Today, the Board of Directors of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition announces Sam Lewis’s decision to step down after six years as Executive Director and over 10 years with the organization, effective as of April 30, 2025. To ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition, Sam will continue working with ARC in a consulting role from May 1 through October 31, 2025. 

As Sam stated in his transition letter to the Board: “This decision—though not easy—is what’s best for my family and me at this time.” We respect Sam’s decision and extend our deepest gratitude to Sam for his visionary leadership and for his generous agreement to stay on as a consulting partner.  

During his tenure, Sam led ARC through both challenges and milestones with unwavering dedication, compassion, and vision.  Under Sam’s leadership, ARC recently secured a permanent home — the ARC Hope and Redemption Center — that stands not only as his legacy but as a testament to the organization’s growth and future. Sam’s fundraising efforts have made significant contributions to support ARC programming across the organization. Significantly, he created and expanded our HART (Hope and Redemption Team) program, strengthening support for individuals inside prison and returning home and deepening ARC’s impact across the state. Most recently, Sam was a tireless advocate for incarcerated firefighters during the devastating wildfires – raising more than $1.8 million for the Firefighter Fund and ensuring that the courage and service of these individuals did not go unseen. He also expanded our Apprenticeship Readiness Program beyond Los Angeles to include San Bernardino, Riverside, and Sacramento counties, and launched programming in the Federal Bureau of Prisons—introducing Hope and Redemption services into federal facilities for the first time. He established the Credible Messenger Program inside four Los Angeles County juvenile halls, and two fire camps in Pine Grove and Georgetown. 

In addition to these significant accomplishments, Sam has maintained ARC’s financial and organizational strength, ensuring long-term sustainability for the next chapter of our mission. Under his leadership, our staff grew from 54 to 170 employees, 80 percent of whom are formerly incarcerated. He also oversaw improvements to staff compensation and benefits, adding a 401(k) with 3 percent matching, free medical coverage, and increased entry-level pay. He built a one-year reserve fund to ensure our financial health and stability. Finally, he was an integral part of the creation of our five-year strategic plan, which he will help us to launch this July.  

Sam’s contributions have been profound and lasting. He has helped shape ARC into the strong, mission-driven organization it is today, and we are deeply grateful for the legacy he leaves behind. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sam for his years of service and we wish him the very best on the road ahead. 

We encourage you to read his letter to our ARC community below: 

Dear ARC Community, Allies and Partners: 

After prayer and thoughtful reflection, I’ve made the decision to step down as Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, effective April 30, 2025. This decision—though not easy—is what’s best for my family and me at this time. To ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition, I will continue working with ARC in a consulting role. We have amazing directors, managers and staff who live this mission 24/7, so I am incredibly optimistic about the future of ARC.  

My journey with ARC began ten years ago as our very first Life Coach. At the time, I could only imagine the impact we would go on to have. Since then, I’ve had the honor of helping transform ARC from a passionate vision into a nationally recognized model of hope, healing, and opportunity. 
 
Mentoring young people has been a dream of mine since I was 21 years old in Soledad Prison. That dream came to life through the Credible Messenger Mentoring Program, which I helped launch and scale across California. In 2016, the Hope and Redemption Team was just an idea. Today, it operates in all 31 California state prisons, reaching thousands of incarcerated individuals each year with messages of transformation and second chances. 
 
When I stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2019, I never could have predicted the world events we’d face—the COVID-19 pandemic, the global response to the murder of George Floyd, and the many challenges that came with them. Together, we adapted, we stood strong, and we supported our members, staff, and incarcerated communities during some of the hardest times in recent history. 
 
Over the last six years under my leadership, ARC has:  

  • Grown from 54 to 170 employees, 80% of whom are formerly incarcerated.  
  • Expanded our Apprenticeship Readiness Program beyond Los Angeles to include San Bernardino, Riverside, and Sacramento counties.  
  • Launched programming in the Federal Bureau of Prisons—introducing Hope and Redemption services into federal facilities for the first time.  
  • Established the Credible Messenger Program inside four Los Angeles County juvenile halls, and two fire camps in Pine Grove and Georgetown.  
  • Improved staff compensation and benefits, adding a 401(k) with 3% matching, free medical coverage, and increased entry-level pay.  
  • Purchased two permanent buildings to house the ARC Hope and Redemption Center—a bold, physical representation of what reentry and transformation should look like.  
  • Maintained financial strength, ensuring long-term sustainability for the next chapter of ARC’s mission.  

I am proud of all I’ve accomplished over the past six years as Executive Director, which would not have been possible without the significant contributions of every staff member, every partner, and every single person who believed in the mission of ARC. 
 
This role has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I’ve witnessed dreams realized, lives transformed, and a movement built on love, redemption, and resilience. ARC is stronger than ever, and I have every confidence in the team that will carry this vision forward. 
 
Thank you for your trust, your support, and your shared commitment to this powerful work. I will always be part of this family—and will forever carry the spirit of ARC with me. 
 
With deep gratitude and love, 

Sam Lewis
Executive Director
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)