For many, a night at the cinema is a welcome way to escape reality and get lost in the magic of movies. For others who have spent years behind bars during stints of incarceration, it’s a way to recover normalcy, aliveness and a sense of community.

Members of Beyond Us & Them’s Council Reentry Program and Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative were treated to dinner and a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema DTLA. Hosted by Beyond Us & Them, in collaboration with A24, those reentering society were literally moved to tears while watching the powerful new film, Sing Sing. Based on real events connected to a rehabilitative theater program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York, Sing Sing struck a cord and “hit close to home” for those reentering society. Starring Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin, several of the film’s actors were formerly incarcerated individuals who went through the program themselves.

“I just got out – after 19 years – so when he rolled that window down and breathed in that air, it brought me back to that moment, September 5, when I got out and was on that road, on the way home.”

In addition to the film experience, participants were introduced to the transformative work of Beyond Us & Them and, after the screening, were invited into a council circle to reflect on the film and share personal stories of reentry. One theatergoer shared that he had only been home for two weeks, after 30-years of incarceration, and was deeply grateful to be sitting in community with others whose stories were so resonant with his own. Another attendee mentioned that it was nice to do something that made him feel “normal” after months of navigating the challenges that come with reentering society.

“I’ve been home about two weeks, praise God, after over 30 years… and I appreciate the community wrapping their arms around us like this. This is amazing.” 

Beyond Us & Them’s Program Manager (and former “Lifer”) Mitch Highley made attendees feel at home by sharing his story — and even recognized an old friend in the audience with whom he’d served time behind bars. After participating in Beyond Us & Them’s program while incarcerated at Ironwood Prison, Mitch received a grant of parole and has gone on to become a critical member of Beyond Us & Them’s leadership team, responsible for coordinating all of the organization’s in-prison programs throughout California.

“Being formerly incarcerated and having community inside, it was very important for me to re-create that when I came home. And it was one of the coolest things for me, showing up here and seeing a boy who I was locked up with — and he was community — and now I’m home, and now I’m welcoming him into the community! That’s what it’s about.”

— Mitch Highley, Beyond Us & Them Program Manager

The event left theatergoers feeling inspired, uplifted and celebrated in their ability to overcome adversity and empower themselves as a reentry community. Feedback from members of the Beyond Us & Them team and event attendees conveyed hope and gratitude:

• I loved sitting next to and being in a theater full of very grateful, forward-looking former inmates. The film actually very well represents the experience emotionally of being “inside.”  It portrayed both the sense of confinement, despair and fellowship of those inside, and all were moved to tears when Coleman, the lead, took a full breath of the air outside the walls of Sing Sing. My pleasure of the event was in hearing the voices of the former inmates and their joy at being treated like “just folks.” I was proud of Beyond Us & Them and our involvement in this transformative work.

• The energy in the room was incredible. Every seat was filled with people eager to engage with the film’s story and message. Amazing to see how deeply it moved people. I saw tears, heard gasps, and felt the collective emotion in the room. It was a powerful reminder of why we do this work and the impact it can have. After the film, Alea led one of those councils that goes straight to the soul. The empathy and compassion in the room were palpable. People opened up deeply and it felt like we were witnessing real healing and understanding unfold before our eyes. There was this beautiful moment when an older gentleman shared how the film made him reconsider his views on second chances. It was like watching a light bulb moment in real-time – the kind of transformation you always hope for, but rarely get to witness so clearly. After everything wrapped up, I gave one of the Council Reentry Program participants a ride home. On the way, we stopped for milk and eggs, and he couldn’t stop talking about how grateful he was for the experience. It was a beautiful reminder of how these events ripple out into people’s lives in small but significant ways. In all, the evening was full of hope, connection, and the kind of genuine human moments that make all the hard work worthwhile. 

• The movie struck so deeply for myself and many who attended. We opened with “dedications” and stories/moments that were alive for folks after watching the film. I had planned for that to be the opening but it ended up carrying us through the whole hour. As I invited folks down to the circle, I emphasized the impact and power of council – creating social connections by returning to and sharing our humanity and stories with others (referenced from a line in the film). We got circled up and I introduced the 4 intentions of council and opened with dedications — which could have easily been the whole council – they were so beautiful. The first few folks who offered dedications called in the brothers they were thinking about who were still inside and one man dedicated to the moment from the film when the main character was finally free and took that breath of fresh air when he stuck his head out the window. Many began telling mini-stories of resonance with their dedications so that’s where I went with the round. “What story is alive in you?” It flowed very well! There were laughs, tears and so much gratitude for community, resources, and freedom expressed. One formerly incarcerated participant stated that he was very “grateful for the people who welcome and open their hearts to hear stories from people like him.” Multiple men mentioned that they hadn’t been to a movie theatre since being released and how cool it was that this was being offered to them. It was truly magical!

• Ran into an old friend from ISP who had LWOP (Life Without Parole) and came home! Night was full of love and gratitude. Felt amazing and the men were full of gratitude.

• It was really everything we hoped for, with lots of attendees having only been home for a few weeks speaking to it being their first time in a theater for many years and how good it feels to be part of community coming home — while also feeling a connection to their loved ones still inside. It sounds like the film really landed with their experience. Definitely a success! 

Beyond Us & Them provides a variety of programing for system impacted populations.

Beyond Us & Them has been offering its Council for Insight, Compassion & Resilience in 29 of California’s 33 prisons for over a decade. The six-month program trains incarcerated individuals to facilitate council sessions for their peers, leaning into authentic sharing and open-hearted, non-judgmental listening, and empowering participants to become positive agents of change — on the prison yard, and in their lives. Council for Insight, Compassion & Resilience contributes to a shift of culture within jails and prisons and equips participants with tools for successful reentry and reintegration into their communities, upon release.

The Council Reentry Program works to reduce recidivism through addressing the needs of formerly incarcerated individuals who return home and commit to successful reentry. The program works in tandem with Beyond Us & Them’s in-prison programming to provide a warm handoff for individuals making the transition home and supports the needs of program participants with a customized approach that offers support services initiated during incarceration and continues throughout the release and reintegration process with case management, ongoing council sessions for participants and their families, and advanced training in council facilitation for those who have found healing in this practice and want to carry it to their communities.

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and is host to the largest number of individuals returning home from state prison.

There are so many challenges that formerly incarcerated individuals face upon release, including finding housing and employment, the stigma of being an “ex-offender” and the repair and renewal of supportive and healthy relationships with families and friends. Recognizing and overcoming old habits and avoiding reversion to “the criminal mentality” can be an enormous challenge when returning to one’s community. The culture in prison is often marked by power and aggression, resulting in maladaptive behavior and communication that is inappropriate on the outside and can lead to conflict, harm and even rearrest. The Council Reentry Program addresses these critical challenges through individualized and community-based support.

In addition to programming for system-impacted populations, Beyond Us & Them hosts the Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative, a unique network of reentry service provider organizations and their clients, partnering to promote successful reentry and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals and to reduce recidivism in Los Angeles. This initiative resources the reentry sector with powerful opportunities for networking, knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

All of the programs that Beyond Us & Them offers — including its work with law enforcement officers and other first responders, as well as educators and a variety of professional groups — take an integrative and holistic approach to the complex and multifaceted challenges faced by individuals who are experiencing marginalization and social isolation, providing and supporting resources and training in skills critical to leading a healthy, engaged and resilient life.

Want to learn more?

Watch the video of our screening of Sing Sing and the council that followed.

Find out about our other programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Find out about our work with non-profit organizations.

Learn about all of Beyond Us & Them’s programs.

Help support our essential work by becoming a donor.