ARC joined forces with international artist Rauw Alejandro’s Proyecto PaMaRa and 1Community to welcome over 100 young incarcerated men into a day of dialogue, creative expression and spiritual reflection. Through group discussions, a friendly soccer match and a “Dream Wall” activity, participants were reminded of their potential to rebuild and thrive.
Valley State Prison is one of the largest correctional facilities in California and one of the few actively supporting mentoring, emotional development, and the arts among its young population. This was the first collaboration of its kind between an artist of Rauw Alejandro’s caliber and a foundation focused on social transformation, opening the door to future initiatives with lasting impact.
“I left with more than I brought. Listening to the guys, seeing how present they were… reminded me that in the end, we’re all looking for the same things: to give and receive love, to be heard, and to feel like we still have something to offer.”
— Rauw Alejandro
“I’m proud of what we experienced. We lived the gospel in action. We witnessed God’s love in a space where we realized we are all more alike than we think,” said Paola Ocasio, director and founder of the organization.
Participant testimonies reflected the emotional depth of the day:
- “It reminded me of home, of family. It was overwhelming in the best way. It made me feel human again.”
- “Thank you for letting me be part of the team. Today was incredible.”
- “Much love to Rauw, his family, and this foundation. It was the best day ever.”
- “I can’t repay what you did for me today, but I’ll always try to give it back.”
