Dear John,

I am delighted to share with you our 2023 Impact Report, which highlights our most significant growth and achievements on behalf of our currently and formerly incarcerated communities this past year.

I am also proud to mark my fifth year as the Chief Executive Officer of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition; an organization that, with your help, has become one of the leading justice reform organizations in the country. As a formerly incarcerated Black man, I bring a deeply unique perspective to the justice reform field. I have lived through the challenges of being incarcerated for 24 years and I know the power of support and second chances first-hand. At ARC, we have proven that people from all backgrounds can achieve great success, challenging stereotypes and unjust norms. 

Reflecting on the past five years as CEO of ARC, I am proud of several key successes. Prior to becoming CEO, I founded the Hope and Redemption Team (HART), an innovative program that sends formerly incarcerated people inside to provide hope, demonstrate that redemption is possible, and mentor currently incarcerated individuals for preparation for a successful release and reentry. Under my leadership, this program has expanded from 9 to 30 California state prisons – significantly increasing our impact with a presence in every prison in the state. 

                   

Over this past year, we have also established full-time Credible Messenger Programming in the Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls and Camps.  While this initiative is being funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development, I have personally trained and led teams of Credible Messengers into Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall most Saturdays for the past 9 years.  We have also expanded our Apprenticeship Readiness Program to Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Sacramento County. Each of these initiatives have brought us closer to our goal of ending mass incarceration.  Finally, I am excited to announce that we are purchasing a new building to serve as a hub for returning citizens so when they come home, they have a “place to call freedom”. 

As I enter my sixth year as CEO, I am looking ahead to the next five years, where we will be expanding our work into prevention, targeting the roots of mass incarceration through a prevention program for middle school students. In addition, by expanding our Research department and leveraging the data we collect from our formerly incarcerated Members, I aim to validate and replicate our already successful programs in other states with high incarceration rates.
 
I invite you to read this report and reflect on the incredible strides we have made together. Thank you for your ongoing support, and if you wish to consider giving, please visit us online and make your donation there. I hope to continue working alongside you to accomplish our vision here at ARC. Your support is truly appreciated. 


Sincerely,
Sam Lewis

Chief Executive Officer
Anti-Recidivism Coalition