we invite you to share your story
We are so excited that you are interested in contributing to B.L.U.’s stories hub! Our stories hub is a place for folks with lived experience of family policing to share stories. We also share stories by allies and co-conspirators.
We want to lift up untold stories and highlight harmful practices by CPS and other governmental institutions. We also want to examine how we can integrate reparations into the future for all Black and Brown families.
We’re seeking stories that speak to those impacted by the family policing system—also known as the “child welfare system.” We’re particularly interested in hearing from folks about their lived experience. We want stories that center racial and economic justice. We also would like work that echoes B.L.U.’s Mission & Vision.
TYPES OF STORIES AND CONTENT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
- First-person essays about lived-experiences
- Opinion pieces on family policing, abolition, and reimagining a liberated world
- Research articles featuring sector thought leadership
- Poetry with a written explanation or an artist statement (if needed)
- Podcasts
- Videos (high quality if possible)
Final pieces that will be published will be between 750 - 3000 word count
*Not all stories will be shared on our website. This will be dependent on many factors, but mostly the submission must be in alignment with our mission and vision, our editorial principles, and alignment on subject. If you have any questions, please feel free to email communications@blackfamiliesloveandunite.org.
faqs
For questions that aren’t answered in our Editorial Principles, please email communications@blackfamiliesloveandunite.org.
No, not all stories will be shared on our website. This will be dependent on many factors. Mostly, the submission must be in alignment with our mission and vision, our editorial principles, and key subject themes.
Please read our Editorial Principles for more information.
Yes! We would love to learn and share about family policing from impacted folks across the United States. And around the world!
Yes, after you submit the idea form, we can work with you offline via email. You can send a photo of your hand-written story there.
Yes! We don’t want you to feel like you have to qualify or pitch your idea to us — we are excited to work with you! But we also want to be efficient with your time because we know it’s limited, and we are lucky to have some of it! This is why we request that you tell us about your idea before pursuing it, spending a lot of time on it, and submitting it.
Please read our Editorial Principles for more information.
We prefer to publish content using the creators’ real full names. We’d also like to include your photo, your pronouns, a short bio, and contact information. This could include a public social media account or an email address.
We understand that there may be reasons it could be unsafe to publish using your full name. If you feel unsafe, please let us know. We can consider publishing your piece anonymously or with your first name only. We can also consider publishing your piece without a photo or contact information.
We ask because we don’t want the state to penalize you for the content you write. On the idea submission form, we ask about any open cases and an approximate date it would be appropriate to publish.
DISCLAIMER & SUPPORT
Sharing personal stories of interpersonal and systemic harm and family policing can be painful. It can bring up a lot of emotions. Writing can be a way of processing experiences, however you may find you need support with this.
Join one of our upcoming Somatic Wellness Workshops as a sanctuary for impacted families.
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Email: info@blackfamiliesloveandunite.org
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