NWA nonprofit launches community bail fund project

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) —The Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (AJRC) has launched the NWA Hummingbird Project, a revolving community bail fund.

To celebrate the launch, AJRC is hosting “Seeking Justice” on July 20th, a community event and fundraiser featuring food, music, art, a silent auction, family activities and a dunk tank.

The event will take place at AJRC’s new office at 205 N College in downtown Fayetteville, AR, from 10am to 2pm. It is open to the public with a suggested door donation of $10 per adult.

The NWA Hummingbird Project aims to address concerns related to poverty and pretrial detention, particularly impacting marginalized communities including Black, brown, Native and LGBTQ individuals.

“It’s a revolving fund,” AJRC member Fernado Garcia said. “After somebody goes through all their court dates and they have resolved their case, then that money comes back to the fund so we can bail somebody else out with that money.”

According to a news release, the hummingbird symbolizes “freedom and resilience,” and a “small but mighty” mindset.

Supporting individuals to handle their legal cases outside of jail often leads to improved personal and professional outcomes, according to the AJRC.

The AJRC’s mission statement reads:

The Arkansas Justice Coalition works to end mass incarceration led by the voices of families and individuals of those directly impacted. We envision a world where every individual is empowered to thrive in the community through prevention of harm and fostering strong coalitions.

Donations for silent auction items are being accepted to support the fund at https://tinyurl.com/gethomenow .

For assistance with individuals in local Northwest Arkansas jails, please visit https://tinyurl.com/hummingproject .

More information about the Arkansas Justice Coalition can be found at www.arjusticereform.org .

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