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Welcome All!To the Monthly Meeting

of West Contra Costa County’sReentry Solutions Group

Tuesday, April 24, Noon to 2:00 PMBermuda Room, Civic Center, Richmond, CA

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Our Mission

The mission of the Reentry Solutions Group is to help createa peaceful, safe, and supportive West Contra Costa County

by 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.

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Agenda for Today

12:00-12:20 Settling In, Who’s In the Room? (Susun Kim)

12:20-12:30 Where We Are Now, and Why (Rebecca Brown)

12:30-12:45 Update from the Process Management Team (Susun Kim)

12:45-1:05 Research on additional one stop reentry models (Safe Return Team)

1:05-1:15 Update on the local one stop design process (Jessie Warner)

1:15-1:55Shared Learning: Concept of Social Capital and Group CapacityMomentum Team Training: Reason, Goals and Process (Rebecca & Laneisha)

1:55-2:00 Closing

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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.

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Report from the Process Management Team

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 County

by 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.

Recap from last month’s meeting:

You voted to adopt a voting and membership structure:

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.

You voted to adopt a Steering Committee to help guide the process.

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.

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Research Report on One Stop Reentry Models

Report offered bySafe Return Team Members Andres Abarra, Clarence Ford, Sam Luna, Jonathan Perez, and LaVern Vaughn

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Community-based research on models for reentry servicesApril 24, 2012

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.

Our Ongoing EffortsOur Ongoing Efforts

Goal: learn about promising models for reentry services in other communities.Approach:

1.Talked with Richmond residents and service providers to identify respected services in other communities. 2.Developed research questions based on the needs we identified in our prior research survey.3.Visited 3 sites and interviewed program directors: NoVA, Resources Match, and New Horizons.4.Wrote a case study on each service model.

Case study researchCase study research

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.

No Violence Alliance, NoVA (San Francisco)No Violence Alliance, NoVA (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 dateNo way to track clients’ experience with services after referral

Resources Match (San Francisco)Resources Match (San Francisco)

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 locationDid not track client recidivism rates and other outcomes.

New Horizons (Rodeo, CA)New Horizons (Rodeo, CA)

Saturday, May 12th

10:30am to 12:30pmBethlehem Missionary Baptist Church684 Juliga Woods Street in Richmond

Upcoming Community ActionUpcoming Community Action

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Update on the One Stop Planning Process

Report offered byJessie Warner, Rubicon Programs

If interested in attending the meeting on 5/3, contact Laneisha@Furtherthework.com from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PMfrom 10:30 to 12:30

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Shared LearningThere’s a name for what we’re doing!

1.When we build both relationships and skills, we’re building what’s called social capital.

1. Social capital allows people to resolve collective problems more easily.

2. When people are trusting and trustworthy, and when they repeatedly interact with other people, everyday interactions and actions are easier.

3. 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.

1. 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.

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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 action involving 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 people who are specifically 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.

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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 2-3 people

•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 at http://reentrysolutionsgroup.org/ or by email/phone: Laneisha@FurtherTheWork.com, 510 243-0110

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Stay Involved! Invite Others!

To sign up: Text reentry to 22828

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