OAR’s 8th Annual Second Chance Fundraising Breakfast to be Held April 6, 2016
EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED!
NO ADDITIONAL RSVPs CAN BE ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME.
UPDATE AS OF 3/23/16: RSVPs to our Breakfast are now closed!
With an unprecedented number of RSVPs received in advance of our event, we have closed off our event to new RSVPs. We are so grateful to be part of a community that supports our mission.
Interested in learning more about OAR but can’t attend the Breakfast? We encourage you to sign up for a Tour. We hold Tours twice per month at our office. In just one hour, you’ll learn about programs and services, meet some of our staff, and get inspired by our client stories. Click HERE to view a list of dates and to sign up.
Need more information or have questions about the Breakfast? Contact Heather at hpritchett@oaronline.org.
OAR is especially grateful to the Breakfast’s sponsors, listed below.
Urge Your Senator to Support “Ban the Box” Legislation
Senator Dance’s SB 335, the “ban the box” legislation, was approved on Monday, January 18 by the Senate’s General Laws and Technology committee on a vote of 9-6. SB 335 generally bars state agencies from inquiring into a job candidate’s criminal background before making a conditional offer of employment, and it prevents them from withdrawing such an offer unless a past conviction relates to the duties and responsibilities of the relevant position. The bill also guarantees local public employers’ ability to ban the box, without mandating that they do so.
Senator Dance stated, “Once they’ve paid their dues, former offenders deserve to rejoin society — but without a job, that’s almost impossible. This bill will ensure that our fellow Virginians are judged on their skills, knowledge, and abilities — not their past mistakes. Many of these folks want nothing more than to become working, participating citizens: to reintegrate into society and pay their taxes. I’m pleased we’ve taken this step to give them a second chance.”
The full Senate will consider the bill later this week. The Senate vote is expected to be very close, so your assistance is needed now.
Please email and/or call the state Senator that represents your area no later than today, Tuesday, January 19 and state your support for SB 335. Here is a sample phone script/email you may use:
“I am calling/writing to state my support for Senator Dance’s SB 335. I am a supporter of Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) of Arlington, a nonprofit which works with individuals returning to the community after incarceration. OAR clients are directly impacted by the issues that SB 335 addresses. How can we expect individuals to be released from incarceration and make positive changes in their lives if we as a community are not providing them ample support to do so? If an individual’s past criminal charge has nothing to do with the job they are applying for, and they are otherwise qualified for the position, they should not be excluded as a candidate simply because of their charge. We as a community can do better than this. I urge you to vote for SB 335. Thank you!”
If you don’t know who your senator is, you can look it up here: http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/
The Senators email addresses and Richmond office phone numbers can be found here: http://lis.virginia.gov/161/mbr/MBR.HTM
If the Senator is unavailable to take your call, leave a brief message with the legislative aide, making the same points as listed above. Thank you for taking action!
ELIZABETH JONES VALDERRAMA SELECTED AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OAR
January 12, 2016 – Arlington, VA – The Board of Directors of Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) has selected Elizabeth Jones Valderrama as their new Executive Director after an extensive nationwide search.
The Board worked with a local consulting agency to assist in the six-month search process.
Board Chair Dave Wiley stated: “We were thrilled at the number and quality of resumes we received. After conducting twenty first-round interviews and eight second-round interviews, we determined that Elizabeth was undoubtedly the best candidate for the position. Elizabeth has served in various roles at OAR and has a strong history of moving OAR in a positive direction for our agency partners and our clients. The Board shares her vision for OAR’s future as a nationally recognized and groundbreaking restorative justice agency.”
Ms. Jones Valderrama has been serving as Acting Executive Director of OAR since July 2015. For five years prior to then she served as OAR’s Chief Operating Officer.
“I am honored to accept the position as Executive Director for OAR”, said Ms. Jones Valderrama. “We are on the verge of a national shift in how we support individuals involved with the criminal justice system and particularly those coming back home. OAR is at the forefront of this shift, laying the groundwork for other agencies across the country to model programs after our success. I am thrilled to be able to continue to work with our dedicated Board members, staff, volunteers, donors, supporters, and community partners as well as our clients and former clients who inspire our mission every day,” she said.
Ms. Jones Valderrama has been an integral part of the OAR staff for over 10 years and has held several positions at OAR including the Associate Director of Volunteer and Education Services, Director of Volunteer and Education Services, and Director of Development and Special Projects. In August 2010, Elizabeth was named the Chief Operating Officer/Director of Programs and in June 2014 her title changed to Chief Operating Officer to focus on the administrative and human resources capacities of OAR. Ms. Jones Valderrama currently serves on the Alexandria Community Criminal Justice Board, Alexandria/Arlington Regional Workforce Council, Arlington County Community Criminal Justice Board, and Leadership Arlington’s Programs Committee. For the last two years, Ms. Jones Valderrama has been working to shape statewide reentry programs through her work with the Pre and Post Incarceration Services Coalition (PAPIS).
Ms. Jones Valderrama was the first Hispanic/Latina Valedictorian of Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, graduating in 1998. She earned a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Virginia in 2002, and has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA), a 2009 graduate of Leadership Arlington’s Signature Program, and was honored in 2014 as one of the 40 Emerging Community Leaders under 40 years old in Arlington County.
Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) is a nonprofit agency serving Arlington County and the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. Established in 1974, OAR has been serving our community for 42 years. OAR manages the court-mandated community service program for the Arlington County and City of Falls Church courts, placing individuals in nonprofit agencies to fulfill their community service obligations. OAR also offers services to individuals in the Arlington County Detention Facility, William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center in Alexandria, Coffewood Correctional Center, and other local correctional facilities. Additionally, OAR serves individuals recently released from incarceration and returning to live in our community by providing emergency services, employment services, and referrals. Learn more about OAR at www.oaronline.org.
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