MLK- Day of Service at Bridges Outreach - In Pictures

REENTRY FILM SERIES SCREENING AT BRIDGES OUTREACH ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE

Voices of Hope Productions is pleased to be screening the Reentry Film Series on Monday, January 17th as part of a Martin Luther King - Day of Service at Bridges Outreach, in Summit New Jersey.

Youth and adults will come together to participate in various volunteer activities, including wrapping books and gifts, making quilts for sheltered children, sorting donations and toiletries, making brown bag lunches and creating a letter writing campaign.

Bridges began in 1988 with just one suburban couple. Today, Bridges’ Outreach includes over 1,500 kind and caring volunteers delivering over 100,000 bagged brown lunches, 40,000 breakfast bags, literally tons of clothing and toiletries and other necessities each year.

Their special program is called the Bridges' Run, where they visit with street friends. At each Run stop, volunteers distribute clothing and toiletry items, serve soup and a beverage, and ensure that every street friend who visits the truck receives what they need. Most important, volunteers mingle with Bridges' street friends and share conversation. The bond established during the Run has enduring value for both volunteers and street friends.

Bridges' staff is responsible for scheduling and managing more than 160 Runs each year, reaching out to 500 to 700 homeless friends every week, in Newark, Irvington and New York City.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day of Service
at Bridges Outreach
Monday, January 17, 2011
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
120 Morris Avenue
Summit, New Jersey

Film screening to begin at 11:00 am with discussion to follow.

Directions or for more information


The Reentry Films Series includes three short films: A Failed System, Nowhere to Go and Healing Justice: Transformed Lives. The American Friends Service Committee and Voices of Hope Productions joined forces to support, through the medium of film, community groups and policy organizations devoted to men and women returning home after incarceration. American Friends Service Committtee and Voices of Hope Productions encourages you and your organization to use each of these films with the FREE accompanying screening guide and advocacy toolkit to further your organization’s goal of developing thriving communities and productive lives of dignity.

TWO NEW REENTRY FILMS NOW ONLINE

The July 26 reentry film screening brought over 90 people to the Paul Robeson Center at Rutgers Newark to see two new reentry films, Nowhere to Go and Healing Justice: Transformed Lives. It was great to see so many people come out to support the films. After the screening the audience discussed using the films as part of a communications strategy to engage others in understanding the issues of reentry, and through dialogue helping to solve the problems in communities throughout New Jersey.

Elizabeth Enloe, American Friends Service Committee Regional Director and I spoke with the group about the associated screening guide and advocacy toolkit and asked for feedback on ways that people could use the films in their communities.

Rafiq Saleem, who came to the screening after having been released from prison just that day said, "I appreciate programs such as this and really encourage the outside world to get more involved. I believe these films should be given to every house in the 'hood' so that the young gang members, the pregnant women—no fathers, no mother figures—they should see these films because this is a form of encouragement."

After viewing the films a survey was conducted and two thirds of the audience participated. 92% responded that the films "clearly explained the issues", and more than three quarters said the film educated them on the issues and provided them with ways to get involved.

Participants were encouraged to use the films in multiple ways. The screening guide and advocacy toolkit provide a road map for holding screenings and engaging varied audiences in grassroots solutions to reentry problems throughout the state.

The films can be used in suburban and rural areas to educate the public and help them understand how they are impacted by the costs and public safety issues associated with the revolving door of incarceration. Arthur Townes, Alumni Director from Community Education Centers (CEC) stood up after the screening and said, "I think these films create a message of hope. They can be used to inspire others and to expose a light on the issues around reentry in communities that don't necessarily see this as a problem."

Youth and adults in the prison system are a good audience for Healing Justice: Transformed Lives. Michael Jackson, Founder of Prison Nation Radio (www.jointfx.com) who was interviewed for the film stated, "Personally the thing that made me believe I could do it was when I saw someone else who had done it. Films like this about people who have been successful need to go to the people inside [prison] because once people see others saying that it can be done--that's when people can do it on their own—so that they can start their healing."

Additionally, one third of the people who participated in the survey said they were interested in hosting a screening in their community and a third said they would contact their elected officials.

A comprehensive screening guide and advocacy toolkit are in development and when complete the package will include:

• Screening Guide: Background and Discussion Questions

• Potential Audiences/Partners

• Invitation Poster/Flyer

• Sign-in Sheets

• Event Press Release Template and Video Clip Photos

• HANDOUT: Become Involved Action Sheet

• HANDOUT: Fact Sheet/Resources

• Letter to Editor Template

• Legislative Action Sheet

• Petition

• Youtube Video

• Audience Surveys

Please share the videos widely, embed them in your websites and blogs, and create a social media buzz. Updated information will be available on the Voices of Hope website and on AFSC's website as well. To host a screening in your community email voices@voicesofhope.tv for a free DVD, screening guide and advocacy toolkit.

Thank you for your attention to this very important issue!

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The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Our work is based on the principles of the Religious Society of Friends, the belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.

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Supporting Organizations

New Jersey Institute For Social Justice

Integrity House

Women Who Never Give Up

No Where to Go and Healing Justice: Transformed Lives were made with generous funding from the New Jersey Department of State/Office of Faith Based Initiatives.

VOICES OF HOPE PRODUCTIONS AND AFSC LAUNCHING 2 REENTRY FILMS

Voices of Hope Productions and American Friends Service Committee with Integrity House, New Jersey Institute For Social Justice and Women Who Never Give Up, Inc.

Invite you to a

SCREENING OF TWO REENTRY FILMS AND THE LAUNCH OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOOLS

WHEN: Monday, July 26th, 2010, 4:00 to 6:00 PM

WHERE: Paul Robeson Campus Center, Rutgers University, 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Newark, NJ-07102 Directions

This event will interest stakeholders committed to overcoming the challenges to reentry for formerly incarcerated persons.

Please RSVP by email: ZEaton@afsc.org or phone 212-598-0950.

ABOUT THE SHORT FILMS

No Where to Go highlights the need for and barriers to safe, stable housing. Through testimonies of impassioned advocates and previously incarcerated individuals, this video presents the options of housing including streets, shelters, transitional living facilities, family homes, and permanent supportive housing. As formally incarcerated people are often challenged by issues of addiction, mental health, and violence, the type of housing available to a person drastically impacts their ability to successfully re-enter society and realize their full potential. No Where To Go provides urgent and critical insight into how we can provide the best supportive structure possible to ensure their success.

Healing Justice: Transformed Lives gives voice to a remarkable group of formerly incarcerated men and women who have overcome extreme adversity and successfully turned their lives around upon release from prison. Many of the individuals interviewed wrestled with drug addiction, homelessness, and recidivism. Now they are advocates and role models, helping others make the difficult transition from prison to the outside world. Their stories provide a road map to others struggling to reintegrate, and as a guide to their friends, families, and allies wishing to provide critical assistance. As dire as life after prison can be, the women and men in Healing Justice: Transformed Lives offer hope and a glimpse of a better future for all those making this journey.

Copies of the videos will be distributed for individual and organizational use.

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The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Our work is based on the principles of the Religious Society of Friends, the belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.

Copies of the videos will be distributed for individual and organizational use.

“Bottom line--if you don’t do something to ease up all these barriers and restrictions on people who are trying to do the right thing, that keeps kicking them back down, then public safety is going to suffer and people are going to suffer.” Michael B. Jackson, Founder/President – Prison Nation Radio

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"We’re just advocating for those who want to make a change in their life, who want an opportunity." Harvey George, President/Founder – Friends of the Lifer’s Youth Corp, Inc.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Integrity House

New Jersey Institute For Social Justice

Women Who Never Give Up, Inc.

DOCUMENTARY SERIES: BRICK CITY

If you live in New Jersey, this documentary series on the Sundance Channel shouldn't be missed. BRICK CITY is a five-part documentary series that fans out around the city of Newark, New Jersey to capture the daily drama of a community striving to become a better, safer, stronger place to live. Against great odds, Newark’s citizens and its Mayor, Cory A. Booker, fight to raise the city out of nearly a half century of violence, poverty and corruption. In the five one-hour episodes of BRICK CITY, the lives of Mayor Booker, citizens on the front lines, and key figures re-making the city – from developers to ex-gang members - intertwine in a portrait of a city at a critical moment in history. Produced by Forrest Whitaker. Airs every night this week, 10 pm - Sundance Channel. Also available on demand. Don't miss it.