Contributed by Kelly Marre
Building healthy connections between releasing inmates and community members is extremely important. I would like to formally invite you to the first-ever Mat-Su Reentry Fair for reentrants who have released from incarceration in the past twelve months.
This exciting event will take place at True North Recovery Center from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on March 20, 2020. This reentry fair is my Capstone Project for my Master's in Social Work degree through the University of Alaska, Anchorage. I believe that after making healthy connections at the reentry fair, there will be a positive increase in connectivity between community members and those who are reentering the community after incarceration. The event will aid the reentrant in recovery, support, and employment. The long-term goal is for the reentrant to become a contributing member of society and reduce recidivism rates.
According to the Research Analyst for the Department of Corrections, the Mat-Su Valley had the second-highest releases into the community after incarceration, with 727 men and women returning to the community in 2018 (M. Matthews, personal communication, June 19, 2019). This number accounts for 727 people who may be experiencing a loss of connectivity due to lengthy incarceration, stigma from their crime, broken family relationships, or failure to make a healthy connection with others. 95% of offenders will be released from incarceration. They are going to be our neighbors. Do we want to help them be good neighbors? If so, we need to show them love, grace, and support.
During the event, there will be a keynote speaker sharing his story of success after serving almost 20 years in prison. Additionally, there will be several breakout sessions offering reentrants classes on budgeting, interview skills, mindfulness, art therapy, and an Alaska Native cultural activity. There will also be free haircuts, and reentrants will be able to take home donated professional clothes for interviews and employment, and local group, “Newsense,” will bring music of hope and recovery.
Evidence shows that the increased recidivism rates are linked to failure to reintegrate into the community because of barriers of limited availability of housing and employment, transportation, and relationships with family and others. Drug convictions can further limit reentrants from accessing food stamps, public assistance, and federal funding for higher education. Felony convictions preclude employment in many occupations.
There is overwhelming evidence that social stigma and community isolation significantly affects people reentering society after incarceration. If there is limited community support, how can we expect people to change behaviors? It is essential to give reentrants a sense of belonging and to encourage them to think of themselves as people who have value and purpose and who can indeed contribute to their community. It is crucial to cease the labeling of the reentrant. Rather than referring to them as "felons, ex-convicts, drug addicts, thieves, etc., "we can refer to this population of people as merely "reentrants," as they are reentering society after incarceration. Negative labels only weigh people down. This population is being offered another chance to be successful.
If you would like to participate in this event as a reentrant or community member, please contact me at 521-2800 or by email at kellymarre5@gmail.com. We certainly need landlords and employers willing to offer second chances to reentrants, as well as mentors for those reentering our community. I am also looking for practical door prizes for reentrants such as cab vouchers, free haircuts, gift certificates for food, inspirational books and journals, and more. Additionally, we could use more professional clothing and shoes for men and women. All clothing needs to be in good condition and cleaned before drop- off.
I sincerely hope that this event will bless the reentrants returning to our community. Every single person deserves respect and another chance. By offering our support and services, we can provide that support so they may feel valued and supported in our community.
If you are a reentrant, please join us! This event is for YOU!
