Anti-Recidivism Coalition
Formation | 2013 |
---|---|
Location |
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Founder | Scott Budnick |
Website | www |
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is a
History
In 1997, Budnick first became interested in juveniles in prison after reading a
In 2003, Budnick began volunteering at the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in
In 2012, Budnick was named California's Volunteer of Year by Governor Jerry Brown for a program he envisioned. After seeing kids desperate to change their lives but unable to because of California law at that time, Budnick and others launched a pilot program out of Los Angeles County where every single kid coming into the prison system—if they are doing the right things on their own—got to go to a place where they could get their high school diploma or GED, go to college classes, learn a trade, and be in self-help programs and substance-abuse programs.[1] In 2013, the program was adopted statewide.[1]
Founding
Budnick began to see many of the kids he worked with—in some of his college programs—come out of prison and going into universities, community colleges, and obtaining employment. Budnick saw a network of ex-offenders and ex-gang-members who were changing their lives. Then, Budnick and others started doing retreats where the formerly incarcerated young people would meet with mentors and lawyers, and eventually formed a private Facebook page where they organized events and provided support.[1]
In 2013, Budnick officially launched the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a formal organization of formerly-incarcerated young adults who work to support one another, and that also aims to lower the number of people flowing into the criminal justice system through policy advocacy and community organizing. Budnick said "I started to see that there was not an organization out there that had high-achieving guys coming out of prison who could articulate why hope is important and why kids deserve a second chance and why kids are different from adults."[1]
As of 2015 Robert Downey Jr. was serving on the board of the ARC.[4] In 2019, Sam Lewis was appointed executive director of Anti-Recidivism Coalition.[5]
Support network
ARC serves as a support network and a connection to services for over one hundred formerly incarcerated individuals. Members must commit to live crime-free, gang-free, drug-free, in school or working, and in service to their community. ARC provides support through mentoring, case management, internship and employment opportunities, regular support network meetings and social outings. Members receive mentoring from professional adult volunteers, known as ARC Allies, and through ARC’s Leadership Council that includes formerly incarcerated youth who are now university graduates, lawyers, engineers, politicians and other successful professionals.[6] ARC host retreats for members of the ARC network.[1][7]
Policy advocacy
ARC’s policy reform advocacy is conducted by formerly incarcerated individuals who have successfully transformed their lives.
In 2015, James Anderson, a formerly incarcerated young man and first founding staff of ARC, spoke alongside
Supporters and funding
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mechanic, Michael. "Why the Producer of "The Hangover Part III" Spends So Much Time in Prison". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ Rainey, James. "Resurrection Story Inspires on Prophet's Campaign Trail". LA Times. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ a b Mehta, Seema. "For Writers in Juvenile Hall, Sentences Can be Liberating". LA Times. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ O'Hara, Mara (June 20, 2015). "Scott Budnick, Hollywood blockbuster producer, gave it all up to reform prisons". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ "Meet Local Hero Nominee Sam Lewis". pbssocal.org. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ a b "Our Work". Anti-Recidivism Coalition. Anti-Recidivism Coalition. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ a b Katz, Jesse. "Outside Man". California Sunday. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ Mechanic, Michael. "TEDx goes to Prison". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Watch the 9-min doc of TEDxISP!". Anti-Recidivism Coalition. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ a b Lee, Kurtis. "State of the Union: Who are Michelle Obama's guests?". LA Times. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ Morrison, Aaron. "Who is Prophet Walker? Ex-Felon Turned Community Leader Invited To Obama's State Of The Union Address". International Business Times. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ Budnick, Scott; Levick, Marsha. "Mark Wahlberg Has a Problem, and He's Not the Only One". Huff Post. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ Shriver, Maria. "Producer Scott Budnick On Changing Lanes And Juvenile Justice". NBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ a b "John Legend talks justice system reform in Sacramento". News10. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ O'Hara, Mary. "Scott Budnick, Hollywood blockbuster producer, gave it all up to reform prisons". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
- ^ "ARC Board of Directors". Anti-Recidivism Coalition. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Advisory Board". Anti-Recidivism Coalition. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
Further reading
- Staff writer (3 January 2014). "This is the Beginning: An Interview with William Lopez of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition". Juvenile Justice Information Exchange. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- Budnick, Scott (12 April 2018). "From the Hangover movies to Juvenile Justice Reform". Juvenile Justice Information Exchange. Retrieved 27 July 2018 – via YouTube.
- Budnick, Scott (3 June 2014). "At California's Formidable Ironwood State Prison, Something Extraordinary Is Happening". HuffPost. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- "No Joke: Hollywood Comedy Producer Finds Career In Prison Reform". NPR. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- Kent G. Mendoza Morales (9 April 2014). "From Gangs and Gladiator School to the LA Chamber of Commerce". Anti-Recidivism Coalition. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.