Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)

🌟 This Giving Tuesday, amplify your generosity. 🌟  At ARC, we empower formerly incarcerated individuals with housing, career training, and supportive services while advocating for systemic change. Every dollar you give on Giving Tuesday will be matched by The Change Reaction, empowering even more second chances. Your contribution can help twice as many people rebuild their lives. Join us in creating a more just and equitable future. Donate now to give the gift of second chances: https://lnkd.in/eTwZ7NAJ

Attn ARC Members! We are partnering with InCharge Energy to offer a brand-new Electric Vehicle Technician training program! This 12-week training opportunity provides members with the chance to earn a stipend while acquiring the skills necessary to pursue a career as an Electric Vehicle Technician. The training will be held in the City of Santa Ana and is set to start on Monday, January 13, 2025. Interested members can easily sign up using the QR code provided on the flyer or by clicking the following link: https://lnkd.in/gqvEJadB

ARC's Jared Villery was featured on Spectrum News explaining why Prop 6 was not successful and how Prop 6 should have been more connected to slavery. “Trying to frame it as a criminal justice reform issue as opposed to a moral issue, we think that contributed to losing that,” said Villery. But we're still hopeful that one day we can end slavery in California for good and give incarcerated people the choice on how to best spend their time so they can access more rehabilitative programs. “They would have been able to focus on all of those rehabilitative groups that would reframe their thought processes. They would have been able to focus on education, to develop their mind and elevate themselves beyond what they knew in their past. That’s not going to happen now,” said Villery. #Prop6 #EndSlaveryinCA https://lnkd.in/gKAS3FmE

https://lnkd.in/gjV-SwUD “We’re not going to stop, we’re going to keep fighting,” ARC's Executive Director Lewis said. We’re going to do the things that the government that’s supposed to represent us, that’s supposed to really fight for us. If they won’t do it, we’ll do it.” #JusticeReformisPublicSafety

We are deeply saddened to share the news of our colleague, Terissa Marcum's passing. Terissa was not just a valued member of our team, but also a kind and thoughtful person who touched the lives of so many people in the Sacramento area. Terissa recently joined ARC's staff as a Policy & Community Organizing Fellow, allowing her to follow her passion. Terissa has been a valued community member for years, passionate about criminal justice reform and helping people with reentry support. Her commitment to our mission and community will be missed deeply. Our thoughts are with Terissa's family and friends, who are all grieving this profound loss.

The LA Times agrees with us that criminal justice reform and public safety go hand in hand. Voters want to feel safe, and of course that includes accountability, but it also includes investing in housing, jobs, reentry services, and second-chance policies. These solutions empower individuals to break the cycle of poverty and crime, and help them become valued members of the community. AND stay tuned this week for more content exploring exactly why justice reform IS public safety. #JusticeReform #SharedSafety #ARC #JusticeReformIsPublicSafety

Steve Brooks, an incarcerated journalist at San Quentin, sheds light on the impact of forced labor and the missed opportunity with Prop 6. Reflecting the resilience and aspirations of people in California’s prison system, he writes, "I want to work. All the people in prison that I know want to work. We just want to do it on our own terms. We want to show a system that works for our own rehabilitation and transformation." Read Steve's op-ed in Time Magazine on Prop 6. Click the link in our bio to hear voices inside the California's prison system and learn what voters missed about this crucial measure. #EndSlaveryinCA #Prop6 #EndtheException

To our community—We are pleased to provide an update on the progress of our Prison Outreach Initiative, which provides current and formerly incarcerated individuals with access to Eckhart’s transformative teachings to foster personal growth, healing, and rehabilitation. This month, Eckhart and Kim will be giving talks at two prisons in California. Thanks to collaboration with the team at Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) and essential funding from the Satchitananda Foundation, we’re honored to make these talks a reality. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. With approximately 4% of the world's population, the US houses around 25% of the world's incarcerated individuals. This disproportionate number highlights the urgent need for reform and effective reentry programs. [prisonpolicy.org]. We are proud to be a part of such essential work. If you’d like to contribute to the Prison Outreach Initiative and support our efforts working with people in prison and those formerly incarcerated, you're welcome to donate at the link: https://lnkd.in/genyvfX5

Happy Men’s Health Awareness Month. This month we’d like to talk about men’s mental health inside of prisons. Narratives about masculinity and vulnerability are accentuated inside prisons. “The culture in all-male prisons typically demands that those [incarcerated] mask their vulnerabilities by adopting a tough and dominant demeanor.” (BMC Psychiatry) It is so important to destigmatize men’s mental health in prisons. Comment below thoughts you have about this 👇 #MensHealthAwareness #MensMentalHealth

On this Veteran's Day, let's talk about how mass incarceration impacts veterans.   One in three veterans report being arrested at least once in their life, compared to fewer than one in five civilians. Veterans are often sentenced to longer terms than nonveterans. Justice-involved veterans are nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide as veterans with no history of criminal justice involvement.    There are also many risk factors that increase the likelihood of veterans being involved in the criminal justice system. These include: • Mental health and substance use disorders: Veterans with mental health or substance use disorders are more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system.  • Combat exposure: Veterans who have experienced combat are more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system.  • Traumatic brain injuries: Veterans with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system.  • Homelessness: Veterans who are homeless are more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system.    We believe the key to caring for our veterans (as well as all citizens) is investing in community-based treatment over incarceration. Share with a friend who might not know how mass incarceration negatively impacts our nation's veterans.