John,
 
As Giving Tuesday approaches and year-end is giving is top of mind, we want to remind you what your support enables us to do and encourage you to make a gift in honor of our community. In this email to you we’re proud to share a story of resilience, transformation, and the power of second chances that embodies the work we do every day at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition.

Pamela Thompson is a dedicated ARC Member and staff member, whose journey from incarceration to becoming a Senior Life Coach exemplifies the opportunities we strive to provide to returning citizens.
 
Pamela was incarcerated in 1994 and sentenced to life in prison. While Pamela was incarcerated, she had a life-changing encounter with one of ARC’s women life coaches from our very own Hope and Redemption Team (HART), who ignited her belief in the possibility of living a better life. This encounter was a turning point, filling her with hope and determination for a brighter future. Our Hope and Redemption Team is a transformative program that trains people who were formerly sentenced to life in prison to become credible messengers and lead support groups inside prison to help people who are currently sentenced to life.

“The most powerful thing for me was the Hope and Redemption Team because when they came inside, they gave me so much hope because I was lost. I didn’t know what I would do and where I would go if I ever got out.”
-Pamela

Upon her release in 2018, thanks largely in part to ARC’s advocacy and policy reform work, Pamela participated in our Ride Home program, where a formerly incarcerated person met her at her release, provided her with a warm welcome and a warm meal, and shared insights on the path to re-entry.

Pamela Thompson on her ride home 

Pamela is now proudly an ARC Senior Life Coach, where she supervises other Life Coaches and shares her journey, insights, and wisdom with others who have faced similar challenges. Through her work, she empowers individuals to believe in themselves and connects them with ARC resources that help formerly incarcerated people successfully reenter into society on the path to rehabilitation and reintegration. Within ARC, Pamela discovered not only a job but a purpose that deeply resonated with her own experiences.

“ARC was very welcoming because 85% of the staff is formerly incarcerated…so everybody is likeminded…everything I needed to navigate back into society is what my Life Coaches did for me and that’s what I do now in return for others”
-Pamela

John, help reform our systems from the inside out

Pamela has become an invaluable member of our team, offering a unique perspective and a profound understanding of the hurdles faced by those touched by the criminal legal system. With the wraparound reentry services we provide at ARC, coupled with the community we built, we have proven that transformation is possible with the right support and guidance. Your gift allows us to continue to provide this and make second chances possible for everyone – regardless of class, race, or gender.
 
Thank you for being a part of ARC's mission, for believing in second chances, and for helping us make a positive change in the lives of individuals like Pamela.
 
Sincerely,
 
Sam Lewis
Executive Director
Anti-Recidivism Coalition