Blog
Emancipate NC Summer Interns
What a wonderful summer we’ve had at Emancipate NC with our three incredible interns. We are so grateful to Hannah Mitchell, Jay Pittman, and Johna Speller for their work and contributions! We can’t wait to see what comes next for this group. In their own words:...
Welcoming April Barber Scales to the Emancipate NC Board of Directors!
April Barber Scales is a North Carolina criminal justice reform advocate, motivational speaker, and published author whose life reflects the power of resilience, redemption, and second chances. After serving more than 31 years in prison for offenses committed as...
Emancipate NC Case Featured in Recent Assembly Article
A recent article in The Assembly by Michael Hewlett examines the growing legal debate over whether the smell of marijuana alone can justify a police search now that hemp is legal in North Carolina. The story highlights the State v. Dobson decision, in which the North...
“They Are Afraid Because We Are Winning”
A recent Carolina Public Press article on North Carolina's latest voting rights battles closes with a powerful message from Emancipate NC Executive Director Dawn Blagrove: "Why are we seeing this? ... Because they are afraid. Why? Because we are winning. It is always...
A Win Against Facebook and Instagram
In our last newsletter, we shared that on June 16, 2026, Meta Platforms permanently disabled the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Durham-based drag performer, artist, and advocate Naomi Dix and her business, Club ERA, a popular queer nightclub in Durham County,...
CLUB ERA & NAOMI DIX SUE META CORPORATION FOR FALSE ALLEGATIONS, WRONGFULLY DISABLING INSTAGRAM PAGE
On June 16, 2026, without any coherent basis, reason, explanation, or process, Meta Platforms permanently disabled the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Durham-based drag performer/artist and advocate, Naomi Dix, and her lawful business entity, Club Era, a popular...
In Her Own Words: A Powerful Reflection on Intersex and Transgender People Behind Bars
We encourage you to read a compelling piece by Ashlee Inscoe, published in Scalawag Magazine, that offers a deeply personal perspective on identity, incarceration, and the realities faced by intersex and transgender people in prison. In Blurring the Binary: The...
Dawn Blagrove Speaks Out Against Voter Suppression at the North Carolina General Assembly
On June 16, Emancipate NC Executive Director Dawn Blagrove joined advocates and community leaders at the North Carolina General Assembly to oppose legislation that would make voting more difficult for North Carolinians. Speaking forcefully against efforts to restrict...
The Illusion of the Second Chance: Karmelo Anthony
By Johna T. Speller Emancipate NC Intern The concept of second chances is widely celebrated in our society, yet in the American criminal justice system, it remains a luxury dictated by race. When students fail an assignment, teachers offer make-up opportunities;...
Celebrate with Us!
Come join Emancipate NC and the Amani Collective on June 20th as we celebrate the opening of a new community space dedicated to connection, learning, and collective growth. In the spirit of Juneteenth, we'll gather to share our vision, introduce upcoming programs,...
Celebrating Attorney Caleb Barco
Emancipate NC is thrilled to celebrate a major milestone in the journey of former intern Caleb Barco, who has officially been sworn in as an attorney. Caleb's commitment to justice, public service, and community advocacy has been evident throughout his academic and...
First Lady Highlights Kerwin Pittman’s Vision for Reentry
Emancipate NC is proud to celebrate the recognition of Team Emancipate member Kerwin Pittman, whose innovative work to support people returning home after incarceration was recently highlighted by First Lady of North Carolina, Anna Stein. In a recent statement, First...
Phillip Vance Smith’s Work and Award Highlighted by The News and Observer
Josh Shaffer of the News and Observer highlighted friend of Emancipate NC, Phillip Vance Smith’s work and recent Prison Journalist of the Year Award: Last week, Smith took Prison Journalist of the Year honors at the Stillwater Awards, presented in part by the Society...
Emancipate NC Supports Legal Challenge to South Carolina Prison Book Ban
Emancipate NC has been involved from the beginning in a major legal challenge to a South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) policy that severely restricts access to books for incarcerated people. Elizabeth Simpson, Strategic Director at Emancipate NC, has...
Common Cause NC — Virtual Town Hall
Emancipate NC Executive Director Dawn Blagrove recently joined a virtual town hall hosted by Common Cause North Carolina to discuss the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Callais case and what it means for voters in North Carolina and across the South....