In our upcoming issue #14, winter 2025 edition of Daughters Magazine, Sarita wanted to highlight the activities of Let’s Get Free, stating that alot of people know about the magazine but don’t know the full scope of what we are up to. So Asia Dailyn interviewed etta cetera about the past and present. We wanted to share this interview here, along with some pictures that surfaced, way more than we could print in Daughters.
More Than Meets the Eye Asia Dailyn interviews etta cetera on the question of what exactly does Let’s Get Free do.
I suppose the title gives away what I grew up watching on TV as a child in the 80’s. I never knew all the lyrics, but I’d wait until the chorus stuck to jump in “Transformers, more than meets the eye, transformers…robots in disguise.” Let’s Get Free is a humble example of a group working well beyond what meets the eye.
I initially connected with the group in my effort to aid a loved one applying for commutation. I started attending meetings to learn more about the barriers of clemency in the state of PA. Over the years I realized the people in the group weren’t limited to strategizing, but rather working to hold political leaders, the DOC and the Board of Pardons accountable to ensuring the clemency process was transparent.
This month I had the distinct honor of learning more about the tentacles flowing from Let’s Get Free during my discussion with etta cetera. It’s not a typo. etta deliberately spells her name without the use of upper-case letters. I was bold enough to ask her why? She fiercely explained “It’s because I’m against capitalism!” If that doesn’t move you to read more about one of the forces behind Let’s Get Free I don’t know what will. I’m sure you’re familiar with Daughters Magazine because you’re reading it now, but this interview tells you what you may not know.
Azh: Who founded the agency?
etta: Let’s Get Free grew out of relationships and a decade of community organizing with people in prison. There was an event called “One Billion Rising” in 2013, an international day of action to end violence against women and girls. i created an ‘out’stallation [an art installation outside] of a life size prison cell, the walls of the cells letters from prisoners—art adorned the outside and when you walked in you could read the stories of incarcerated women that were defending themselves against sexual & racial violence and were then incarcerated for that act of self defense. (Marissa Alexander, CeCe McDonald, Patreese Johnson, Tanika Dickson, Charmaine Pfender…) New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice were the main organizers of the event. Donna Hill spoke on behalf of her daughter Charmaine and Avis Lee collaborated with me to bring the voices from the inside out. The event full of libations and speakers and prayers and art culminated in a dance party – all of this happening in Market Square on a very cold Valentines Day. It was one of those events where you leave on high..a love high, a we not gonna take it anymore high, a we-are-one high, a we have a purpose that centers justice high.
7 days later our first meeting grew out of that energy which started a support committee for Avis and Char — two women w/ life sentences who lived across the hall from each other. Our goals quickly became larger than the individual freedom of just the two. It became a lot bigger.
Azh: How is LGF Structured? Who is a part of LGF?
Etta: Some of the people who founded the group are still a part of the group. We created the board of advisors, well because it is helpful but it’s also a requirement to become a non-profit. The current board is made up of long time volunteers, family members of people with LWOP and formerly incarcerated people. Our leadership team we call the “Flock of Stewards” and we flock every monday morning. The stewards are responsible for keeping the balls in the air, troubleshooting problems and keeping the proverbial “lights on”. Some stewards are paid, (Avis, Alan and me) and then Ronna & Devon are volunteers. Sarita Miller was invited to be a steward last year for all the work she has devoted to daughters. That’s the 2025 crew. Then we have committees and campaigns that ebb and flow depending on capacity and needs. We contract out for graphic design, therapists, event support, web support and filmmakers. I’m the only full time person (30,000 a year) and then everyone else is part time or contracted.
Committees self organize meetings. Then we have one general meeting a month but we are revisiting that cuz the purpose & outcome of those meetings have felt loosey goosey with random attendance.
Then we have a prison advisory board. We have always had one since the beginning. This group was nominated out of pre existing relationships or folks were invited for their unique perspective. i have also just coined the role of “relational advisors”. These are people we are always learning from and use this learning towards LGF but its never been official – it’s been friendship. So many people influence us.
2024 People Power
Azh: Let’s Get Free, what is it (a nonprofit/for profit/not here to profit) let us know?
etta: Well, I would say that LGF is a community centered organization founded in 2013 as a grassroots committee. While Let’s Get Free has some services we are not a charity or a “service project”. 4 years in we become a nonprofit, but not because we want to be. We are officially a 501(c)(3) which makes us eligible for grants. But I really think the only reason to become a nonprofit is if you need grants and our group decided we needed grants. We started out in 2013 as full time volunteers. So in the last 11 years over time we realized we wanted grant money to do more which allowed us to pay for a few things, but that wasn’t until 2017. I am the main administrator. And this grant game is for the birds. We gotta figure out a new way to live.
Azh: Getting grants, is that something easy for LGF to obtain?
etta: We have had some organizations that are social justice funders which for the last 3 years have consistently funded our efforts. (Bless You) Our budget is currently around 150,000 to $200,000 a year to support the work we do. But i would say, no, it is not generally easy for us to get grants. We bring in about 25,000 a year in monthly sustainership! Can you believe it – people giving from $2 – $75 a month – most people giving around 10 – 25. Shout out to Larry Stephenson – He has been a monthly giver from the inside sending us an offering every month. Many inside groups donate a lot! Every donation from the inside is the most precious!
Lobby Days in Harrisburg 2014/2016
Azh: Why do you believe people assigned as women at birth are overlooked or get so little support from organizations, family, friends etc?
etta: I think it’s because umm… well it’s weird because a lot of the people who support women are women. There’s a gender issue there for sure. To be super binary and heteronormative and thinking this over with my comrade Lizzie Anderson – Men come out of the womb supported by women. Women are conditioned and socialized not only to nurture but acquire our value in whatever our relationship is to men and our worth is tied to how good we are at caring for men. Many of us know women who will take off work and drive all night to see men in prison but won’t do that for their women friends locked up. I really don’t know. I believe that perhaps the centuries of patriarchal domination has deemed women easy to throw away and their crimes more despicable and unforgivable because how could the “woman, the mother, the ultimate life giver” trespass on humanity.
Azh: Take a moment to help our readers understand some of the challenges of making sure all the parts of LGF stay operable?
etta: We don’t have an office. It’s something that we wanted, but it’s because we don’t have a lot of money. If we had a space we could do a lot. We do a lot of virtual stuff and that’s good cuz people can live in different places and meet regularly. I guess we do have conflicts-interpersonal things. Working with people is a challenge. (Can I get an amen!) We are like family. You guys know your family often gets the worst of you cuz you can be your true self LOL. And our family keeps showing up, like family do. So, to better our interpersonal relationships and to practice what we preach we are embarking on a series of conflict resolution trainings in January. Also, prison in general is a major obstacle to working together LOL. So funny to say it outloud but it’s a challenge. When you call, none of the staff have answering machines so you have to call and call. When someone does call you back, you want to give them an award for doing their job. Our entire email system has been acting up—it has been showing for the last month that we don’t have credits. So basic communication is always thwarted. The prison is annoying (sighs). And it’s really hard to keep everyone updated on the day to day minutia of organizing that I imagine helps our incarcerated advisors feel more a part of the group.
Azh: Does LGF need more help from people on the outside?
etta: Umm, I think that movements in general need more help from everyone no matter where you are there are ways to support justice movements. I don’t care what way you do it. You are needed. Consider this your engraved invitation. Join an organization on any issue, we are all connected. Get in touch with CADBI. Don’t ask “What can I do?” and wait for delegation, ask “When are the meetings? How do I get connected? Where do I sign up? These are my gifts, where can I fit in? If you don’t know what your gifts are – start there. Everyone’s got em – what can you contribute to the struggle? To change everything we need everyone. Figure it out and tell somebody.
Azh: Talk a little about what people inside can do.
etta: One thing, people in prison can understand is that they are doing a lot. I just think it’s very dissatisfying because they are prevented from realizing so many of most of their ideas. You must see yourself as a part of the movement. If you can’t. Ask yourself why not? This distinction matters. And it’s hard to gauge the impact from inside. Working in groups is very hard, extra hard in prison because your very lives depend on it, seldom do folks have their physical or emotional needs met and its hard to have space or alone time. You must find ways to put the petty shit down. Support each other’s leadership. Open your heart. Let your ego relax. Think in terms of the collective good. Celebrate each other’s successes. Compromise. Believe in your own freedom. Practice listening to understand before speaking. We must all work on ourselves. It truly is the only thing we have control over. You all know what you need to do but stop thinking you know everything:) Come back after you made a mistake and admit it, seek to repair. That’s basically my daily list of reminders.
What I see people on the inside doing is reaching out, over and over again to anything that comes their way, not giving up on themselves (or us on the outside), writing to legislators, challenging their own prison conditions, filing lawsuits, taking care of each other, having ideas to make things better and keep trying to realize them. Teaching themselves and then others. To survive with your integrity. To survive as the person you want to be in the world. It is no small feat. We all must fall in love with ourselves and if you can do that in prison… shoot. You a super star.
Who & What in 2024
Azh: What are some notable accomplishments attributed to the efforts of LGF?
etta: The 50 plus free people who got commuted! I credit Avis Lee’s persistence in the commutation process and our support (in collaboration with many others) that led to the ongoing campaigns illuminating the process. I believe if we didn’t do that work, we wouldn’t have seen people come home. If i’m not mistaken John Fetterman met his first survivors of LWOP at one of our art shows. Summer Lee, Sara Inamaroto, family members, were all there, speaking on a panel—and Saleem facilitated. This was before he was elected Lt. Gov.
I also feel like we’ve built solid bridges through walls for people to communicate. Daughter’s magazine is huge now! We have a lot of readers. We had no idea the magazine would be well received. And there are so many voices of incarcerated people in that magazine. We facilitate the magazine but the majority of the contributions are from people in prison. I’m also proud of the mental health program we started— Virtual Healing. I wish we could offer more of that. The sheer number of volunteers warms the heart. The art show has become a Pittsburgh institution emotionally fueling the revolutionary hearted to keep on fighting the good fight.
Asia: In closing, etta didn’t want to include ways to give, but I know this multi-tasking committee of groups are worthy of monetary assistance. Feel free to decide how you can serve or give to ensure that LGF remains one of the leading groups loudly shifting us to a culture of transformative justice. #Transformers #MorethanMeeetstheEye
More pictures from the past
