ABOUT US
“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” – William E. Gladstone
When confronted with violations of human and civil rights, silence can never be an option.
Our Mission
Destination Freedom was established to provide comprehensive support for those impacted by the criminal justice system. We are dedicated to breaking down the barriers that prevent formerly incarcerated individuals from successfully reintegrating into society and reclaiming their freedom.
Through advocacy, direct services, legal assistance, and creative publishing support, we help individuals transition from incarceration to independence—transforming their journey from confinement to community, from prisoners to productive citizens.
Destination Freedom Media Group dedicates our writing to accountability reporting at the intersection of civil rights, public integrity, disability justice, structural accountability within American institutions, and community survival.
Our work—published in partnership with the Davis Vanguard and the Editor-in-Chief, David Greenwald—focuses on government power, criminal justice, environmental justice, and the human consequences of policy decisions too often insulated from public scrutiny. Our reporting amplifies the voices of impacted communities while insisting on documentary evidence, transparency, and the unvarnished truth—especially when institutions demand silence.
OUR STORY
Destination Freedom was built on two things: lived experience and a deep belief in justice.
In 2013, Gale Washington founded what was then known as Sweet Justice, Inc., now Destination Freedom — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to advocate for individuals navigating some of life’s most difficult systems. With more than 30 years of experience as a paralegal in probate, estate planning, trust administration, and litigation, Gale brought structure, strategy, and legal fluency to people who often felt unheard or overlooked. Destination Freedom began as a direct response to that gap.
In September 2022, Gale met journalist Malik Washington.
What began as a shared commitment to justice quickly evolved into partnership — in life and in purpose. Together, we co-founded Destination Freedom Media Group, an independent nonprofit newsroom dedicated to investigative reporting at the intersection of justice, governance, and community accountability. Destination Freedom Media Group’s work is published in partnership with the Davis Vanguard and its Editor-in-Chief, David Greenwald.
Malik has been a published journalist for more than 14 years. His work — featured on platforms such as Muck Rack and Black Voice News — examines the systems that shape our communities: housing, public safety, environmental equity, economic justice, and government oversight. His reporting centers the voices of those most impacted and challenges institutions to do better.
Gale brings decades of procedural knowledge, organizational leadership, and disciplined advocacy. Malik brings investigative depth, storytelling power, and an unwavering commitment to truth. Together, our work bridges advocacy and journalism — pairing facts with action, and policy with people.
On Malik’s birthday in 2024, we were married in San Francisco — the city that shapes much of our work and fuels our purpose.
Destination Freedom and Destination Freedom Media Group represent more than organizations. They represent partnership. They represent accountability. They represent the belief that communities deserve transparency, fairness, and opportunity.
This is our story — and it is still being written.