Lioness - Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance

The female lion known as a lioness, is the perfect symbol of female power and sisterhood. We embrace the inner lioness in each of us as we gather together to advocate for the rights of currently and formerly incarcerated girls and women in Texas.

Join us for monthly meetings to establish priorities and action items.

“Lioness: Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance (JIWA) is a nonprofit program sponsored by Build Up, Inc., a 501(c)3 public charity.”

Lioness: Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance is an organization led by currently and formerly incarcerated girls and women in Texas with the purpose of ending the incarceration and systematic devaluing of the girls and women within our criminal legal system.

We envision a society where we and our sisters are spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically free from all forms of violence and harm in the criminal legal system. Our vision can be achieved through radical advocacy, education, community engagement, grassroot organizing and legislative action.

We believe that lived experience is the guiding force to change.

We believe in honoring each other’s differences while striving to bring one unified voice of currently and formerly incarcerated girls and women in Texas into all spaces.

We believe that jails and prisons perpetuate harm and violence against girls and women.

PO Box 12051, Austin, Texas 78711

Contact us to receive the Lioness newsletter and links to join our monthly meetings. Add your name to the growing list of women ready to take up the fight on behalf of the girls and women incarcerated in Texas!

Click Here to Make a Donation

Support us in our radical advocacy, education, community engagement, grassroot organizing and legislative empowerment!

Jennifer Toon

Project Director

Lori Mellinger

Steering Committee Representative

Maggie Luna

Lead Organizer

Marci Marie Simmons

Community Outreach Coordinator

Diane Schwiercz

Nikki Moser

08Mar

Justice Impacted Girls and Women's Rally

3/8/2023 11:00 AM - 3/8/2023 01:00 PM
1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701, USA

This event is hosted by Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance and the Statewide Leadership Council. Join us and State Representatives as we celebrate the success and voice the struggles of currently and formerly incarcerated girls and women in Texas.

11Dec

Greeting Card Drive Party

12/11/2022 05:00 PM
112 St Louis Ave, Fort Worth, TX, USA

We are gonna be hanging out and filling out greeting cards for those who are spending the holidays in TDCJ!

11Dec

Holiday Card Writing Party

12/11/2022 01:00 PM
1212 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752, United States

Lioness Holiday Party at RARE this Sunday! Bring your holiday cards, stamps and food. We are going to write cards to all our members on the inside and as many other women in TDCJ as we have postage and cards for! Please join us for holiday cheer and snacks.

03Dec

Prison to Power

12/3/2022 11:00 AM - 12/3/2022 02:00 PM
1212 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752, United States

A free event featuring presentations from system impacted speakers, along with resources and information about local organizations in Austin working on reentry and advocacy for criminal legal system reform. Free Food!