Who Can We Become?

Since 2018, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) has partnered with Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a non-profit that provides support and advocacy for formerly and currently incarcerated individuals with an aim to end mass incarceration and transform the criminal justice system so that it’s more equitable for all people.

Who Can We Become?

Since 2018, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) has partnered with Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a non-profit that provides support and advocacy for formerly and currently incarcerated individuals with an aim to end mass incarceration and transform the criminal justice system so that it’s more equitable for all people.

our partnership

UFEG & ARC

While it began as a non-traditional internship pipeline program, the partnership was expanded in 2021 to leverage Universal’s core strengths, talents and resources as a media company to amplify ARC’s mission. Support included providing pro-bono volunteers, making financial contributions, and most importantly, helping to change the narrative about what it means to be system impacted. 

Working closely with ARC, Universal developed a :90 second promotional spot to help change the narrative around people impacted by the criminal justice system. The goal of the PSA is to help people understand that second chances exist and people shouldn’t be defined by their past, but instead who they decide to become.

Key Highlights

 Recording artist, actor, and activist, Common, regular advocate and ally of the ARC, is the Narrator for the PSA.

The three featured talent in the PSA are ARC Members who were all system impacted and whose personal stories are the inspiration for their vignettes. 

The person who played the Production Assistant participated in the Universal Below the Line Traineeship Program on the production of NOPE, and she is currently employed as a Post Production Coordinator (Contractor) in the UFEG Marketing Department

The person who played the home renter is the father of a young child and acts as a mentor and counselor to young offenders who are in ARC rehabilitation programs.

The person playing the firefighter is a part of ARC’s Firefighters Initiative and is currently training to be a certified Firefighter.

The production was shot entirely on the Universal Lot at discounted rates by Studio Operations, and serviced by our on-lot Grip, Lighting, and Props departments, also at discounted rates. 

The crew for the production featured BIPOC members across all levels of production, and hired their PAs through the Streetlights Organization to provide additional opportunities to young people from underserved communities. 

Music in the piece was composed by Raashi Kulkarni, a member of Universal’s Composers Initiative, a program designed to support up-and-coming talent from both traditional and unconventional backgrounds for music production opportunities across the Studio

who we are

About ARC

The mission of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition is to change lives and create safe, healthy communities by providing a support and advocacy network for and by formerly incarcerated men and women. 

To accomplish this mission, ARC advocates for fair policies in the juvenile and criminal justice systems and provides support and reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals. ARC has grown into a network of more than 1,400 members, and hundreds of volunteer mentors and allies, committed to helping one another through reentry and advocating for a more equitable criminal justice system.

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