On December 10, Beyond Us & Them cohosted its latest in-person offering for the reentry community, in partnership with Transform Health, exploring the topic of community health.
Cecilia (Ceci) McLaren, Beyond Us & Them’s Community Engagement Coordinator, spoke to participants about the critical importance of community and how successful reentry and avoiding recidivism depends upon meaningful connection and networks of support. Creating structures of belonging is the focus of Beyond Us & Them’s work throughout its diverse programming, including the critical resources it provides to the Los Angeles reentry community. “What we do is connect people to each other,” Ceci explained, “So you can know who your neighbor is.”
“We have a listserv of about 636 people. So, when we have folks who are coming home, we can say, ’hey, I have someone who needs help. Can you help?’ That’s all you gotta say: ‘Hey, y’all. Hey!’ That alone can reduce recidivism. Getting to know your neighbor can reduce recidivism.”
“‘Hey, Neighbor. Hi, Neighbor.’ Say hi to each other sometime…”
“We don’t have to do this alone. And in the moments that we feel like we do, I hope you have a safe space to come to.”
“I’m up here because of Beyond Us & Them”
Ceci was followed on stage by Marcos Salcido. At 17, Marcos was sentenced to “life without parole.” While serving his sentence at Ironwood Prison, he found his way to Beyond Us & Them’s council program and started to learn new skills that led to his eventual grant of parole and the opportunity to come home to Los Angeles.
“It was a long journey. And I never gave up. You know, I surrounded myself with positive people. I started developing a good support network in prison. And in 2017, the law changed. In 2024, the court gave me a second chance at freedom. I’m up here because of Beyond Us & Them.” As one of Beyond Us & Them’s Community Outreach Liaisons, Marcos is responsible for engaging former participants eager to continue their journey with council, as well as those new to council who want to forge connections though the LA Reentry Collaborative.
The mission of the LA Reentry Collaborative is to anchor and weave a network of support amongst providers and clients of reentry services in the LA area. In addition to supporting regular council sessions at transitional housing facilities in the LA area, the Collaborative’s offerings include in-person and virtual convenings throughout the year, as well as a hosting a robust virtual community. This dynamic network integrates a wealth of resources and provides regular opportunities to convene, connect and sit in council, supporting the reentry process for hundreds of individuals throughout Los Angeles.
Support the Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative here.
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