,

I hope your new year has been off to a great start. Can you believe it? We are only one month into 2020 and I already have so much to share with you! 

I want to introduce you to Greg, an OAR participant we worked with for the past several months. Like many other OAR participants, Greg was able to receive the help and support he needed after his release from incarceration because of people like you who believe in OAR's mission and the work that we do. I hope you read his story and continue to be inspired by the power of community and second chances. 

Also, be sure to mark your calendars and RSVP for OAR's 12th Annual Second Chance Fundraising Breakfast on April 2nd at 7:15am. Keep reading below about events, programs, and more ways to get involved. 

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to continuing this important journey together in this new decade and beyond. 

Elizabeth Jones Valderrama, MA, CVA
Executive Director

A Participant Story: Meet "Greg"*

Greg was first introduced to OAR right before his release from incarceration in July 2019. He had been incarcerated for two years and was nervous about his next steps after getting released. Greg had multiple meetings pre-release with an OAR Reentry Coach who helped him prepare for his transition back home and his release. Immediately after his release, Greg came to OAR and we helped him obtain all of his identification that he had lost prior to his incarceration as well as a cell phone that he could use. In the following weeks after his release, Greg continued to come to OAR to work on building his resume, practice interview skills, and to receive clothing, transportation, and housing assistance. With OAR by his side, Greg was able to secure a job. OAR also helped cover two months of rent for Greg and his family while he was starting out at his new job and sent the children gifts for the holidays through OAR’s Project Winter Cheer program. Greg was so grateful for the support because it gave him “the ultimate second chance to get back on my feet and keep my situation progressing in the right direction.” Today, Greg is able to pay his own rent for his family and even received a promotion at the job OAR helped him secure. Greg keeps in touch with OAR very often and every time he contacts us or stops by the office it’s to tell us that he is forever thankful for our support. We are thrilled that OAR participants like Greg are able to have a safe reentry thanks to your continued support. 

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

Save the Date for OAR's 12th Annual Second Chance Fundraising Breakfast

OAR's 12th Annual "Second Chance Fundraising Breakfast" will take place on Thursday, April 2, 2020 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. Guests are invited to enjoy a free, hot breakfast and be inspired. This is a fundraising event to support OAR's programs, and there is no minimum or maximum donation expected. As much as anything, OAR wants guests to get inspired by the program and learn about the critical work being done in the community.

We are now accepting Table Captains and sponsors for this event. If you are interested in being a Table Captain and inviting guests on OAR's behalf, or interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Stephannie Ku, OAR's Director of Events & Communications, at sku@oaronline.org. 

To learn more about this event, please visit our website. 

To RSVP to the event, click here. 

Volunteer Spotlight

We dedicate our Volunteer Spotlight feature this month to all of the volunteers who came to complete a service project for us on Martin Luther King Jr. Day! OAR, along with many other local nonprofit organizations, joined Volunteer Arlington to offer the community a "Day of Service" in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of doing more for others. Thank you to these individuals who made a "day on, not a day off" and came out to make a difference in our community: 

Mary Anthony, Kentris Boyd, Marisa Campanella, Nina Chambers, Andrew Clay, Rosey Clervil, Heather Colby, Mishara Davis, James DeFilippi, Jordyn Franklin, Alaina Garrett, Audrey Glynn, Angela Gray, Jazmen Jackson, Ted Kramer, Christian Massay, Edd Nolen, Alexandra Perl, Tommeka Pleasure, Alan Savada, Christine Searle, Maddie Sims, Krush Smith, Shannon Thompson, Marquis Thorpe, Elaine Turville, Andrea Whitley, Vivien Williams, Alessandra Williams, Herbert Willingham, Ashlee Woodson

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. 

Book of the Month

Our first book of the month feature for 2020 belongs to, Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do, by Jennifer L. Eberhardt. This book explores unconscious racial bias and is a personal examination of one of the central controversies and culturally powerful issues of our time, and its influence on contemporary race relations and criminal justice. We do not have to be racist to be biased. With a perspective that is both scientific, investigative, and also informed by personal experience, Eberhardt offers a reasoned look into the effects of implicit racial bias, ranging from the subtle to the dramatic. Racial bias can lead to disparities in education, employment, housing, and the criminal justice system--and then those very disparities further reinforce the problem. In Biased, Eberhardt reveals how even when we are not aware of bias and genuinely wish to treat all people equally, ingrained stereotypes can infect our visual perception, attention, memory, and behavior.

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's Director of Racial Equity and Inclusion

Interested in volunteering with OAR?

We have lots of volunteer opportunities

Serve as a Table Captain for OAR's 12th Annual Second Chance Fundraising Breakfast

Volunteer to be a Table Captain for OAR's 12th Annual "Second Chance Fundraising Breakfast." This opportunity entails being responsible for filling a table of 10 guests (at minimum) at OAR's Breakfast event held on Thursday, April 2, 2020 from 7:45am to 9:00am at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Crystal City. If you would like to be a Table Captain for this year's Breakfast or for more information, contact Stephannie Ku, OAR's Director of Events & Communications, at sku@oaronline.org. 

Help with Set Up/Clean Up for an OAR Event 

Set up - Monday, March 23, 2020, 7:00am-9:00am 

Set up - Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 7:00am-9:00am

Clean up - Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 3:30pm-5:30pm 

Assist with the set up and clean up for a two-day Undoing Racism Workshop hosted by OAR. The workshop will take place over the course of two days (March 23rd and 24th) and we will need 2 volunteers to help with set up on both days, and clean up on the last day of the workshop. Set up and clean up will require you to do some lifting of boxes and other supplies and helping set up the room and registration table. A vehicle is not required for this opportunity, however, it would help if you do have a vehicle so we can transport supplies to the OAR office after the workshop. If you are interested in this opportunity or would like more information, please contact Stephannie Ku at sku@oaronline.org. 

Shop & Create Welcome Home Kits for OAR participants

Put together "Welcome Home" kits for OAR participants who have been recently released from incarceration. Examples of items that are needed are: long johns, long sleeve t-shirts, travel size toiletries, socks, hoodies, gloves, hats, and sweatpants. A complete kit does not have to include all of these items, these are just examples of items that are helpful. These kits can be packaged together in backpacks or tote bags. Please label the kits by size since many of the needed items are size-dependent. Keep in mind that over 90% of OAR's Reentry participants are men! Please contact Stephannie Ku at sku@oaronline.org for this opportunity. 

Upcoming Events

People of Color Caucus/White People Caucus 

Completing an Undoing Racism Workshop is required to join these Caucuses. If you are interested and would like more information about either of these Caucuses please contact OAR's Director of Racial Equity & Inclusion, Bryan W. Jackson at bjackson@oaronline.org.   

Action Network "Just Mercy" Movie Screening 

January 31, 2020, 12:30pm

Join OAR's Racial Equity & Inclusion Action Network on Friday, January 31st for a movie screening of "Just Mercy"  at the AMC Hoffman in Alexandria (206 Swamp Fox Rd, Alexandria, VA 22314). If you are interested in joining us, please purchase your ticket beforehand. You can visit the AMC website here to find tickets. The movie will start promptly at 1:00PM. Please meet OAR's Director of Racial Equity & Inclusion, Bryan W. Jackson, in the lobby of the theatre by 12:30PM with your ticket. OAR Reentry participants interested in attending are eligible for a complimentary ticket. Please contact Bryan W. Jackson at bjackson@oaronline.org or 703-228-7429 for more information. 

Racial Equity & Inclusion Monthly Action Network Meeting 

February 27, 2020, 7:00pm - 8:00pm 

Join OAR for the Racial Equity & Inclusion Action Network meeting, hosted on the third Thursday of every month. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, February 27th at the Arlington Central Library. This meeting will be a screening of "The Bail Trap: American Ransom" presented by Brave New Films. This is a series of short films exploring the injustices of cash bail and America's mass incarceration system. These meetings are open to adults. Click here to RSVP and for more information. 

Undoing Racism Workshops

March 23, 2020 - March 24, 2020, 8:00am - 4:00pm (both days required) *WAITLIST*

May 2, 2020 - May 3, 2020, 8:00am - 4:00pm (both days required)

Join OAR for an Undoing Racism workshop, 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 workshop on our website. Please note that you will be required to be present for both days of the training. 

Second Chance Month

April, 2020

The month of April has been established by the United States Congress as Second Chance Month to honor the work of communities, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, employers, and individuals to remove unnecessary legal and societal barriers that prevent an individual with a criminal history from thriving in the community. At OAR, our mission is to strengthen our community through second and fair chances and we hope you can join us in spreading awareness about Second Chance Month! 

OAR's 12th Annual Second Chance Fundraising Breakfast

April 2, 2020, 7:45am - 9:00am

Save the date for OAR's 12th Annual Second Chance Fundraising Breakfast! Come join OAR for a free, hot breakfast and to hear an amazing program about OAR's mission and hear participant stories. To RSVP and for more information, visit our website here. If you would like to be a Table Captain for this event and invite guests on OAR's behalf, please contact Stephannie Ku, OAR's Director of Events & Communications, at sku@oaronline.org. 

Spring2ACTion 

April 29, 2020, All Day 

Mark your calendars for Spring2ACTion 2020! Spring2ACTion is the City of Alexandria's very own Giving Day. OAR is among the many community-based nonprofit organizations participating in this event to celebrate the commitment of local nonprofits to make Alexandria a better place to live, work, and serve! For more information, visit OAR's Spring2ACTion campaign page here.  

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:     

Wednesday, February 12, 12:00pm

Thursday, February 20, 12:00pm

Thursday, March 5, 12:00pm

Thursday, March 17, 12:00pm

Thursday, April 16, 12:00pm

Wednesday, April 29, 6:30pm

Support OAR

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

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