The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is proud to announce the grand opening of our new headquarters—the Hope and Redemption Center in Echo Park. This groundbreaking center is designed to support formerly incarcerated individuals as they rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities.
At our grand opening, ARC’s Executive Director, Sam Lewis, shared our vision for the new space and how it will continue to redefine outcomes for formerly incarcerated people. State Senator María Elena Durazo, who helped secure funding for the center, spoke about the importance of investing in reentry services. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez welcomed ARC to the Echo Park neighborhood as a vital community-based service provider.
Thanks to generous funding from Senator Durazo and MacKenzie Scott, the Hope and Redemption Center will serve as a one-stop resource hub for Southern California’s reentry community. The center will provide workforce opportunities, wraparound services, a home base for our advocacy and organizing efforts, and a space where our members can find healing, community, and hope.
“ARC’s new headquarters will serve as a hub for the greater Southern California region as we continue to improve outcomes for formerly incarcerated people,” said Sam Lewis. “We hope the Hope and Redemption Center can be a model for successful community-based reentry as we redefine what’s possible for people returning home.”
The Hope and Redemption Center will offer an array of workforce development programs, life coaching, mentoring, and therapy, empowering individuals to take the next steps in their journey. With more people returning home every day from jails, prisons, and juvenile halls, investing in reentry services is critical to ensuring successful reintegration.
In addition to direct services, ARC’s new headquarters will also serve as a dynamic community space for formerly incarcerated individuals. The center will host community events, film screenings, advocacy and organizing workshops, job fairs, legal clinics, and much more. It will also be a space where system-impacted individuals can amplify their voices through storytelling, art, and technology.
