When we as a society punish children for youthful misbehavior, we are taking away the very things they need most: love. As FFLIC celebrates 25 years of fighting for youth and families, this truth remains at the heart of our work. Ten years ago, in 2016 we began our Love Beyond Bars Campaign, asking our supporters to help us deliver messages of love, encouragement, cards, candy, and holiday gift packages three times a year to about 300 youth who are incarcerated across Louisiana. The campaign has been one way we continue the work we started 25 years ago—standing with youth and families in love and action.

Now, more than ever, we need your support. For Valentine’s Day we ask you to “Stand in Love” with youth who are incarcerated and their families—because showing tangible care matters, as more children are being treated like adults by the system.  

Over the past few years, Louisiana has continued to advance punitive youth justice policies that prioritize incarceration over care, prevention, and rehabilitation– despite evidence that youth crime rates are declining. Under the current administration, these trends have intensified and the public conversation has echoed the decades‑old “super‑predator” myth—an evidence‑free narrative that fuels fear, harsher punishments, and disproportionate harm to Black and brown youth. 

For 25 years, FFLIC has stood against harmful myths and policies, and we will continue to lead with care and courage. Together, we can counter harmful narratives with love and action.

When we Stand in Love, we send positive messages to incarcerated youth—cards, notes, and small treats—and we show families that a statewide community is fighting alongside them. This is care and collective action: building the support young people need and advancing systems that allow them to grow and thrive.

Our Policy Vision: #LetKidsBeKids

The Stand in Love campaign is grounded in FFLIC’s #LetKidsBeKids platform—real solutions that keep communities safe by supporting youth and families. Our Let Kids Be Kids (#LKBK) campaign, tackles the root causes of youth incarceration through a three-point policy platform:

• Mental Health Support – trauma-informed care, not criminalization 
• Educational Justice – end the school-to-prison pipeline
• Poverty Alleviation – address economic barriers

We need life-affirming systems that prevent harm, reduce justice involvement, and strengthen public safety far better than punishment and incarceration.

How You Can Help Right Now

MAKE A CARD FOR A YOUNG PERSON WHO IS INCARCERATED. Your message matters.

• Make a card by hand (Note: Please avoid glitter or adhesives that may be restricted. Keep messages kind, hopeful, and non-political) or
• Buy a card from a nearby store or
• Download one of our pre‑made cards from our shared file, print it, and personalize it by coloring or adding a note.  
• Drop the card off at our office on Thursday afternoons January 22, 29 or February 5 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. You can also mail them to PO Box 56877 New Orleans, LA 70156 to be received by February 5th.

Special Call to Organizations & Partners (Bulk Drop‑Offs: 25+ Cards)

We’re inviting partner organizations, schools, congregations, teams, companies, and community groups to host a card‑making drive and deliver 25 or more cards. We’ll provide talking points, printable templates, and coordinate drop‑off or pick-up. Interested? Email fflic@fflic.org with your group name, location, and target number of cards.

SHARE A MESSAGE VIA SOCIAL MEDIA:

Use one of the sample messages below that you can pair with a graphic in our shared file:

• Louisiana is escalating punitive youth justice policies—even as evidence shows kids need prevention, healing, and opportunity. We reject fear-based narratives and stand for life-affirming systems: mental health supports, educational justice, and poverty alleviation. #StandInLove #LetKidsBeKids #YouthJustice 

• Louisiana continues to push punitive youth justice policies—even as youth crime rates decline. Evidence is clear: education, mental health care, and economic stability create safer communities, not incarceration. #StandInLove #LetKidsBeKids 

• Fear-based myths about youth lead to harsher punishments—not safer communities. Real safety comes from care: mental health support, strong schools, and opportunity. We Stand in Love with youth and families and fight for systems that help kids thrive. #StandInLove #LetKidsBeKids 

MAKE A VIDEO

You can also make a video with a message of love and support. Upload it and tag us on social media, DM us, or send us the video at fflic@fflic.org. 

Script:

My name is ___ and I stand in love with incarcerated youth and with FFLIC. I want you to know you are not forgotten and we are working together to make a better youth justice system that gives you the support you need. [Additional message of support for youth that is from the heart. Please do not make any promises!]

We are thankful that in past years celebrities have contributed to the “Stand in Love” campaign by uplifting positive messages about our youth, including, Chamillionaire, Oscar-Nominated Director of the Documentary Film “Time,” Garrett Bradley, former Saints players Deonte Harty and Kenny Stills, and New York Times-acclaimed author Maurice Carlos Ruffin.

OR DONATE!

Donate to FFLIC at www.fflic.org/donations! Your support enables us to keep our “Stand in Love” campaign going each year!

Parents, youth, and community members in the Lafayette area will meet to create, fellowship and strengthen leadership to support our youth and address the ongoing failures of our education and youth justice systems. Let’s come together to find solutions!

Lafayette chapter meetings are typically the last Friday of the month, with some exceptions. For more info contact us at fflic@fflic.org.

Parents, youth, and community members in the New Orleans area will meet to create fellowship and strengthen leadership to support our youth and address the ongoing failures of our education and youth justice systems.

New Orleans chapter meetings are typically the third Monday of the month, with some exceptions.

For more info contact us at fflic@fflic.org

Shreveport meetings are currently paused. Please check back with us soon!

Parents, youth, and community members in the Shreveport area will meet to create fellowship and strengthen leadership to support our youth and address the ongoing failures of our education and youth justice systems.

For more info contact us at fflic@fflic.org

 

 

 

Lake Charles meeting are currently paused. Please check back with us soon!

Lake Charles chapter meetings are typically the first Monday of the month, with some exceptions. For more info contact us at fflic@fflic.org

Join us on Halloween! Because youth incarceration is as scary as it gets!

Parents, youth, and community members in the Lafayette area will meet to create, fellowship and strengthen leadership to support our youth and address the ongoing failures of our education and youth justice systems. Let’s come together to find solutions!

Lafayette chapter meetings are typically the last Friday of the month, with some exceptions. For more info contact us at fflic@fflic.org.