Abolition Dream Lab

Abolition Dream Lab is a fiscally sponsored project and partner of Possibility Labs. 1 The group works on left-of-center causes such as abolishing the U.S prison system and defunding the police. 2 3 Abolitionist Dream Lab seeks to create a “space for Black abolitionist organizers” and normalize “Black people having the time they need and deserve to breathe, connect, and heal.” 4

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At-A-Glance

Type: Organization, Other
Issue Areas: Identity Politics (for race-based policy/activism), Criminal Justice Policy
Website: possibilitylabs.org/partners/abolition-dream-lab
Project of:

Possibility Labs

President:

Donna Daniels, Ph.D.

Location: San Francisco, CA View on map

Contents

    Abolition Dream Lab is supported by the Liberty Hill Foundation, a left-of-center foundation with ties to environmentalist groups. 5 6

    Possibility Labs

    Abolition Dream Lab is a fiscally sponsored project of Possibility Labs, which uses fiscal sponsorships and donor-advised funds (DAF) to allow separate organizations to benefit from its tax-exempt status and fundraising ability. 1 4

    Possibility Labs lists Abolition Dream Lab as a Partner on its website. 7 Many of the partners on the list are fiscally sponsored projects of Possibility Labs, for example, the Just Economy Institute (JEI), is a fiscally sponsored project of Possibility Labs. 8 9 Possibility Labs, which was founded by Keiko Murase and Lem White, focuses on “social and environmental justice” and asserts that all of its “systems, policies, and processes are designed to honor the cultures, histories, traditions, and needs of Black and Brown communities.” 1 10

    In 2022, Possibility Labs reported $46,742,841 in revenue and $20,919,752 in expenses, with $30,143,060 in total assets. 11 In 2022, Seeds Commons reported donating $1,000,000 to Possibility Labs. 12 In 2022, Urban Tilth, a left-of-center environmentalist organization that supports the Green New Deal, reported donating $500,000 to Possibility Labs. 11 13 In 2022, the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), a far-left organization that advocates for eliminating concentrated wealth and moving away from use of hydrocarbon fuels, reported donating $400,000 to Possibility Labs. 11 14

    The Ford Foundation reported donating $80,000 to Possibility Labs in 2024. 15

    People

    Haewon Asfaw, a left-wing community organizer, works at Abolition Dream Lab. 16 2 17 Asfaw is a founding member of the Black Lives Matter Los Angeles chapter. 3 Asfaw is a self-proclaimed “Intersectional Feminist” and prison abolitionist. 2 Asfaw was a guest faculty member for Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors’s 8-week seminar entitled “Abolition Is.” 17 Asfaw took part in the 2023 Racial Equity Action Cohort. 18 19

    Donna Daniels is the chief executive officer at Possibility Labs, having taken over in 2023 after the departure of the co-founders, Keiko Murase and Lem White. 20

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    References

    1. “Press Kit.” Possibility Labs. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://possibilitylabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Possibility-Labs-Press-Kit-Sep-2022.pdf.
    2. “Haewon Asfaw.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/haewon-asfaw-772557198/.
    3. “BLM Los Angeles Co-Founder Haewon Asfaw Talks Black & Asian Solidarity.” Cinema Latte Productions – YouTube. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zih5IKy0vLs.
    4. “Abolition Dream Lab.” Possibility Labs, September 27, 2023. Accessed November 4 2024. https://possibilitylabs.org/partners/abolition-dream-lab/.
    5. “Organizations.” Liberty Hill. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.libertyhill.org/organizations/.
    6. Tucker, Liza. “30 Public Interest Groups Urge Governor Brown to Freeze State Oil Drilling.” Consumer Watchdog, January 13, 2023. Accessed November 4 2024.  https://consumerwatchdog.org/energy/30-public-interest-groups-urge-governor-brown-freeze-state-oil-drilling/.
    7. “Our Partners.” Possibility Labs, September 9, 2024. Accessed November 4 2024.  https://possibilitylabs.org/our-partners/.
    8. “Donate.” Just Economy Institute, September 26, 2024. Accessed November 4 2024. https://justeconomyinstitute.org/donate/.
    9. “Just Economy Institute.” Possibility Labs, September 27, 2023. Accessed November 4 2024. https://possibilitylabs.org/partners/just-economy-institute/.
    10. “Possibility Labs Enters New Era of Leadership with Deep Focus on Its Movement-Accelerating Mission.” Possibility Labs, June 11, 2024. Accessed November 4 2024.  https://possibilitylabs.org/pl-new-leader/.
    11. “Possibility Labs.” Cause IQ. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/open-possibilities,853989363/.
    12. “Seed Commons.” Cause IQ. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-working-world,202264584/.
    13. “To Address the Climate Crisis, the Green New Deal Must Transform Our Food System and Revitalize Rural America.” oaklandinstitute.org, October 14, 2020. https://www.oaklandinstitute.org/green-new-deal-transform-food-system-revitalize-rural-america.
    14. “Our Work.” Asian Pacific Environmental Network, November 6, 2019.  https://apen4ej.org/our-work/.
    15. “Grants Awarded – Possibility Labs.” Ford Foundation. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/possibility-labs-149279/.
    16. “Cultivating Repair: Meet the Catalyst Initiative Cohort.” Omidyar Network, June 3, 2024. https://omidyar.com/cultivating-repair-meet-the-catalyst-initiative-cohort/.
    17. “Abolition Is… with Patrisse Cullors & Special Guests.” Transformative Programs. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.transformativeprograms.com/abolition-is.
    18. Nop, Melissa. “Melissa NOP on Linkedin: One More Day to Apply and Join Haewon Asfaw and I on This 8-Month Journey!…” LinkedIn, August 17, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/melissa-nop_one-more-day-to-apply-and-join-haewon-asfaw-activity-7097985363683540992-zlUS/?t=%7Bseek_to_second_number%7D.
    19. “Northern California Grantmakers on Linkedin: #reai2023 #racialequity.” LinkedIn, August 11, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7095841406899941376/.
    20. “Possibility Labs Enters New Era of Leadership with Deep Focus on Its Movement-Accelerating Mission.” Possibility Labs, June 11, 2024. https://possibilitylabs.org/pl-new-leader/