Objective:

To support Colin Mattis and his family, particularly his three young foster siblings, whose guardianship he took on after his mother passed away from cancer last year.

Colinford Mattis is a father, a son, a brother, a friend, an advocate, and a dedicated and respected member of our community. On Saturday, May 30, Colin was arrested and taken into custody, and he is now being charged by the federal government with causing damage by fire to an empty police vehicle. The government’s charges would subject Colin to a mandatory minimum sentence of 45 years, and up to life in prison. These charges are not a reflection of who Colin is. The narrative told by the government and much of the media has attempted to erase Colin’s accomplishments and contributions to the communities of which he is a part. 

This Initiative

As Colin’s friends and peers, we seek to raise funds to help him and his three foster siblings, who are all under the age of 11. Colin has been the primary caregiver and provider for these three children since his mother, Edith, passed away last year from cancer. Because of this legal case, Colin is unable to continue being a financial pillar for the children, as well as for his three other siblings. They need our support, too.

We increased our initial ask after assessing how long this case is likely to take. We need to be prepared for the marathon - not a sprint.

Who is Colin?

Colin is an exemplary individual who has committed his personal and professional life to helping others and to making the world a better place. Upon graduation from Princeton, he spent two years in New Orleans teaching students from disadvantaged communities. As an attorney, he has zealously advocated for women in poverty. He was awarded the 2019 Commitment to Justice Award by Her Justice for his pro bono work with the organization, helping a low-income client secure child support. In law school, as part of the Family Defense Clinic, Colin represented low-income parents in Brooklyn Family Court.

Colin was born and raised in Brooklyn, and lives in his mother’s East New York home, with his sister Lyris, and his three young foster siblings. He moved back home after his mother’s passing last year, and has since been an extraordinarily committed and involved parent to the three children—attending every parent teacher conference at school, and encouraging, supporting, and educating the kids at home. His other siblings, Ernie, Doreen, and Octavia, all live nearby in the same neighborhood, and Colin is a huge provider of both emotional and financial support to them all. Beyond his family, we could elaborate with countless other examples of how Colin has impacted the lives of others, how he has been a mentor to so many of us, and upheld the voices of the most vulnerable amongst us, all while lifting our spirits with his good nature and wit. We can only hope that through our contributions here, we can help Colin the way he has helped so many others, by supporting him and his family when they need us most.

With that, we ask you to join us in helping Colin to meet the financial needs that he and his family will confront for the foreseeable future. Colin needs and deserves to continue serving his community and supporting his family; please help us to ensure that he can. On behalf of Colin and his family, we are enormously grateful for any support you can provide. Thank you.