Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists

A project in St. Paul, MN by Jason Marque Sole
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Funding Successful

The Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists will educate over 15,000 people in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and The Dakotas.
Backers: 694
Average Pledge Per Backer: $152

Funded: $105,451 of $100,000
Dates: Sep 20th -> Nov 19th (61 days)
Project By: Jason Marque Sole
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$105,451

current pledge level
Last Updated: November 19 @ 13:04 -0500 GMT

105%

of goal
funding period ended

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Latest News

We Did It!!!!!

November 17th - via: kickstarter.com
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read. (Read More)

Last night’s event in Iowa City was 🔥🔥🔥

November 17th - via: kickstarter.com
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read. (Read More)

WE DID IT! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

November 16th - via: kickstarter.com
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Only $2,391 needed to reach our goal! ✨

November 16th - via: kickstarter.com
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We could possibly reach our goal today! Wow!!

November 15th - via: kickstarter.com
Good morning Fam, I am AMAZED by what is happening with this campaign! Not only are we raising $100,000 in the name of abolition but thousands are inspired to try new things. This is an experience I will NEVER forget. WOW. I appreciate all of the... (Read More)

This is it! Only 4 Days Left in the Campaign!!

November 14th - via: kickstarter.com
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read. (Read More)

We are now 500 strong! 🎉

November 13th - via: kickstarter.com
Man, y’all are puttin’ in work this weekend! 💯 Thanks to you, we now have 500 backers of the Institute! ✊🏿  We only need $15,000 to reach our campaign goal. You can do the following to help us get there: • share the link with your... (Read More)

Sharing Postcard #3

November 13th - via: kickstarter.com
Good morning Peeps, I hope your weekend is off to a great start! I am posting to share another postcard with you. Oftentimes, people are sent to prison without any voice. I wish I could have shared my own narrative during the court process. Let me... (Read More)

Exclusive Vlog from Outside of Stillwater Prison!!!

November 12th - via: kickstarter.com
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Only one week left! Let’s get it!

November 12th - via: kickstarter.com
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#ColinInBlackandWhite

November 8th - via: kickstarter.com
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We have 400 Backers!!!!!

November 7th - via: kickstarter.com
Four hundred visionaries have backed the Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists! Wow. Thank you for supporting the vision to co-struggle with other community members from Chicago to Fargo. #Gratitude We only have 11 days to reach our goal. I'm stuffing... (Read More)

The Most Important Vlog of the Campaign! Check it out ASAP!!

November 7th - via: kickstarter.com
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Check out the second postcard! It's near and dear to my heart.

November 6th - via: kickstarter.com
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Sneak Peek at the 1st Postcard!!!

November 5th - via: kickstarter.com
Happy Friday Fam!  I am glued to my squad for the next two weeks so that we can reach our campaign goal! However, I wanted to take a minute to show you one of the postcards you'll receive when the campaign is completed.  Image Description: I was... (Read More)

Send the QR Code to your People! It's super easy!!

November 4th - via: kickstarter.com
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We are 60% funded! Thanks for nudging your peeps to pledge!

November 4th - via: kickstarter.com
Thanks for answering my call-to-action! We are now 60% funded and potential backers are reaching out!!! I am on my computer and phone for the rest of the evening so please don't hesitate to reach out with questions, comments, and/or concerns.  Let's... (Read More)

Check out this 5-minute vlog! We're about to change the world!!

November 4th - via: kickstarter.com
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If we don’t reach the goal, I don’t get a penny for the Institute.

November 4th - via: kickstarter.com
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Thanks for spending time with me on Election Day!

November 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
Sending an abundance of love to all of the backers who came to the Capitol to discuss felon disenfranchisement. ❤️ Thanks for showing up! I’ll be up extremely late to hear all of the results but I’ll be working diligently to raise funds for... (Read More)

We are halfway there!!! 🎉

November 1st - via: kickstarter.com
We are halfway to our goal! This is a MAJOR milestone in our Kickstarter campaign! 💯 Please nudge your peeps to pledge before it’s too late. We only have 18 days left to raise nearly $50,000. Im excited to make this dream a reality alongside... (Read More)

Sending you some Sunday Motivation!!!!

October 31st - via: kickstarter.com
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An Update about My Request for a Pardon.

October 29th - via: kickstarter.com
Happy Friday Peeps, I hope you've had a productive week! As some of you may know, I am seeking a pardon from the State of Minnesota for crimes I was punished for in my teens and 20s. I terminated my 20-year probationary sentence in 2016 but the State... (Read More)

What is the Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists?

October 26th - via: kickstarter.com
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We have reached 300 backers!!!

October 26th - via: kickstarter.com
What’s up Fam, We have reached 300 backers for the Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists! 🤯 Thanks for supporting the vision. ❤️   (Read More)

Monday Motivation!!!

October 25th - via: kickstarter.com
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We've reached the $40,000 mark!!!!!

October 24th - via: kickstarter.com
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Check out today's Minnpost article about the Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists!!!

October 21st - via: kickstarter.com
What's up Fam, I hope this message finds you well! I spoke with Jim Walsh, of MinnPost, last week and he drafted this beautiful article (attached). Please read it when you have a chance. Also, it would be highly beneficial if you can share it and... (Read More)

Here are the official tour dates for the campaign!!!

October 21st - via: kickstarter.com
                                                                             Tour Dates What does the State of North Dakota Gain by Studying Abolition? Date: October 22nd... (Read More)

I've been nudged to share a story of safety and accountability.

October 20th - via: kickstarter.com
Hey Peeps, I shared a story on Facebook and LinkedIn this morning and four people have nudged me to share it here as well. My hope is that it will inspire you to learn more about community safety models that do not include police and cages. Peace. ... (Read More)

We have 30 days left to reach our goal. LET'S GO!!!!!

October 19th - via: kickstarter.com
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Attend our event next Friday in North Dakota!!!!

October 13th - via: kickstarter.com
Good morning Peeps, I hope you're creating a productive week! I am reaching out to announce that the Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists will be hosting an event at North Dakota State University next Friday! If you have the capacity to attend, please... (Read More)

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day!!!!!

October 11th - via: kickstarter.com
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I was a young, formerly incarcerated, organizer in the Twin Cities when the elders made space for me to learn from a phenomenal abolitionist: Angela Y. Davis

October 8th - via: kickstarter.com
Happy Friday Friends & Accomplices, I hope this message finds you well! There's a lot to share so bare with me.  First, we received the "Project We Love" badge from Kickstarter yesterday! Woo-hoo!! So grateful to be recognized among so many... (Read More)

Woah! We just made Kickstarter History!!

October 7th - via: kickstarter.com
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What makes this project special?

October 6th - via: kickstarter.com
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We've crossed the $30,000 mark!!!!

October 5th - via: kickstarter.com
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Busy Weekend! Looking forward to the Week Ahead!!

October 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
Good evening Friends and Allies, This weekend was full of revolutionary energy! I had the honor of supporting Classie Dudley, president of the Duluth NAACP, in her efforts to make the City of Duluth reckon with it's dark past. If you didn't know,... (Read More)

The Van Ride (From Faribault Prison to RS Eden)

October 1st - via: kickstarter.com
Happy Friday! We now have 150 backers of the Institute!!!!! I appreciate y'all. I mean that from the sincerest part of my heart.  As promised, I am including the last vlog concerning being shipped and handled from facility-to-facility. Check it out... (Read More)

We are only $34 away from reaching $25,000

September 30th - via: kickstarter.com
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The Bus Ride, Stop #2

September 29th - via: kickstarter.com
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So, what will the Institute entail? Here's a glimpse!

September 28th - via: kickstarter.com
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Here are a couple of prompts to share with your friends.

September 28th - via: kickstarter.com
Our Kickstarter campaign is thriving! We are moving the green line across the board! Super grateful to the 120 backers who pledged. We have 51 more days to raise $75,987. So, let’s welcome in more community members. Here are two ways to spread the... (Read More)

Tuesday Vibes: We're the one's police hunt!

September 28th - via: kickstarter.com
What's up, I don't share much on social media so I thought I'd share a brief moment from this morning. I was just vibin' to music and dreaming of abolition. The password is: #JSole2JCole2021*  "Enslave the liberty of but one human being and the... (Read More)

Story Time: "The Bus Ride"

September 28th - via: kickstarter.com
Good morning Peeps, I hope your morning has started in the way you imagined it. I'm ecstatic by what we're building together! The Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists will explore topics that most "practitioners" have failed to explore. Society... (Read More)

Incredible start! We've raised over $20K in less than a week!!

September 26th - via: kickstarter.com
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