Full Citizens Coalition
The Full Citizens Coalition (FCC) is a Connecticut-based action group focused on addressing the harm caused by felony disenfranchisement and building one of the most vital aspects of society: community. As the co-founder and director of FCC and Director of Dwight Hall’s New Haven Civic Allyship Initiative, James Jeter has spent the past seven years working to make significant strides in expanding its mission with the support of Dwight Hall.
Since his release from prison in 2016, James has dedicated himself to supporting formerly incarcerated individuals as they navigate reentry. What began as informal advocacy soon grew to reflect FCC’s broader mission, which now extends beyond felony disenfranchisement to include advocating for sentence commutations, challenging wrongful convictions, and helping individuals prepare for pretrial cases.
Another large aspect of FCC’s mission is to empower community members in Connecticut and beyond to conduct their own political research to make their own political decisions. With the elections in Connecticut this year, FCC has prioritized community engagement by providing research and resources to help residents make informed choices. James and FCC regularly hold workshops to educate audiences about voter registration, historical disenfranchisement and how to effect meaningful political change.
The New Haven Civic Allyship Initiative, which helps to connect Dwight Hall students and Yale resources to the work of FCC, is a program that bridges the gap between students and community partners. The New Haven Civic Allyship Initiative complements FCC’s work by convening events for community organizers, activists, currently and formerly incarcerated people, students, and professors to equitably engage with and learn from one another.
Since its founding eight years ago, FCC has led the state in felony disenfranchisement advocacy, conducted civic education in Connecticut’s most under-engaged communities, and restored the right to vote for over 4,000 persons on parole in Connecticut.