Zealous was founded in 2019 with a mission to harness the power of media, technology, storytelling and the people with direct experience to transform and create long lasting change that ends mass criminalization. Zealous trains and supports a wide range of other partners invested in systemic social justice change, including journalists, present and future social justice leaders and people directly impacted by the justice system. It designs and implements trainings, courses, workshops and toolkits on media, storytelling, communications and policy advocacy. It also helps partners develop cutting-edge arts and first-hand storytelling strategies to shift the narrative and position their local and national campaigns for short- and long-term success. Zealous helps local defender offices, coalitions and leaders create new advocacy approaches and develop relationships with journalists and media outlets. This grant provides general operating support to Zealous as it works to use policy and media advocacy to secure justice reforms, protect policy wins, challenge punitive narratives and bolster campaigns led by the directly impacted in NY and CT.