Dear John, 
 
On Friday, we celebrated the news that our Executive Director, Sam Lewis, had his criminal record expunged under SB 731 -- a new law in California that ARC played an integral role in passing and which expands expungement opportunities to people with past arrests, misdemeanors, and felony convictions. 

Sam is the first ARC Member whose record was cleared under SB 731, but he will not be the last. Since the passing of SB 731, ARC’s policy team has been hosting expungement events across California to ensure formerly incarcerated people take advantage of this bill and expunge their record if they are eligible to do so.

John, your support isn't just a donation; it's a key to unlocking brighter futures. Any gift you make today allows us to help formerly incarcerated people clear their records -- opening doors to employment and housing, two of the most significant barriers people face during their reentry journeys. Join us today by making a gift and be part of this transformative journey.

Recently, we held an expungement event at our Los Angeles headquarters that Senator Maria Durazo attended. She also visited one of our youth transitional housing sites, where she extended her enthusiastic support for our mission and listened to our Members about their experiences both during and post-incarceration. During her visit, Senator Durazo stressed the importance of a community-centered approach to public safety, highlighting that communities are safest when all members are engaged and committed to effecting change.

SAFER COMMUNITIES START WITH PARTNERSHIPS

Senator Durazo, Homeboy Industries, Manifestworks, the LA Mayor’s Office, and the District Attorney of Los Angeles all came together to support our expungement clinic and SB 731. During this event, we had over 50 formerly incarcerated people take the necessary steps to gain aspects of their freedom back. This day was not only a day of freedom but also of communal support.

Senator Durazo noted that record expungement plays a crucial role in enabling individuals with past convictions to reintegrate into society, secure meaningful employment, and make positive contributions to their communities. SB 731 is an excellent example of what second chances look like in our legislative system. This endorsement of SB 731 from Senator Durazo serves as a powerful validator of our work and in our belief that only by collaborating with public officials can we make substantial progress towards our shared goals.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES ?

Together, we are building safer communities. Thank you, John, for your ongoing support and commitment to our cause. With your help, we are eager to expunge records for our community members and pass even more policies that bring justice to our criminal legal system. 

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