Barred Business is excited to announce its first annual Part of The Solution (P.O.T.S.) Festival, which will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 12 - 6 PM in Atlanta. This festival aims to be a part of the solution for public safety through empowering justice impacted people, their families and their communities. This year we are focusing on prevention and empowerment of low-income youth and their families, particularly during the summer months when the youth are home from school.

​

The (P.O.T.S.) Festival seeks to address poverty and its resulting effects on low-income youth and their families by providing educational opportunities, entertainment, and community engagement. The organizers recognize the impacts of mass incarceration and the need for everyone to work together to repair the brokenness in our community. The success of the festival will depend on the support of individuals and organizations that believe in creating a just and equitable society.

​

As an organization dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated people who are disproportionately affected by the US legal system, Barred Business believes that addressing poverty and its resulting effects is crucial to preventing future incarcerations. That is why they are organizing this festival as a platform to empower low-income youth and their families through educational opportunities, entertainment, and community engagement.

​

In October 2022, Barred Business successfully led the coalition that Atlanta City Council voted unanimously in favor of the Protected Campaign's agenda to make formerly incarcerated people a protected class. However, they recognize that more needs to be done to address the extreme poverty, homelessness, jail, prison, and death caused by poverty in our community.

​

The P.O.T.S. Festival is an initiative that seeks to make a difference in the lives of low-income youth and their families, and by supporting this event, individuals and organizations can help to create a safe space where attendees can engage in activities that promote education, entertainment, and community engagement. By working together, we can create a more just and equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

​

Overall, the P.O.T.S. Festival is an important event that seeks to address the impacts of mass incarceration and empower justice-impacted individuals, their families, and communities. The festival aims to create a safe space where people can come together, learn to trust one another, and build communities that are conducive to second chances. By supporting this event, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Barred Business has a proven track record of advocating for justice-impacted people, and the success of the Protected Campaign is a testament to their commitment.