF CANNABIS

FOX & ROB RICHARDSON

#FUNDPEACE SUMMIT

TAX FILING 101

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