ARCH IN THE NEWS
House of Redemption Gives Formerly-Incarcerated a Fresh Start, Equal Opportunities
September 27, 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — It’s the kind of day that makes you want to open the windows. The sun is out, but the air is cool and crisp with a light breeze outside, making the inside of this new container home feel even more peaceful.
That feeling of serenity is, by design, in the rich dark blue color of the walls and the soothing textures found in each corner of this home.
Pastor Cynthia Burse knew this was the right mood for the home’s future residents. They will be two individuals moving through one of the most vulnerable and complex times of their lives. READ MORE
National Awareness: Paying Forward the Joy of Sobriety
September 24, 2024
As an undergraduate at Marymount College of Kansas in the late 1970s, Tom Gregoire got the help he needed for alcohol and drug addiction thanks to one of his professors being open about his own recovery journey. The professor’s willingness to break the stigma—a rarity at the time—inspired Gregoire to ask for help. READ MORE
ARCH Recognized in Honor of National Reentry Week
April 29, 2024
Thank you to Councilwoman Shayla D. Favor and the Columbus City Council for recognizing ARCH Reentry tonight in honor of National Reentry Week. We are grateful for your support in our work to help individuals returning home from incarceration change their lives. ARCH is daily helping people plan their reentry, obtain employment, secure housing and link with reentry resources. Shout out to the ARCH staff for your amazing work, deserving of this honor!
In 2022, a woman named Shan Shan Burkett from Escambia County, Alabama, was given a second chance that transformed her life. Shan Shan had a history of incarceration for a drug-related crime, on top of addiction issues, strained family relations and outstanding legal fees. READ MORE
The Number of Incarcerated Women Continues to Rise
April 24th 2023
The number of women heading to prison continues to rise. Until very recently, incarcerated women were outpacing men by a two-to-one margin. The drug epidemic is playing a role in sending more women to jail, with poverty and tougher penalties keep them confined for longer. More than half of incarcerated women have children at home. We look at the challenges women face in prison and once they are released. LISTEN HERE
Proponents Suggest Tweaks For Inmate ID Card Bill
February 27, 2024
A plan to ensure former prisoners have documents needed to enter the workforce could be improved with a few minor changes, a handful of proponents told a Senate panel Tuesday.
Under the proposal (SB 198 ), which received its second hearing in the Senate Small Business & Economic Opportunity Committee, the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections would be required to submit applications for state identification cards for individuals who would otherwise exit its facilities without them. READ MORE
Vincentian Ohio Action Network, ARCH Recieve Multiple Federal Grants to Aid Mission
January 11, 2024
Upon release, individuals who served their time in the U.S. criminal justice system face the daunting task of rebuilding their life. Even former felons committed to turning their life around still face significant challenges – challenges that lead too many down the path of recidivism. When you need income to find a place to live, and you can’t find a job without an address, there’s no wonder why many former felons recidivate. READ MORE
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Million for Environmental Justice Projects in Communities Across Ohio as Part of Investing in America Agenda
October 24, 2023
WASHINGTON (Oct. 24, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $2 million to fund three projects in Ohio that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Advocates for Basic Legal Equity Inc. and Vincentian Ohio Action Network (also known as ARCH), which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative. READ MORE
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $5 million to organizations in seven states to increase the numbers of women in Registered Apprenticeship programs and help connect them with good-paying careers in nontraditional occupations where the Biden-Harris administration’s historic infrastructure, manufacturing and clean energy investments are creating sharp job increases. READ HERE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Fighting for a second chance at life. A Franklin County program is giving offenders looking for a fresh start a real opportunity to get their lives back on track. READ MORE
WASHINGTON, DC, November 1, 2023 (ENS) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced nearly $128 million to fund 186 projects across the country that advance environmental justice as part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This is the first in a series of environmental justice grant announcements the agency will make before the end of the year. READ MORE
Ohio Prison Program Celebrates 76 Women Graduates Ready to Embrace Life After Release
June 10th 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Cheers, clapping and songs rang through the Ohio Reformatory for Women on Friday as the Horizon Prison Initiative celebrated 76 graduates representing different faiths, cultures, ages and prison sentences. It’s a 10-month multi-faith transformational program, helping to equip graduates with skills to have an opportunity to succeed in life after their release. READ MORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Entrepreneurship is in Robert Matlock IV’s blood, so watching three restaurateurs manage the café he works in is inspiring. Matlock, 32, has been working at Café Overlook on the 16th floor of the Franklin County courthouse since December. READ MORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — ABC6 is On Your Side is showing the realities of life for the formerly incarcerated. Our team followed a woman released from prison, to show what it looks like when starting life over and experiencing freedom for the first time in years. In two parts, ABC6 shines a spotlight on hurdles restored citizens face while seeking a second chance... READ MORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — After serving time, can there really be a clean slate? For many, the short answer is no. According to the Sentencing Project, 77 million Americans, or one in three adults, have a criminal record, with one in four having served time. More than 96% of them will be released back into the community. READ MORE
From the Inside Out
Spring 2016
Tina Cole’s life is a mess. She’s managing a restaurant and moonlighting at a bar. A week ago she became a grandmother. Right now she’s running on little sleep, lots of coffee, and a pinch of adrenaline. And it’s the middle of a very busy morning rush. READ MORE