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ARRO
Advocacy, Re-entry, Resources and Outreach (ARRO) is a
branch of our Outreach Program that connects ex-offenders
and their friends and families to quality resources to ensure
successful community reintegration. Click here for our
brochure!
AN AMAZING JOURNEY
In April of 2011, ARRO was blessed to get funding from the
Presbyterian Church, Self Development of People to do the
advocating that we have wanted to do for years. Part of that
funding was to do the "Ban the Box", which we called "Fair
Chance Coalition to Ban the Box Campaign".
For the past 7 months we worked very hard to put together our
state side kick off event for the legislation we are working on.
With the help of the Legislative Black Caucus, and Cooley
Law School, On January 17th, 2012 we had Michelle
Alexander come to Lansing where she spoke at Cooley Law
School about her book "The New Jim Crow".
We had an amazing event, lots of great publicity, we have
been invited to do radio announcements all over the state.
Our Fair Chance Coalition to Ban the Box is going strong and
our phone doesn't stop ringing with people that want to be
involved. Thank you SDOP for giving us the opportunity to
make our dreams come true, To Sherie Davy of the Michigan
Legislative Black Caucus, you were our angel, Cooley Law
School we thank you for this opportunity to bring Professor
Alexander to Lansing, and a special thanks to Laura Sager for
planting the seeds and growing them into beautiful amazing
event.
CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR A VARIETY OF VIDEOS AND
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JasIfLx3_kY&feature=youtube
www.freep.
com/article/20120120/OPINION01/201200347/Editorial-A-tiny-
box-can-unfairly-slam-doors-on-ex-offenders
www.tncp.
net/Articles/tabid/1800/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3173/Au
thor-Discusses-The-New-Jim-Crow.aspx
www.wilx.
com/home/headlines/Michigan_Lawmakers_Trying_to_Ban_
Criminal_History_Questions_on_Job_Apps_137520378.
html#.TxZFuVPOkXY.facebook
www.wlns.com/story/16536294/ban-the-box-legislation-
introduced-at-capitol
www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.
ssf/2012/01/muskegon_county_changes_job-ap.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NO6-
xQSggw&feature=share&noredirect=
www.tncp.
net/Articles/tabid/1800/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3173/Au
thor-Discusses-The-New-Jim-Crow.aspx
www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-13-
2012/michelle-alexander-extended-interview/10104/
branch of our Outreach Program that connects ex-offenders
and their friends and families to quality resources to ensure
successful community reintegration. Click here for our
brochure!
AN AMAZING JOURNEY
In April of 2011, ARRO was blessed to get funding from the
Presbyterian Church, Self Development of People to do the
advocating that we have wanted to do for years. Part of that
funding was to do the "Ban the Box", which we called "Fair
Chance Coalition to Ban the Box Campaign".
For the past 7 months we worked very hard to put together our
state side kick off event for the legislation we are working on.
With the help of the Legislative Black Caucus, and Cooley
Law School, On January 17th, 2012 we had Michelle
Alexander come to Lansing where she spoke at Cooley Law
School about her book "The New Jim Crow".
We had an amazing event, lots of great publicity, we have
been invited to do radio announcements all over the state.
Our Fair Chance Coalition to Ban the Box is going strong and
our phone doesn't stop ringing with people that want to be
involved. Thank you SDOP for giving us the opportunity to
make our dreams come true, To Sherie Davy of the Michigan
Legislative Black Caucus, you were our angel, Cooley Law
School we thank you for this opportunity to bring Professor
Alexander to Lansing, and a special thanks to Laura Sager for
planting the seeds and growing them into beautiful amazing
event.
CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR A VARIETY OF VIDEOS AND
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JasIfLx3_kY&feature=youtube
www.freep.
com/article/20120120/OPINION01/201200347/Editorial-A-tiny-
box-can-unfairly-slam-doors-on-ex-offenders
www.tncp.
net/Articles/tabid/1800/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3173/Au
thor-Discusses-The-New-Jim-Crow.aspx
www.wilx.
com/home/headlines/Michigan_Lawmakers_Trying_to_Ban_
Criminal_History_Questions_on_Job_Apps_137520378.
html#.TxZFuVPOkXY.facebook
www.wlns.com/story/16536294/ban-the-box-legislation-
introduced-at-capitol
www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.
ssf/2012/01/muskegon_county_changes_job-ap.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NO6-
xQSggw&feature=share&noredirect=
www.tncp.
net/Articles/tabid/1800/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3173/Au
thor-Discusses-The-New-Jim-Crow.aspx
www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-13-
2012/michelle-alexander-extended-interview/10104/
| nwi |
| NorthWest Initiative - North Neighborhood Center 530 W. Ionia St., Suite D, Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: 517-999-2894 Fax: 517-999-2897 |
| The ARRO program hosts an annual Prison Poetry Project. Inmate poetry is read by prominent community leaders and all monies raised go to support our ex-offender program. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THIS GREAT PROJECT! |
| Why is ARRO Important to the Community? Between 600,000 and 700,000 people complete prison sentences each year and return to communities all across America. Helping ex-prisoners succeed serves the interests of both offenders and communities. Communities are safer and victimization is reduced when offenders succeed. Peggy Burke and Micheal Tonry, in a publication for the Lansing based Center for Effective Public Policy put it this way: "Ex-prisoners who fail, generate new victims, reduce public safety, and create enormous costs to process and punish their new crimes and technical violations. They also diminish their own lives damage the lives of their families and loved ones. Everyone loses. Ex-prisoners who succeed spare the rest of us those costs but also contribute to their communities, support themselves and their families, and improve thier own lives. Everyone wins." The Ex-offender Outreach Program at NorthWest Initiative, with the help of the community, wants to make sure that "everyone wins!" |
"ARRO" Thinking outside the box ~
Eliminating the barriers that bind us
Click the links below to hear Dr. Alexander widely acclaimed speaker and author of the book
“The New Jim Crow” as she kicks-off the “Fair Chance Coalition” campaign. Ms. Alexander
speaks on employment and other consequences of a criminal conviction and how barriers to
employment for individuals hurt our communities, families, and taxpayers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NO6-xQSggw
www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/mass-incarceration-in-the-age-of-colorblindness
Click here to watch another video about ARRO straight from the board!
ARRO's Annual Prison Poetry Project
The ARRO program hosts an annual Prison Poetry Project. Inmate poetry is read by prominent
community leaders and all monies raised go to support our ex-offender program. Click here for
photos, poems and more!
Ban-The-Box
For the past few years, A.R.R.O has tried to get some momentum going for a city ordinance
called “Ban the Box”. Many other cities have attempted to adopt it. Kalamazoo has been the first
city in Michigan to do so. The ordinance requires the removal of the box on job applications that
asks if you have ever been convicted of a felony. This ordinance would eliminate the practice of
applications being automatically thrown into the trash with out proper consideration, a practice
that discriminates against ex-offenders. This ordinance would allow a fair consideration of an
individual based on work experience and education rather than just on their previous convictions.
Once selected for a job interview the ex-offender can let the employer know of their past record
and how he or she has been rehabilitated. At this point, the employer can choose to run a
background check on the person and negotiate terms of employment if he or she is the best
candidate for the job. We all make mistakes, some worse than others, but we all need a job to
make a living and not be a burden on society. Without the support of our community, we can’t get
these laws and ordinances changed without you. To find out how you can help please call
Monica at 517-999-2894.
ARRO Wants to Challenge our Business Community
Recently, ARRO attended a working meeting for re-entry issues at the State Bar Association. It
was amazing to listen to how Grand Rapids and Cascade Engineering have made great strides
to open doors for employment for returning citizens. The business community in Detroit also
brought a voice to this meeting, by combating the monies being spent in corrections.
As the State Capitol of Michigan, it is time that Lansing and Ingham County work toward setting
an example in the employment barrier for returning citizens. They are coming back to the
community - a fact that we can not ignore. It would be beneficial for our community to open their
arms to give ex-felons a chance at a new life. They have done their time and learned from their
mistakes. Therefore, we at ARRO challenge our community to make the same strides as Grand
Rapids. You can help by looking at the actual benefits of hiring an ex-felon and by making more
of an effort to hire them. For more information, please contact Monica at (517) 999-2894.
Eliminating the barriers that bind us
Click the links below to hear Dr. Alexander widely acclaimed speaker and author of the book
“The New Jim Crow” as she kicks-off the “Fair Chance Coalition” campaign. Ms. Alexander
speaks on employment and other consequences of a criminal conviction and how barriers to
employment for individuals hurt our communities, families, and taxpayers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NO6-xQSggw
www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/mass-incarceration-in-the-age-of-colorblindness
Click here to watch another video about ARRO straight from the board!
ARRO's Annual Prison Poetry Project
The ARRO program hosts an annual Prison Poetry Project. Inmate poetry is read by prominent
community leaders and all monies raised go to support our ex-offender program. Click here for
photos, poems and more!
Ban-The-Box
For the past few years, A.R.R.O has tried to get some momentum going for a city ordinance
called “Ban the Box”. Many other cities have attempted to adopt it. Kalamazoo has been the first
city in Michigan to do so. The ordinance requires the removal of the box on job applications that
asks if you have ever been convicted of a felony. This ordinance would eliminate the practice of
applications being automatically thrown into the trash with out proper consideration, a practice
that discriminates against ex-offenders. This ordinance would allow a fair consideration of an
individual based on work experience and education rather than just on their previous convictions.
Once selected for a job interview the ex-offender can let the employer know of their past record
and how he or she has been rehabilitated. At this point, the employer can choose to run a
background check on the person and negotiate terms of employment if he or she is the best
candidate for the job. We all make mistakes, some worse than others, but we all need a job to
make a living and not be a burden on society. Without the support of our community, we can’t get
these laws and ordinances changed without you. To find out how you can help please call
Monica at 517-999-2894.
ARRO Wants to Challenge our Business Community
Recently, ARRO attended a working meeting for re-entry issues at the State Bar Association. It
was amazing to listen to how Grand Rapids and Cascade Engineering have made great strides
to open doors for employment for returning citizens. The business community in Detroit also
brought a voice to this meeting, by combating the monies being spent in corrections.
As the State Capitol of Michigan, it is time that Lansing and Ingham County work toward setting
an example in the employment barrier for returning citizens. They are coming back to the
community - a fact that we can not ignore. It would be beneficial for our community to open their
arms to give ex-felons a chance at a new life. They have done their time and learned from their
mistakes. Therefore, we at ARRO challenge our community to make the same strides as Grand
Rapids. You can help by looking at the actual benefits of hiring an ex-felon and by making more
of an effort to hire them. For more information, please contact Monica at (517) 999-2894.