The Sacramento Kings played a basketball game with the men inside Folsom as part of Play for Justice, presented by the Represent Justice campaign. 

Sacramento Kings with ARC and Represent Justice at Folsom State Prison.
Photo credit: Ricky Horne, Jr.(See full gallery here) ([link removed])

Dear John xxxxxx,

My name is Cesar Zuniga, and I am proud to be a member of ARC's Hope and Redemption Team (HART), former California life prisoners who go back into California prisons to provide hope and rehabilitative programs to currently incarcerated people.

Last week I participated in a one-of-a-kind experience: the Sacramento Kings played a basketball game with the men inside Folsom State Prison as part of Play for Justice, presented by the REPRESENT JUSTICE ([link removed]) campaign.

Before the game, our team led a roundtable discussion with the men inside, the Kings, and formerly incarcerated members of the Represent Justice campaign. As we entered the room, no one knew who the men in suits were or why they were here until they saw me, who walked in last. Once they recognized me as someone who had been incarcerated with them, they let their guard down and began to open up about what they were experiencing. We listened to the men in blues speak about their transformation, the work they've done on themselves, their pain, triumphs, growth, and yearning for freedom. Their honesty and introspection set the stage for the night and opened the space up for us all.
Photo credit: Josh Pierce, NBA (See full gallery here) ([link removed])
You see, I paroled from Folsom in 2015 after doing 25 years in prison. It was astonishing to be stepping back inside the gates from which I exited just four years ago to finally return to my family. I was incarcerated with many of the men we shared space with and they had such hope and excitement to see me and what I had become.

Then the game tipped off. There was a concession stand, an announcer, a scoreboard, incredible energy, music, a halftime show, and a real ball. Kings coach Luke Walton even joined in and said it was the first time he played in a game in four years. The best part was seeing the men on the court and in the stands with such joy and light on their faces. For a few hours, it didn't feel like prison.

To quote Joseph Keller, star player of the night, who is currently at Folsom: “I don't want people to feel like every person in here is a villain. We want to feel like we're human. You want to go from mistake… to redemption and show people that you can be a human being and contribute to society.”
Photo credit: Josh Pierce, NBA (See full gallery here) ([link removed])
Many thanks to the Sacramento Kings, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), the NBA, Warden Rick Hill, Scott Budnick, Kristen Ingram ([link removed]) , Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, and all who made it possible. The event brought joy to so many men inside, affirming their humanity. Kelvin, one of the men incarcerated at Folsom, told me, “This will be an all-time highlight of their time here.”

And thank you for the important role you play in fueling ARC’s work. To empower us to continue HART and all of our comprehensive programs—both inside and outside prisons—I ask, humbly, that you make a generous gift today ([link removed]) .

And this is truly the season to give, because your gift will be matched ([link removed]) —doubling the impact you can have on the lives of formerly and currently incarcerated people.

Please donate today ([link removed]) to help ARC end 2019 strong.

With much gratitude,

Cesar Zuniga
ARC HART member
Donate Now ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

============================================================
Anti-Recidivism Coalition
** www.antirecidivism.org ([link removed])

Copyright © 2019 Anti Recidivism Coalition, All rights reserved.
You're receiving this because you are on our mailing list or signed up via the website.

Our mailing address is:
Anti Recidivism Coalition
1320 E. 7th Street
Suite 260
Los Angeles, CA 90021
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])