America’s criminal justice system is broken. And The Marshall Project—whose mission it is “to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system”—is the nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization telling so many of these necessary stories. From a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting to a 2018 Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence, this bold organization (named after civil rights activist / NAACP attorney / first African-American U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall) is creating the kind of journalism that begins to repair our broken criminal justice system, which in turn repairs decades of unjust drug policy and so much more.

Blindness in early childhood can be isolating and overwhelming—for both children and their families—which is why it’s so life-changing to offer comprehensive support, education, and therapy from the start. For over 40 years, Anchor Center for Blind Children has empowered infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with visual impairments through tailored programs that integrate specialized teaching, therapy, and medical care in a sensory-rich environment. These services not only build crucial developmental and communication skills, they also foster confidence and connection in children who may face barriers to social and emotional growth. Just as importantly, Anchor Center provides families with coaching, community, and tools to become strong advocates, ensuring no child is left behind simply because they see the world differently.

Straight from the cradle, I have been a cat lady. I love that they are great companions while remaining independent and curious. To me, they are just about the most amazing creatures on the planet. In my hometown of Los Angeles, our animal shelters are overflowing and kittens are typically the most likely to be euthanized in a shelter. Kitty Bungalow does a great job at trap-neuter-return (TNR) and adoptions. Their volunteer-led team is changing the streets of LA one furbaby at a time. It is my hope that we can save all of the cool cats and kittens and find them forever homes.

The crisis of homelessness is on the rise and everyone deserves a warm and safe place to sleep at night. But when it comes to homelessness, working toward prevention is just as important as offering shelter. By providing access to housing, trauma-informed healthcare, and vocational and supportive services, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless takes a holistic approach with comprehensive support for those who need it most. The individuals that are suffering from homelessness deserve advocates who understand their needs and work to provide them a place to sleep while also addressing their trauma and mental health.

I chose the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Colorado chapter in honor of my mom, Lynn Teague, who passed away in January 2017. Battling cancer four times in her 57 years, my mom helped raise over $100,000 for the organization’s Team In Training program while participating in 100-mile century bike rides and in-line skate races—all while maintaining a smile and a heart of gold. This #GrasslandsGives donation is to honor those fighting these terrible diseases and my mom, who dreamed of moving to Colorado for its natural beauty and access to medical cannabis.

The carceral state is deeply dehumanizing in so many ways, which is why it's so transformative to provide opportunities for education and free expression to justice-involved individuals. For almost 50 years, the PEN America Prison Writing Program has amplified the voices of incarcerated people through mentorship programs, writing contests and educational handbooks that teach important skills for communication and self-expression. These skills not only reduce recidivism, they also help heal the trauma that can contribute to entanglement in the justice system and that stems from the loss of autonomy and stigma associated with incarceration. Furthermore, PEN creates opportunities for inmates to participate in necessary conversations about mass incarceration and the criminal justice system from which they might otherwise be shut out.

The Cristina Project is a nonprofit organization created in honor of a beautiful woman, Maria Cristina “Cris” Garza. Cris dedicated her life to doing good and was constantly working on “projects” until her 2012 death from ovarian cancer. Her service projects ranged from hosting career days for at-risk youth to opening her home to help others with accommodations and emotional support as they were seeking cancer treatment. She was passionate about teaching youth the importance of giving back to the community, and her legacy lives on through her children who started this organization to continue spreading her efforts and message. I was lucky to know and love Cris, and this organization means a lot to me personally because of my relationship with the Garza family as well as my mom being deeply involved, sitting on the board for the organization. It’s critical to teach future generations the importance of giving back to those in need to create communities that do their best not just for themselves, but for those around them.

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