As we make the transition into a new season, I am excited to share with you the many events and opportunities OAR has coming up in the next few months such as Undoing Racism training, the Action Network kick off, Sing Out for Second Chances, the Arlington Turkey Trot, OAR's Annual Toy Drive, and more! Below you will also get to celebrate with us the 2nd Annual Project Backpack Packing Party event which was held in August.

I would also like to introduce you to "Justin." Justin recently experienced our Community Service program and was able to successfully close out his case. Your support allows individuals like Justin to thrive in our programs and in the community. You can read Justin's story below.

As you may know, OAR has a long-standing tradition of pursuing justice and promoting equity across all systems. We heard your feedback and we are changing the department name from the Community Engagement Department to the Racial Equity and Inclusion Department. This department will be hosting a kick-off for the Race Equity and Inclusion Action Network on September 26th and hosting three "Undoing Racism" Workshops in the months of September, October, and November, that will focus on creating a dialogue about race equity and the structures of power and privilege that impact social equity. Read below for more information about the Undoing Racism Workshops, I hope you will be able to join us!

We continue to be amazed by all of the support we receive from community members like you who know the importance of our mission. Thank you for your continued support of OAR's mission and programs and don't forget to check out our "Book of the Month" feature below!

Elizabeth Jones Valderrama, MA, CVA
Executive Director

OAR's 2nd Annual Project Backpack Program

OAR's back-to-school program, "Project Backpack," provides backpacks and school supplies to children who have a parent incarcerated in Arlington or Alexandria and to men and women on their first day back from incarceration. On Wednesday, August 21st, 51 volunteers gathered at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria to pack and prepare the backpacks for delivery to the boys and girls. Thanks to the help of the community, all 257 children participating in this program received a brand new backpack filled with school supplies as well as a handwritten note from their parent incarcerated reminding them that they are always thinking about them. For children who live locally, volunteers are hand-delivering the gifts to their homes and for children who live outside of our delivery area, the items were mailed to them. We want to thank all of you for supporting Project Backpack with donations of supplies, financial contributions, by hosting donation boxes and volunteering in any capacity. We also want to give a very special thanks to Westminster Presbyterian Church for providing us with the space to host the event, Costco at Pentagon City for donating 175 backpacks, TriNet for donating 100 backpacks filled with school supplies, and the Arlington Connectors Chapter of Business Network International (BNI) for donating 110 backpacks! Thanks to all of you, 257 children will know that their parent is thinking of them and wishing them well for the upcoming school year. Backpacks are also provided throughout the year to children and more than 600 adults returning home will have a backpack to store their items. To see more pictures of the event, visit our Facebook page here.

A Participant Story: Meet "Justin"*

Justin was ordered to complete 100 hours of court-ordered community service. During his first appointment with his OAR Community Service Case Manager, Justin expressed that he had a lot going on in his personal life and was having trouble finding a site where he could complete his hours that could accommodate his busy schedule. Before his appointment, he was filled with anxiety and was worried that he wouldn't be able to successfully complete all 100 of his hours before his deadline. Justin's Case Manager worked with him to figure out which site would be the best fit for him to complete his hours at and connected him to a local nonprofit food bank. Justin was able to work with the site supervisor there to create a schedule that worked for both him and the organization so that he could complete all of his hours on time before his court hearing. Justin was very diligent about completing his hours and his site supervisor told his Case Manager that Justin came with a great attitude and was always ready to help. By the time his court hearing came around, Justin had completed all of his 100 hours and his case was successfully closed out.

Your support gives individuals like Justin the second and fair chance they need to thrive in the community!

*Name changed to protect the privacy of the participant. The photo is a stock photo and not necessarily representative of the participant.

OAR Hosts Undoing Racism Workshops

Join OAR for an Undoing Racism workshop! OAR is hosting three Undoing Racism workshops 1) September 16th and 17th, 2) October 14th and 15th, and 3) November 18th and 19th. Undoing Racism is the signature workshop of the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB). Through dialogue, reflection, role-playing, strategic planning and presentations, this intensive process challenges participants to analyze the structures of power and privilege that hinder social equity and prepares them to be effective organizers for justice. The workshops are limited to 40 participants and PISAB believes in creating training spaces with equal representation amongst the participants. Registration is required for these workshops. Each workshop is held over a two-day period and both days are required. For more information about the Undoing Racism Workshops and to register for a workshop, visit our website here.

Get ready for the Arlington Turkey Trot 14th Annual 5k Fun Run! The Arlington Turkey Trot is hosted by the Christ Church of Arlington and will take place this year on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 28th at 8:00am. OAR is thankful to be one of the six beneficiary organizations along with the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network (A-SPAN), Arlington Thrive, Bridges to Independence, and Young Life South Arlington. Your registration will help to support OAR and these other five local nonprofit organizations. Registration for the Arlington Turkey Trot is live now! Click here to visit the official Arlington Turkey Trot website to register and for more details.

OAR's Book of the Month!

OAR's "Book of the Month" for September is White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. This groundbreaking book explores the counterproductive reactions white people have when discussing racism that serve to protect their positions and maintain racial inequality. White Fragility refers to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, anti-racist educator Robin DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what can be done to engage more constructively.

If you are interested in checking out the book from our Race Equity Library, please stop by the OAR office and check it out!

-Written by Bryan Jackson, OAR Director of Community Engagement

Volunteer Spotlight

Tim has been volunteering with OAR for the past five years and he facilitates the “Humanitarian Ethics: Theory and Reality” course inside the Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF). Prior to his volunteer work with OAR, Tim served 25 years in the United States Army, Infantry, and Military Intelligence and then moved on to teach at the National Defense Intelligence College, where he developed and taught ethics classes. Even after he retired, Tim wanted to continue his passion for teaching ethics, which lead him to research more about humanitarian ethics and eventually he found his way to OAR when an opportunity to teach classes in the ACDF came up. Tim’s class is held weekly for two hours at a time for a seven to eight-week period. His course involves discussion surrounding specific moral choices a person makes in relating to others. Tim discusses with the students all about the individual conscience, finding their purpose in life, truth-telling, individual freedom, and judgments of value, good, bad, right and wrong. Tim also strives to incorporate relevant situations and stories that the students are likely to encounter in life and can relate to in the course discussions. When asked what his biggest motivation for volunteering is, Tim replied, “What keeps me motivated is seeing that our discussions help residents of ACDF better see how they fit into our fascinating world.” Thank you for all your time and continued support of OAR’s mission Tim! You do such great work and OAR would not be the same without the help and support of volunteers like you.

Would you like to share your OAR volunteer story for a chance to be featured in future e-newsletters and on our social media? Contact sku@oaronline.org.

Interested in volunteering with OAR? Here are some upcoming volunteer opportunities!

Organize a Shoe Drive for OAR

Host your own shoe drive for OAR! Our Reentry Team is always in need of new men's shoes in a variety of sizes to give to participants returning home to the community from incarceration. We are particularly looking for work-related shoes, no-slip shoes, and casual shoes for men. Please keep in mind that we only accept donations of new shoes. If you have any questions about organizing a shoe drive for OAR, please email sku@oaronline.org.

Represent OAR at a Business Network International (BNI) Meeting

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Tuesday, October 8, 2019, 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Be OAR's representative at a Business Network International (BNI) meeting and get a chance to network with professionals in a variety of industries! We will provide you with all the information you need to know. Please contact Elizabeth Jones Valderrama at ejones@oaronline.org if interested.

Upcoming Events

Undoing Racism Training

September 16-17, 2019, 9:00am - 4:00pm (both days required)

October 14-15, 2019, 9:00am - 4:00pm (both days required)

November 18-19, 2019, 9:00am - 4:00pm (both days required)

Join OAR for an "Undoing Racism" training session, the signature workshop of the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB). Through dialogue, reflection, role-playing, and presentations, this training challenges participants to analyze the structures of power and privilege that hinder social equity and prepares them to be effective organizers for justice. The workshop will address areas such as analyzing power, understanding the manifestations of racism, defining racism, and much more! Click here to register for a training session on our website. Please note that you will be required to be present for both days of the training.

Kick Off for the Race Equity and Inclusion Action Network

September 26, 2019

OAR will be hosting its first Race Equity and Inclusion Community Action Network forum on Thursday, September 26. Come and learn more about OAR and their efforts to address and dismantle racism. This event is open to adults and will be facilitated by, Bryan W. Jackson, OAR’s Director of Racial Equity and Inclusion.

Sing Out for Second Chances

October 2019

Join OAR for an evening of inspirational music presented by local faith community choirs and guest speakers from OAR to discuss the power and importance of second chances! More details about the event details will be posted soon. Please stay tuned on our website and social media.

Annual Toy Drive

October 2019 - December 2019

Get ready for OAR's Annual Toy Drive! The Toy Drive will kick off in early October and continue through early December. Every year, OAR hosts a Toy Drive to collect holiday gifts for children of parents incarcerated as a part of OAR's Project Winter Cheer Program (formerly known as Project Christmas Angel). We are currently looking for business and organizations in the community to host donation boxes for us! If you are interested in hosting a donation box, please email Stephannie Ku at sku@oaronline.org.

Arlington Turkey Trot

November 28, 2019, 8:00am

Mark your calendars for the 14th Annual Arlington Turkey Trot coordinated by the Christ Church of Arlington! OAR is honored to be a beneficiary organization this year. Online registration for the Arlington Turkey Trot is now open. Click here to visit the official Turkey Trot website to register and for additional information.

Project Winter Cheer (formerly known as Project Christmas Angel)

December 11, 2019, 6:30pm - 9:00pm

This year's Project Winter Cheer Wrapping Party will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm in Arlington. Join OAR in wrapping holiday gifts for children of incarcerated and recently released parents donated to us through our annual Toy Drive. Stay tuned on our website and social media for more details about this event and about the name-change. RSVPs will open in mid-November.

Learn more about OAR at a free tour of our mission

Want to learn more about us? Join us for a free one-hour tour of our mission at the OAR office! Guests will hear about OAR's programs and services from the team members who are working in the programs and hear participant success stories. We promise to end on time. Below is a list of upcoming dates and times. For more dates and to sign up click here or contact Stephannie Ku at sku@oaronline.org.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Tuesday, September 10, 6:30pm

Wednesday, September 25, 12:00pm

Tuesday, October 8, 8:00am

Wednesday, October 23, 12:00pm

Thursday, November 7, 6:30pm

Thursday, November 14, 12:00pm

Support OAR

Make a monetary donation to OAR by clicking here
Donate Target and/or Amazon gift cards in increments of $10 each for OAR participants
Shop on our Amazing Wish List: OAR's Amazon Wish List
Donate through United Way designation #8078 (additional fees by UW are applied)
Donate through CFC designation #26226 (additional fees by CFC are applied)
Attend a free 1-hour OAR Tour or an OAR Event and bring your friends: http://oaronline.org/oar-tours-upcoming-events/

@OARJustice