As I reflect on my 11 1/2 years of service to our members; advocating at the state Capitol, attending monthly support meetings, and participating in retreats before we started as a 501c3, I sit in much gratitude for all the opportunity I have had. Being part of ARC since its inception has been an incredible privilege. Collaborating with a team of brilliant and compassionate individuals, I have contributed to its growth and development. My journey in this field started nearly 20 years ago when I volunteered in gang intervention through the church. Following that, I worked with youth on probation at an organization prior to joining ARC. The drive behind my work stems from personal experience, as my only brother has been incarcerated for 29 years, my father spent 20 years inside, with intermittent periods of freedom, and I’ve witnessed many of my friends being swallowed by our flawed system during my teenage and adolescent years. It was a very hard period in my life. Over the years, I have participated in various initiatives, such as opening and managing our first housing program in 2014, overseeing our mentorship program for several years, and establishing Inland Empire chapter meetings five years ago in July. Most of the work I’ve done is “on the ground”. I believe, to effectively serve our people we need to be a part of their lives, to truly understand the 'how-to'. I made it my mission to meet our members where they are, without judgement, believing in them, loving them through their difficult times. This hasn’t come without sacrifice. Little did I know how much it would take a toll on my emotional and mental health over time; the relapses, the deaths, being on the front lines during COVID and over the years. I am also thankful to have witnessed my brother's transformation, which my former colleagues have participated in. I am amazed often, as I see friends returning home after “life” sentences. The impact of the work we have done over these years leaves me in awe... The past couple of years have been especially difficult, specifically since the pandemic hit. I’ve been in therapy since, and I feel like I’m finally recovering. It’s been a really tough season in my life. To this end, I have felt compelled to give this work a much-needed break. My last day at ARC was August 8th. Second week of September through mid-October I will be on a 500-mile pilgrimage in Spain, El Camino de Santiago. This should take approximately five weeks! I anticipate this will be a life changing experience, and it will help my healing process in a monumental way. I’ll be staying in hostels and taking what I can carry in a backpack. My hope is to stay past that time for a couple weeks to sit somewhere and write write write! I’d like to finish my cookbook - simple healthy recipes for folks coming home. I know this time will be invaluable to my mental, emotional and physical health. And I am writing to ask if you would be willing to contribute any amount to help with costs for this trip. No amount is too small. I will be blogging, so I will keep you all posted with updates on how it’s going and how it is impacting me. Even if you don’t contribute, let me know if you want to be a part of the blog list :) I appreciate your time. Thanks for reading. You are already investing in me by doing so! Love Always, Zeara
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