Growing up isn't easy.

#endyouthincarceration #freelahighschool

Jahzara was fighting a burglary case. She was determined to graduate high school, but was struggling without support at home. The gardening class at FREE LA High was transformative for her. Her fruitful garden reflects her evolution of growth as an autonomous adult.

During Lupita’s first week as a student, a field trip to a protest against police brutality ignited a passion for policy reform. She now leads “Street University,” the weekly class in which students plan political actions and learn about their rights when encountering police.

Welcome to Free LA High School, a juvenile courthouse turned high school for students pushed out of Los Angeles’ education system. The school is a cop-free campus that practices peace building and transformative justice instead of conventional discipline. #abolition

I'm co-directing this documentary and so thrilled to share these stories. Please follow along!

Welcome to 'Trouble Finds Me'!
Free LA High was once a juvenile courthouse. Now, many students still struggle against incarceration. Teachers show up dutifully, hoping their students will one day be free.
Follow us to learn more. #troublefindsmedoc #FREELAHigh Youth Justice Coalition

Congratulations Erik H-W Claire H Collins Albert Lee Los Angeles Times !!

Thank you Jeff Schechtman for having us on the show!

'The homelessness system asked the impossible of Mckenzie: to find work, care for an infant, recover from homelessness and maintain sobriety in a matter of months, without a full substance abuse recovery program.' Gale Holland Christina House Claire H Collins latimes.com/california/sto…

Mckenzie Trahan was born into a family that for three generations had been buffeted by domestic violence, mental illness and homelessness, and caught up in child welfare cases.

“I feel like my whole life has just been written for me,” she said.

latimes.com/california/sto…

Proud to call Gale Holland, Claire H Collins and Christina House colleagues. I know how much effort went into telling McKenzie's story. Please give this series a read. latimes.com/california/sto…

THREAD. This is an urgent request for all journalists to stop referring to politicians who want to increase human caging as 'tough on crime.' It's like referring to Exxon as 'tough on climate change.'

Powerful documentary by Claire H Collins & Erik H-W on the formerly incarcerated Californians learning to fight fires because they want to serve — and all the hurdles society throws in front of them before they can do that: latimes.com/california/sto…

Thanks Ada Tseng ! Also very proud of our team :)

Follow a small group of former inmate firefighters as they navigate the hurdles of reentering society and the Buffalos as they prepare for their first fire season.

See more from Claire H Collins and @erikhw1 at latimes.com/california/sto…

Working with Ada Tseng and PAINTED BRAIN on this story about peer support in mental health was actually dreamy.
To anyone who has felt their unique lived experience squashed in order to appease an ignorant authority, I hope you find something in this story for you.

There’s some hidden strength in every mental illness said Painted Brain co-founder Dave Leon.

Through the peer-run organization, they've found community-based solutions to help guide those with mental health challenges toward recovery.

youtu.be/wQOjV2XRiRY

Curious about California's carbon offset programs? Wondering if they work? Check out this little explainer I worked on with Jackeline Luna Maggie Beidelman Evan Halper

Want to know how oil companies keep polluting the air we breath through CA carbon offset program? Evan Halper explains with help of Jackeline Luna Claire H Collins Los Angeles Times
Read: latimes.com/politics/story…
Watch: latimes.com/politics/hjagm…

Video by Jackeline Luna : These Black midwives are building a community of support for South L.A. mothers latimes.com/california/000…