T.O.N.E. U.P. Monthly Newsletter
Teaching Ourselves New Examples to Uplift People
Who We Are
T.O.N.E. U.P. stands for Teaching Ourselves New Examples to Uplift People. We are a justice-impacted-led organization rooted in the belief that the people closest to the problem are also closest to the solution.Our work lives at the intersection of reentry, advocacy, healing, and power-building. We support people coming home from incarceration with real resources, real relationships, and real pathways forward—while also organizing to change the systems that criminalize, cage, and abandon our communities in the first place. From reentry navigation and leadership development to civic engagement and policy advocacy, T.O.N.E. U.P. is building an ecosystem of support that says: you are not alone, and your life matters.
T.O.N.E. U.P. Tuesdays:
Community, Strategy, and Care
This month, we officially launched T.O.N.E. U.P. Tuesdays—our monthly community space for justice-impacted people to come together, connect, and build. T.O.N.E. U.P. Tuesdays is more than a meeting. It’s a space where justice-impacted people can:
Be in community with one another
Share resources and information
Talk honestly about what’s happening in our neighborhoods
Build collective strategies for safety, support, and survival
There was a strong consensus in the room: people are feeling under attack. Folks named fear, uncertainty, and a deep urgency to protect themselves and their communities. We also named that this moment demands real conversations—about strategy, tactics, and how we show up for one another. Everyone who comes through this space is part of shaping what comes next.
ICE, Unrest, and Our Responsibility to Each Other
We are living through a moment of heightened fear and unrest as ICE activity increases in our communities. For justice-impacted people—especially Black and Brown folks—this is not abstract. It’s personal.
At T.O.N.E. U.P., we believe justice-impacted people have a unique and necessary role to play right now. We know what it means to be targeted, surveilled, and criminalized. That lived experience positions us to:
Look out for one another
Share accurate information
Build neighborhood-level support systems
Ensure our people are not isolated or left behind
Safety doesn’t come from systems that harm us—it comes from community. And community requires action.
Showing Up Inside
Ramsey County Correctional Facility
We’ve continued our monthly visits to Ramsey County Correctional Facility, and the impact has been undeniable. These spaces—inside the jail—have been powerful, honest, and necessary. Meeting with both men and women currently incarcerated has reinforced something we already know: the need is great, and the moment to prepare people for release starts long before the gate opens. Because of the response and demand, we are working to increase our presence to more than once a month. This is about continuity, trust, and making sure people don’t come home disconnected and unsupported. Reentry begins inside. And we will keep showing up.
What’s Coming Next: March at T.O.N.E. U.P.
March is packed—and we’re excited.
We’ll be kicking off March Madness with a raffle featuring a signed Anthony Edwards jersey. This fundraiser will directly support our reentry, organizing, and inside-the-walls work. More details coming soon.
Here’s How You Can Keep Supporting the Mission
Make a Recurring Gift – Even $15/month helps provide transportation, reentry support, and leadership opportunities.
Donate now: toneup.org/donate
Become a Partner – If you or your organization want to support employment, housing, mentorship, or sponsorship opportunities, let’s talk.
This movement is about people. And with you on our side, we’re more ready than ever to teach new examples, uplift communities, and build lasting change.
With gratitude,
The T.O.N.E. U.P. Team
www.toneup.org | @toneup_mn
T.O.N.E. U.P. 23 SE 4th St., Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55414