Dear John,

Happy Mother’s Day! We celebrate our mothers, the mothers of our Members, and our Members and staff who are mothers every day – but we are especially proud to celebrate them today.  

Incarceration has countless devastating effects, but the disruption of community, especially of Brown, Black, and low-income communities, is one of the most poignant and long lasting. ARC is proud to support mothers who visit their sons and daughters in prison despite the expensive costs and demanding schedules, as well as the incarcerated mothers who are doing their best to raise their children from afar.
 
A few years ago, we created a Women’s Department, to specifically focus on the unique challenges faced by currently and formerly incarcerated women. This department has accomplished so much since it was launched – we have a presence in every women’s prison in California, have a thriving community of formerly incarcerated women who count on ARC for supportive services, and have helped pass bills designed to help women inside. John, will you make a gift so that we can continue providing hope to women inside?                                                                                    

    

One of our recent highlights was our women’s retreat, where our formerly incarcerated women Members spent a whole weekend together building community, relaxing, and communicating about their shared experiences. The generous contributions of the Women of Endeavor at William Morris Endeavor, Bank of America, and NBC Universal (especially Hoai Scott) helped make this event possible, and we are very thankful for their generous support.

One of the most meaningful activities at the retreat was the “sister mate” pairing, which allowed women to connect with each other and form supportive relationships for accountability and encouragement. 

 
It was inspiring to see the women come together in this way and support each other in their journeys. Another important session focused on financial empowerment, recognizing that financial stability is a key factor in reducing recidivism. The women learned practical skills and strategies to help them manage their finances and build a solid foundation for their future. The retreat also included a workshop on friendship, which aimed to break down the barriers that sometimes prevent women from forming meaningful connections with each other in the workplace, post incarceration. 

If you would like to learn more about ARC’s impact on incarcerated women, please listen to ARC’s  podcast Free World , hosted by ARC’s Director of our Women's Department, Norma Cumpian, and ARC Life Coach, Shone Robinson.  

Thank you as always for your support of our work. I hope you will consider making a gift today in honor of all the women impacted by incarceration.  

Sincerely, 
Sam Lewis
Executive Director 
Anti Recidivism Coalition (ARC)