The Charles Hamilton Institute for Race and Justice

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives,
and the dream shall never die.

—Senator Edward Kennedy, 1980

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Houston Institute:

As most of you know, Professor Charles J. Ogletree Jr. courageously announced this summer that he is in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease. Those of us fortunate enough to work with Professor Ogletree recognize his characteristic courage and candor in making this announcement, and admire his fierce determination to stay engaged in his lifelong quest for racial justice and equality. He continues to inspire us with his bravery, his leadership, and his vision.

In the meantime (and in case you were wondering)…the work goes on and the cause endures. We have launched the Houston/Marshall Plan for Community Justice (www.houstonmarshall.org). Loosely modeled after the Marshall Plan that rebuilt European cities in the aftermath of World War II, its goal is to galvanize and support a national movement to transform U.S. communities—overwhelmingly inhabited by people of color—that have suffered from decades of over-policing, prosecution and disinvestment. This website serves as a bank for new ideas, programs, policies, and public advocacy and joins our other major initiative—The Fair Punishment Project (www.fairpunishment.org)—which illuminates excessive punishments in our criminal justice system.

We’ve been busy. Earlier this month, the Institute co-sponsored a conference that drew over 250 attendees, called Massachusetts and the Carceral State. The next weekend, we organized a panel on the Houston/Marshall Plan for HLS' Celebration of Black Alumni Weekend. We also will soon embark on an exciting new project: organizing and cataloging the wealth of archival footage and photographs we have of public figures who have participated in our events. This archive represents a vibrant record of past and present movements for justice and equality.

As always, we rely upon you—our friends and donors—to make this work possible. Please consider making a contribution to the Houston Institute. It’s easy: go to www.charleshamiltonhouston.org and press “Donate” at the top of the screen. Also, don't forget to connect with us on social media (see icons below).

We at the Houston Institute thank you for your support and friendship, which allows us to keep the dream alive.