Right to Redemption
Spring 2025
Fellow: Charlotte Ashley
Sean Casinelli, Mary Kate Fazzino, KeelyGallagher, Chloe Johns, Luke Kropiewnicki, Taylor Olsonlia Funchion & Ashley Radell
Community Partner
Right 2 Redemption (R2R) is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending “death by incarceration,” or life without parole, in Pennsylvania. R2R advocates for prison sentencing reform and raises awareness about the issue nationwide. Their work impacts incarcerated individuals, recently released individuals, and their families. The organization supports legislative efforts, raises funds for those affected by gun violence, promotes petitions to address sentencing issues, and organizes fundraisers to support their mission. Additionally, R2R provides a platform for impacted individuals to share their stories, amplifying voices that are often silenced. They believe in the right to redemption and restoration for all. In the spring of 2025, BSocial members Charlotte Ashley, Sean Casinelli, Mary Kate Fazzino, Keely Gallagher, Chloe Johns, Luke Kropiewnicki, and Taylor Olson collaborated with R2R to update and enhance their website, further supporting the organization’s mission.
Design Question
The main question we used to guide our project was, “How can we use relevant media and outside resources to create important information that is eye-catching and draws more attention to the website and the cause?” This inquiry was formulated in a collaborative effort by our team members throughout the duration of the project. To create this we utilized the mission of our community partner, as well as the goals they had for us to achieve in order to make a cohesive message about what we would like to accomplish and why. The question addresses the cause that Right 2 Redemption is fighting for and illustrates how we as a group would use information from our comparative media analysis and research to update their website in a way that aligns both with their organization and their vision. The stakeholders involved within the question include those who are members of Right 2 Redemption, incarcerated individuals, our BSocial group, and those seeking knowledge on the collective and the problems they are working towards eradicating.
Strategic Thinking
The team approached this project with a comprehensive goal of re-designing the website in an incredibly thoughtful manner and equitable demeanor. We all ended up working together with each other in the best way possible in order to achieve a common goal, of making the website into a comprehensively equitable place, advertising all of the great advocacy work that Right 2 Redemption does and will do. Overall, this will bode well with the future success of this non-profit for criminal justice and ending so-called “Death by Incarceration.”
There were a plethora of different frameworks that we have generally used to aid in what we desire to do for this project. All of them will end us up with a much more equitable and just society. One of these frameworks that we used would be making sure that guiding principles are at play with community partners. One of these guiding principles that was most evident was that of “We prioritize the strengths and assets of our community partners. When working with community partners, we focus on the assets inherent in the community while building capacity for improvement” (Knight 16). This is seen in all of the talks and video chats that we have certainly had with all of those on the inside of the prison that we are helping with. In addition to this, one must discuss another framework, which would be how to make sure that a great amount of design can go into all of this. This would be according to the ECCD field guide, as “Design is the intention (and unintentional impact) behind an outcome. It’s also the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with physical products, such as a plan, visual and textual content, or attire. Every design has an impact on equity, including the decisions we make in a community project, the blueprints created for a new building, and the policies implemented in our workplaces” (Creative Action Lab 11). This is seen in how attentive and collaborative we all are with making decisions about the website, as we do make sure to communicate with the incarcerated community who are also working on this. Furthermore, it is completely evident that we are working to make sure that this project will end up okay for all involved.
Co-Creation
We collaborated with Right2Redemption through Susan and Saadiq, whose insights helped shape the improved website set to launch next semester. Using a variety of co-creation methods—including trust-building exercises to align goals and we ensured the site reflects the needs and voices of all stakeholders. Direct communication gathering feedback from incarcerated individuals—ation with both Susan, Saadiq, and several inmates allowed us to make thoughtful adjustments and foster a sense of shared ownership over the final product. Our approach emphasized mutual respect and active listening, which created a stronger foundation for collaboration. For example, we held regular check-ins to gather input on design, accessibility, and messaging, ensuring that the final platform not only meets technical needs but also amplifies the mission of Right2Redemption.
Additionally, an upcoming in-person prison visit will deepen our understanding of their advocacy work. This visit will provide firsthand insight into the realities of incarceration and the urgent need for reform, especially as they push to end life without the possibility of parole in Pennsylvania. We believe that experiencing the environment and hearing stories directly will help us build a more empathetic, human-centered website.Overall, this project has been an opportunity to engage with a grassroots organization that is driving systemic change. We’re proud to support Right2Redemption’s mission and are committed to ensuring the final product reflects the power and purpose behind their work.
Results
After weeks of research, discussions, and collaboration with Right2Redemption, we have learned a lot with our community partner, albeit non-traditionally. Although we have not produced tangible deliverables, this process has allowed us to connect with Right2Redemption and strategize for their future plans. Indeed, they intend to work with us again, with the next group of students executing the plans we have developed for them.
Throughout this process, we listened to R2R’s suggestions, identified their needs and wants, and ultimately realized that our work would require more than a single semester. We deliberately avoided rushing through this process, recognizing that doing so would dilute their advocacy efforts and limit the potential for meaningful, transformative outcomes. Initially, we proposed focusing on multiple platforms, but after careful deliberation with R2R, we determined that a more targeted approach would be most effective.
Our most valuable achievement has been building a strong relationship with R2R, collaborating with them to outline their needs and identifying ways we can support their organization. Importantly, our work has served as a trust-building exercise to help them reach their goals in the long run and strengthen the relationships they prioritize. Moving forward, they will continue working with us, bringing them closer to achieving effective, representative media that truly reflects their mission and story..
Here’s another example of the content we created for the mock website. For the Community Fund page, we enhanced their existing content by incorporating video visuals and impactful quotes to make it more engaging and interactive.
We designed a mock website based on feedback from Saadiq and the Right 2 Redemption team, which will be integrated into their official site next semester. Pictured here is the homepage prototype.
One of the webpages we developed highlights Larry Krasner and Right 2 Redemption’s support for his mission. We designed a visual that seamlessly integrates Krasner’s advocacy with Right 2 Redemption’s values.
Reflection + Next Steps
One of the biggest takeaways from working with Right 2 Redemption has been seeing their dedication to ending life without parole sentencing in Pennsylvania. Throughout the semester, we worked on improving their website based on Saadiq’s feedback while keeping the original design intact. He emphasized the importance of keeping the existing logo with small adjustments to maintain consistency while making it more effective.
We’ve worked closely with Susan and Saadiq to bring their ideas to life and get the updated website ready. The next big step in this project is an in-person visit to the prison, where we’ll get a better understanding of Right 2 Redemption’s work and the impact they’re making.
This experience has taught us a lot; we’ve learned how important it is to understand the U.S. criminal justice system in order to push for change. We’ve also seen how incarceration affects not just individuals but entire families. Most importantly, we now know that raising awareness and advocating for better sentencing policies can make a real difference.