Dear John, 

After the challenges of 2020, this year has provided some relief and time for reflection. We passed the one year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. And we’re about to celebrate Juneteenth, marking the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. But, until the Thirteenth Amendment is rid of language declaring that slavery is still legal as punishment for a crime, it will not be true celebration. None of us are free while our incarcerated community members are paid cents per hour for their labor.
 
These struggles ignite and sustain ARC’s drive and vision, and I am extremely proud of all that we’ve been able to accomplish just six months into 2021. Our work has never been more crucial, and I thank you for standing with us and being a part of this movement. I hope you will consider a generous donation to help us keep advocating for those who are currently and formerly incarcerated--an often overlooked community of primarily Black and Brown men.
 
ARC continues to fight for our community everyday… and our efforts are paying off. Some highlights from 2021 include:

• We continued to place our Members in stable and well-paying Union jobs.
• We proudly expanded our Ventura Training Center (VTC) program, allowing more Members to become firefighters.
• We had over 395 Members attend our weekly group sessions.
• We maintained our impactful programming and graduation ceremonies for our currently incarcerated Members.
• We continued to prioritize sharing stories of those who have experienced incarceration.

With more than 75% of our staff having experienced incarceration we are unique among the groups working in this field. We know that the people closest to the issues are the ones closest to the solutions. We are not able to do this groundbreaking work without you and your generous support--a gift to ARC is a gift that directly supports currently and formerly incarcerated people, and I hope the overview of our work in 2021 inspires you to make a gift. 
 

DONATE NOW

 
On behalf of all ARC members and staff, we are so grateful for your allyship, and for standing with us. Thank you in advance for your continued support.
 
Sincerely,  

Sam Lewis
Executive Director