Taina Vargas co-founded Initiate Justice and Initiate Justice Action to activate the political power of people directly impacted by mass incarceration. Initiate Justice has co-sponsored legislation aimed at ending mass incarceration and recruited over 45,000 currently incarcerated people to help lead the efforts. Taina previously worked as the Statewide Advocacy Coordinator with Essie Justice Group, State Campaigner with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and as a Field Representative for the California State Assembly. She has personally supported a loved one who was incarcerated for 7 years.