Dawn Harrington is the founder and ED of Free Hearts, a Tennessee-based organization that develops and organizes women who are formerly incarcerated, works to reunite families, and works to keep families together. I know her to be one of the best organizers in the country working in the realm of ending mass incarceration. Dawn’s courage is vividly illustrated by her work in ‘Confederate country’ and ‘sundown towns’, where she works to engage with communities unlike her own that have been ignored by legislators. Dawn has had success in building common cause with folks in these towns on systemic issues like incarceration, worker rights issues, and the need for housing and health care. Furthermore, her daily work includes entering and training others to enter jails and prisons to advocate for freedom and organize those inside, despite the state violence and the personal and professional risks involved.

Dawn’s effectiveness is marked by significant legislative victories, including changes to three state laws, multiple local policies, and the state constitution, in addition to securing federal appropriations, litigation wins, and Participatory Defense work that collectively saved 1777 years of incarceration time from 2017–2022. She has effectively fostered connections at local, state, national, and global levels. Her skill in bridging diverse groups, building a significant amount of trust, and not burning bridges enhances her capacity to unify various stakeholders.

Dawn inspires people to work together in a state known for its divisions. As a public speaker, rapper and former music industry professional, she uses the power of music, meditations, spoken word and other multimedia to inspire people to work together. 

Lastly, her innovative approaches—such as leadership development tailored to specific material conditions, crafting messages that resonate in rural areas, and incorporating gamification and cultural elements into popular, political and historical education—demonstrate her forward-thinking strategy in justice work.

A defining action that encapsulates her qualifications was leading a grassroots campaign across 37 counties in Tennessee, mostly with volunteers, aimed at removing slavery from the state constitution that won at least 65% of the vote in every TN county. This campaign not only highlights her leadership and organizational skills but also her ability to inspire and mobilize a broad volunteer base towards achieving a historic and transformative goal.