Welcome All! To the Monthly Meeting of West Contra Costa County’s Reentry Solutions Group

1. Welcome All!To the Monthly Meetingof West Contra Costa County’sReentry Solutions Group • Tuesday, April 24, Noon to 2:00 PMBermuda Room, Civic Center, Richmond, CA

2. Our Mission The mission of theReentry Solutions Group is to help createa peaceful, safe, and supportive West Contra Costa Countyby organizing, educating, and mobilizing our communityto prevent and heal the harms related to crime and incarceration. In doing this work, we recognize and valueall members of our community, including those who are involved in the criminal justice system, victims, and families.

3. Agenda for Today

4. Where We Are Now:Joining Learning and Action • The Reentry Solutions Group isn’t a project or program: Rather, it’s a hosted opportunity to gather people together, serving as a “big tent” to help draw together dozens of local efforts, and hundreds of people, who want to improve our community by improving reintegration and healing the harmful cycle of crime, victimization, incarceration, and reentry. • The RSG started off as a gathering:Now, it’s becoming a movement.

5. Report from the Process Management Team Recap from last month’s meeting: • You voted to adopt a new mission: • The mission of the Reentry Solutions Groupis to help create a peaceful, safe, and supportive West Contra Costa Countyby organizing, educating, and mobilizing our communityto prevent and heal the harms related to crime and incarceration.In doing this work, we recognize and value all members of our community,including those who are involved in the criminal justice system, victims, and families. You voted to adopt a Steering Committee to help guide the process. You voted to adopt a voting and membership structure: You voted that the Steering Committee will have 13 members,comprised of the Project Managers, the Team Captains of the Momentum Teams, and at large members. If you want to be able to vote on issues, you must be a member. To become a member, you must participate in at least 50% of meetings from January 2012 and sign an agreement affirming the values and purpose of the RSG. Note: This requirement requires two modifications to be drafted by the Steering Committee:First, to figure out how to allow membership for people who are new to the process. Second, to draft the agreement of values and purpose, to be approved by the members.

6. Research Report on One Stop Reentry Models • Report offered by • Safe Return Team Members Andres Abarra, Clarence Ford, Sam Luna, Jonathan Perez, and LaVern Vaughn

7. Community-based research on models for reentry services • April 24, 2012 7

8. Our Ongoing Efforts • Expanding ‘ban the box’ to city vendors. • Partnering with service providers to design the Richmond First-Stop Welcoming Center. • Increasing job opportunities for formerly incarcerated people. • Developing a strong base of men and women and their families who have been affected by incarceration and violence.

9. Case study research • Goal: learn about promising models for reentry services in other communities. • Approach: • Talked with Richmond residents and service providers to identify respected services in other communities. • Developed research questions based on the needs we identified in our prior research survey. • Visited 3 sites and interviewed program directors: NoVA, Resources Match, and New Horizons. • Wrote a case study on each service model.

10. No Violence Alliance, NoVA (San Francisco) • Focuses on violent offenders re-entering community, funded by county through sheriff. • Provides housing, case management, and flexible funding for client needs. • “Flex fund” customizes services to individual necessities. • On-site and off-site free housing for a minimum of 90 days.

11. Resources Match (San Francisco) • Internet tool that connects you with service providers and is tailored to your individual needs. • Like filling out a job application, then you are shown contact info for services you’re eligible for. • Easy to access and up to date • No way to track clients’ experience with services after referral

12. New Horizons (Rodeo, CA) • Drop-in center where you register, are assigned case manager and then can utilize services. • Offers referrals, job and life skill development, computer access, job fairs, work clothes for re-entering and other community members. • Multiple services at single location • Did not track client recidivism rates and other outcomes.

13. Upcoming Community Action • Saturday, May 12th • 10:30am to 12:30pm • Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church • 684 Juliga Woods Street in Richmond

14. Update on the One Stop Planning Process • Report offered by • Jessie Warner, Rubicon Programs • If interested in attending the meeting on 5/3, contact Laneisha@Furtherthework.com from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM • from 10:30 to 12:30

15. Shared Learning • There’s a name for what we’re doing! • When we build bothrelationships and skills, we’re building what’s called social capital. • Social capital allows people to resolve collective problems more easily. • When people are trusting and trustworthy, and when they repeatedly interact with other people, everyday interactions and actions are easier. • Social capital widens our awareness of the many ways in which our lives are linked. • Next month’s training in momentum teams is designed to help build our social capital. • By gathering together a large group of local people who will develop a shared skill that can be used consistently in many areas of our community, this training will support the development of a common culture of capacity for change. • This training can help build our social capital.

16. We Want You!! • Is this you?Do you already serve as an informal or formal community organizer? For example, active participants in an organized activity undertaken by a church group or a neighborhood council might fit this description. • Is this you?We are looking for people who are recognized as natural leaders with the power to persuade and influence others in the community to join in an effort. For example, community members who are seen as a “go to” resource for leadership on neighborhood issues within the community might fit this description. • Is this you?We are looking for people who have expertise in other methods of community organizing techniques. For example, community members who know how to structure bonded groups and organize a defined campaign chart complete with power mapping might fit this description. • Is this you?We are looking for people whose organizations are already involved in coordinated actioninvolving a set of collaborative members. For example, community members whose organizations are working toward a shared outcome might fit this description. • Is this you?We are looking for peoplewho arespecifically interested in developing their skills and disciplines in techniques of community organizing, to use as an ongoing tool in their daily lives. For example, community members who are frequently involved in undertaking coordinated action or advocacy might fit this description.

17. Next Month’s Training: The 411 • Training is conducted by Mid-City Community Advocacy Network • The goal is to add to the collective community-organizing tool-kit • It will be May 30 & 31, all day, both days, location to be determined • We have room for 60 participants from across the community • There is no cost to participate in the training • Applications should be made by teams of 2-3people • Each team must submit a single application that identifies the team’s members and explains why they are coming together for this opportunity • Applications are due by 5 PM on Friday, May 4, 2012 • Applications are available by download athttp://reentrysolutionsgroup.org/ or by email/phone: Laneisha@FurtherTheWork.com, 510 243-0110

18. Stay Involved! Invite Others! • Reentry Solutions Group at a Glance: • How Often: Last Tuesday of every month • What Time: Noon to 2:00 PM • Place: Bermuda Room, Civic Center, courtesy of the City and ONS • Momentum Team Training: May 30 and 31, 2012 • Next regular meeting: June 26, 2012 • Be an electronic pioneer: Join the virtual community discussion group at http://furtherthoughts.ning.com • Download these slides at furtherthework.com/publications.html • To sign up: Text reentry to 22828