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Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

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To equip women with the tools and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive, both in prison and in the communities to which they return.
Arise Collective (formerly Interfaith Prison Ministry for Women) was started by Presbyterian Women in 1980 when a Presbyterian Coordinating Committee of Presbyteries across the state came together to fund the first female chaplain in the North Carolina prison system. Over the next four decades, the organization has provided chaplaincy services and more recently, transition education and reentry support for women, primarily in and around the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women (NCCIW) and its minimum-security Canary unit, but now, supporting women incarcerated across the State. The organization became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2004.
Please visit our 40th Anniversary Timeline to learn about our full history.
Women who are thriving in communities that embrace their value and potential.
Our skilled and diverse staff operate as a team to bring our mission to life, providing strong day-to-day support, love and accountability to women both while they are in prison, and after they are released.
Our strong and supportive Board of Directors come from various professional backgrounds and experiences. All are dedicated to ensuring that the organization remains true to our mission.

Stitching Stories Reimagined

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Jennifer C. Jackson

Reginald Boynton

Dr. Doris Bullock

Stephanie Dixon

Tashani Gaskins

Gwendolyn Hinton

Atoya Hodges

Maybelyn Rodríguez Laureano

Kimberly Stone

Salem Barcus

Chalyne Barrow

Ladale Benson

Chrystal Damesworth

Grace Flake

Crystal Gibson

Shirlye Grandy

Robin Harrington

Anthony James

Regina Jaynes

Cherisse Kendrick

Bethany Neigebauer

Lydia Peebles

Megan Peevey

Jerri Pitre

Bonita Sharp

Home Matters. 🏡 On October 30, our community gathered for the Hope Awards Luncheon, the first year this special event stood on its own. Together, we celebrated a simple truth: home matters. The most powerful moments came from the women who shared their stories and reminded us why safe, stable housing is so essential to successful reentry. We were honored to recognize our 2026 Hope Award recipients: ✨ North Carolina Recovery Support Services, Angel of Hope ✨ Khalilah Olokunola, Beacon of Hope ✨ Kurtis Taylor, Champion of Hope ✨ Luverta Gilchrist, our first Volunteer of the Year Because of the generosity of those in the room and so many supporters beyond it, we raised more than $48,000 toward our $55,000 goal, bringing us within $7,000 of the finish line. We also shared exciting news: Arise Collective has purchased just under an acre in South Raleigh where we will build 10 affordable townhomes for women returning home from prison, some with their children. After years of leasing, women will soon have homes they can truly count on. October 30 also marked the launch of our Home Matters end-of-year campaign. In the weeks ahead, you'll hear directly from women about what home means to them and why it changes everything. Thank you for standing with women rebuilding their lives, inside prison and at home. #HomeMatters #HopeAwards #AriseCollective #ReentryMatters #AffordableHousing #SecondChances #WomenComingHome #CommunityImpact

Join us on Friday, October 30, for the 2026 Hope Awards Luncheon at TRAINE in downtown Raleigh. From 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, we will gather with community leaders to celebrate three advocates whose work is changing lives across North Carolina. This year’s honorees include North Carolina Recovery Support Services, Khalilah Olokunola of Jobs for the Future, and Kurtis Taylor of the Bob Barker Company Foundation. Their leadership shows what is possible when a community stands with women rebuilding their lives. For 46 years, Arise Collective has walked with women from incarceration through reentry, helping families reunite and communities grow stronger. Tickets are available at arise-collective.org/awards. Doors open at 11:00 AM. Business casual attire.

Thank you to the Anonymous Trust and to each of the partner agencies who joined the room and conversation on Tuesday for HOMECOMING at Greg Poole Jr. All Faiths Chapel at Dix. You showed up with clarity and commitment, naming what has improved for women’s reentry and what is still stuck. More than eight in ten of you said basic education, GED, and literacy have gotten better since 2018. Two-thirds said occupational licensing barriers have not changed at all. We are helping women earn credentials, but not yet letting them use them. When six organizations shared that they want to work with women before release but cannot get access, someone committed to identifying them and getting them in. That momentum is exactly why HOMECOMING matters. In the next two weeks, you will receive the attendee directory, full Mentimeter results, insights from the paper scales and maps, and next steps from the working group. Please add your photos to the Evite photo-share email, and watch for four short survey questions later this week. We are humbled and honored to have shared energy and space with you in such meaningful and intentional conversation. @flonc @anonymoustrustfoundation Operation Gateway

Stitching Stories Reimagined is a retelling of Stitching Stories: A Prison Awareness Quilt that was crocheted at the minimum-security Canary Unit of the North Carolina Corrections Institution for Women by members of the H.A.T.S. (Handcrafted and Totally Special) group during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 25-foot quilt they created was completed just before Mother’s Day 2021. In 2023, Arise Collective was awarded a grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds and Mellon Foundations to bring the original quilt to life as a 30-foot-long inclusive public art project. Designed for travel and permanent installation, this public art piece recreates the quilt’s stories using a mosaic wall, an opposing mirror wall, and a vinyl wrap. Each square in the mosaic reflects one year of time served, highlighted with ribbons representing each woman’s struggles with addiction, domestic violence, sexual assault, mental health, COVID-19, children left behind, and the death of a loved one. After its unveiling at Benevolence Farm in Alamance County in October 2025, the exhibit continued its journey across North Carolina, visiting The Caraway Foundation in Anson County that December, the High Point Public Library in January 2026, and the Ministry of Hope in Black Mountain in February. Now, the art house has found its home at Dix Park, where you are invited to experience the stories it holds. This summer, one of the original artists of the quilt, Shirlye Grandy, will lead guided tours of the art at Dix Park. These tours will be held on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at designated times, beginning on Wednesday, July 1st, and running until Saturday, August 22nd. Register for a guided tour by visiting arise-collective.org/tours

Last week, Dr. Doris Bullock, Chief of Staff at Arise Collective, curated and moderated a powerhouse panel for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Women in Criminal Justice Conference. Speaking to an audience of more than 600 people, the panel delivered a rare combination of depth, honesty, and humanity, holding the room's attention from start to finish. The conversation “went there” in all the ways that matter: naming lived experience, elevating women’s voices, and challenging the systems that shape the lives of justice‑impacted women. It was a moment of truth‑telling and connection that resonated long after the session ended. The panel featured several extraordinary women from Arise Collective, including Kim Stone, Director of Inreach; Orgal Opata, Board Member; and Jorgie Brown, Participant. Their collective wisdom, courage, and clarity made the session one of the conference’s most memorable offerings. Reflecting on the impact of the panel, Jennifer C. Jackson, CEO, shared, "When women speak boldly about their experiences, it changes the room. This panel reminded everyone that justice work is human work, and that real change begins when we listen to women and honor their stories.”

The WRAP - Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), a highly regarded evidence-based modality created by peers almost 30 years ago, is rooted in five core concepts: hope, personal responsibility, education, self‑advocacy, and support. These concepts come alive through practice and community. Recently, seven participants completed their WRAP training and earned their certifications. Led by Kimberly Stone, Director of Inreach, this cohort demonstrated deep commitment to their own wellness and recovery and to supporting one another. “WRAP reminds us that wellness is built one choice at a time … through hope, responsibility, learning, advocacy, and the support we offer each other,” said one participant. Learn more about the WRAP modality by visiting wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com

This month's guiding principle: We aim for holistic transformation through a woman-focused, human-centered, and trauma-informed approach that provides support in a caring, positive, and individualized manner. To read more of our guiding principles, visit arise-collective.org/guiding-principles

We’re expanding our team at Arise Collective. Two senior leadership positions are now open: Senior Director of Reentry and Senior Director of Resource Development. Job descriptions and application links are available at https://arise-collective.org/jobs. Please share these opportunities with anyone who may be a strong fit.

We believe each woman owns her unique journey and has the right to be free to live a whole and healthy life; given access to the tools and support she needs, we believe that she has the power within to succeed. To read all of our guiding principles, visit arise-collective.org/guiding-principles

"Whether people realize it or not, incarceration affects all of us." -Violet #stitchingstories ##stitchingstoriesreimagined Thank you to everyone for coming to celebrate the unveiling of Stitching Stories Reimagined at Dix Park. Learn more about Stitching Stories and Stitching Stories Reimagined at stitching-stories.org. (more photos and videos will be shared soon)

What is Stitching Stories Reimagined? It is a retelling of Stitching Stories: A Prison Awareness Quilt, a 25‑foot crocheted quilt created during the COVID‑19 pandemic by the H.A.T.S. (Handcrafted and Totally Special) group at the minimum‑security Canary Unit of the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. Completed just before Mother’s Day 2021, the quilt wove together the stories of 62 women. On the day it was finished, those women were invited to tie the ribbons and bows on one another’s squares, a small but powerful act of connection and care. In 2023, Arise Collective received support from the Z. Smith Reynolds and Mellon Foundations to bring this quilt to life as a 30‑foot‑long inclusive public art installation. Designed for travel and for permanent display, the piece reimagines the quilt’s stories through a mosaic wall, an opposing mirror wall, and a vinyl wrap. Each mosaic square represents one year of time served, with ribbons marking the struggles many women have carried: addiction, domestic violence, sexual assault, mental health challenges, COVID‑19, children left behind, and the loss of loved ones. Four local artists were commissioned to create the installation. After its unveiling at Benevolence Farm in October 2025, the exhibit continued its journey across North Carolina, visiting The Caraway Foundation in Anson County that December, the High Point Public Library in January 2026, and the Ministry of Hope in Black Mountain in February. Now, the art will find its home at Dix Park, where you are invited to experience the stories it holds. Visit stitching-stories.org to learn more. When: Saturday, April 25, 2026 12:00 noon until 2:00 PM (mix + mingle begins at 11:30 AM) Where: The Chapel @ Dix Park Greg Poole, Jr., All Faiths Chapel 1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh >>All are welcome<< Stitching Stories Reimagined will be housed in the parking lot west of 1100 Umstead Drive (near the chapel)

Seeds for Life: A Collaborative Poem for MATCH Children Planting seeds of love for the vines of life Hope rising above struggles and strife (opening stanza from Seeds for Life) Mothers in the Mothers and Their Children (MATCH) program recently came together to create a “passing poem” titled Seeds for Life. Each woman added a single line, weaving a shared vision for their children’s futures. They later brought the poem to life by painting it onto canvas with care and creativity. Each canvas became a personal gift, carrying their love, imagination, and the dreams they hold close. “We were invited to draw inspiration from Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” one participant shared. “We used writing as a way to speak hope over our children.” The project became a gentle blend of creativity, reflection, and connection, a reminder of how words and art can help families stay close even when they are apart. MATCH, located at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh, supports the specific needs of incarcerated mothers and their children. After graduating from the 8-week parenting course, MATCH mothers qualify for extended monthly visitation with their children. Over 45 mothers and 80 children are currently in the MATCH program. In 2025, MATCH joined Arise Collective, and the benefits are now being extended to women after release through our reentry programs. Learn more about MATCH by visiting arise-collective.org/match

Women Rebuild Their Confidence, One Recipe at a Time This spring, five participants from Arise Collective's residential reentry program stepped into our Recipe for Change kitchen, a space where nourishment, confidence, and community come together. Led by Tanisha Carter (Chef T), whose own reentry journey shapes every lesson she teaches, the program blends hands-on culinary training with practical life skills that support a strong return home. Each year, dozens of women move through this experience and discover something powerful: rebuilding a life after incarceration often begins with the small, steady rhythms of daily care. In the kitchen, they learn far more than how to prepare a balanced meal. They learn how to nourish themselves, their families, and their futures. “Every time the participants master a new skill, I can see it. I can see their confidence rise,” said Chef T. “That’s the real recipe for change.” Her guidance turns each lesson into a moment of possibility, reminding participants that growth is built one step at a time. Recipe for Change remains one of the most practical and transformative tools we offer. With every skill mastered — from knife safety to meal planning to budgeting to nutrition — participants build stability and confidence that carries well beyond graduation. It is a reminder that healing and growth can begin with something as simple and profound as preparing a meal together.

Earlier this month, our community gathered at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Raleigh to celebrate nine women from the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women as they graduated from the 40th cohort of JobStart: Pathways to Power. Their achievement marked the end of an intensive eight‑week journey and the beginning of new possibilities filled with confidence and hope. JobStart exists to ensure women have real opportunities to rebuild their lives. Through a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Wake Technical Community College, First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, and Arise Collective, participants gain the skills and support needed to navigate reentry and pursue meaningful employment. “Because of the incredible partnerships, as well as the support of volunteers and mentors,” said Dr. Doris Bullock, “we have attempted to create an empowering environment where justice‑involved women can build skills, strengthen their confidence, and prepare for the next steps in their lives.” During JobStart 40, Dr. Bullock, Arise Collective's Chief Outreach and Education Officer, served in a dual role as Adjunct Instructor for the class through Wake Technical College. Family members, mentors, and supporters filled the room as each graduate walked to the stage, carrying her own story of resilience. The ceremony honored their hard work and the relationships that sustained them, with reflections from graduates, encouragement from community leaders, and a shared meal that extended the celebration. The core of JobStart is to be a community where women are seen, supported, and equipped to move forward with dignity. @ncdac @waketechcc @fpc_raleigh

https://www.ednc.org/anna-stein-heightens-role-of-state-first-lady-as-policy-leader/ North Carolina’s First Lady Anna Stein is showing what real leadership looks like. She’s using her platform to end stigma around mental health and substance use, strengthen rehabilitation and reentry programs, and champion the women and families most often overlooked. From driver’s license restoration clinics to statewide listening tours, she’s meeting people where they are — and helping build the conditions for real change. Arise Collective was honored to be among the organizations invited to share firsthand insight into the policy issues she’s tackling. Her willingness to listen, learn, and act is reshaping what’s possible for justice‑impacted women and their families. Leaders like her remind us: when you center dignity, policy becomes personal, powerful, and possible. 💛 @educationnc

GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR MARCH: We value people over process, removing barriers where they exist and being mindful not to create new obstacles. All of our Guiding Principles are available at arise-collective.org/guiding-principles.

Arise Collective is hiring for the following positions: --Social Work Program Facilitator --Transportation Coordinator --Peer Support Specialist If you or someone you know is interested in either of these opportunities, please visit arise-collective.org/jobs to learn more. arise-collective.org/jobs

After a five-year pause due to the pandemic, we are excited to announce the return of JobStart 40: Pathways to Power and to welcome our newest cohort. This 8-week occupational readiness program, held Monday through Thursday, is designed to empower women as they prepare for work release and reentry into the community. Participants benefit from one-on-one mentorship, weekly interfaith worship services in partnership with First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, and engaging sessions with guest speakers who share valuable skills and real-world insights. The curriculum, crafted by Wake Technical Community College, is designed to foster job readiness, life skills, and personal growth. "We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make the revival of JobStart possible," says Dr. Doris Bullock, Chief Outreach and Education Officer at Arise Collective. "Together, we are building pathways to power and brighter futures for women in our community." To learn more about JobStart or how to become a mentor, email outreach@arise-collective.org.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR FEBRUARY: We operate in an environment where the stakes are high and strive to do so with thoughtfulness and integrity. All of our Guiding Principles are available at arise-collective.org/guiding-principles.

NC Department of Health and Human Services @ncdhhs On Thursday, February 5th, Governor Stein signed an executive order to strengthen behavioral health care and public safety in North Carolina. Executive Order 33 focuses on better coordination between behavioral health and criminal justice systems, supporting the workforce, improving crisis response, and helping people get care sooner before situations escalate. Learn more about what this executive order does and why it matters: https://bit.ly/3ZSTuzq [REPOST]

@nchealthnews Reentry affects thousands of North Carolinians every year — and now it has a high-profile advocate. First Lady Anna Stein has made rehabilitation and reentry a priority, traveling across the state to listen, learn, and push for better support for people leaving incarceration. Full story: 🔗 https://buff.ly/XD73oGk [repost]

Guiding Principle of the Month: We value trust and transparency, and expect them from ourselves and from those with whom we interact. Read more of Arise Collective's Guiding Principles at https://arise-collective.org/guiding-principles/

DID YOU KNOW ... January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, includes both forced labor and sex trafficking. It not only represents a threat to international peace and security but also undermines the rule of law, robs millions of their dignity and freedom, enriches transnational criminals and terrorists, and threatens public safety and national security everywhere. There are estimated to be more than 27.6 million people — adults and children — subjected to human trafficking around the world, including in the United States. Traffickers often take advantage of instability caused by natural disasters, conflict, or a pandemic to exploit others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, traffickers are continuing to perpetrate the crime, finding ways to innovate and capitalize on the chaos. Learn more at https://www.state.gov/national-human-trafficking-prevention-month/ Many justice-involved women have found themselves victims of human trafficking at some point in their lives. Recognizing this awareness month is particularly meaningful and aligns with our mission: to provide women with the tools and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive—both while in prison and in the communities to which they return. #humantrafficking #sextrafficking #humantraffickingprevention #traffickinginpersons

At Arise Collective, we know this work doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in community ... thread by thread, story by story. This year, your generosity helped stitch together second chances for women coming home from prison. You helped reconnect families. Spark healing. Build trust. And strengthen a future where justice means restoration ... not abandonment. We’ve been working to raise $40,000 by midnight tonight. And thanks to this community, we’re more than halfway there! Will you make one last gift before the year ends? https://arise-collective.org/woven-together Every stitch matters. Every thread holds. And every gift given by midnight is tax-deductible. Thank you for walking with us ... this year and into the next. Together, we’re weaving something lasting.

I want to share a part of our work that often goes unseen but changes everything. As we approach the final day of the year, let’s start from the beginning. Inside the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, many women carry decades of trauma, grief, and isolation. Before they ever meet a case manager or apply for housing, most first meet a chaplain. Last year alone, over 453 incarcerated women received chaplaincy support from Arise on nearly 1,000 occasions. Through our interfaith chaplaincy program, women receive something restorative. Something rare while they are in prison. They receive a safe space to speak honestly, a listening ear, and dignity. This kind of spiritual and emotional grounding is not a luxury … it is one of the first threads in a woman’s tapestry of healing. And right now, we are asking for your help to keep this work going. We are so close to reaching our $40,000 goal by December 31st, and your year-end gift will have a transformative impact: ---One-on-one pastoral counseling for women with no support outside prison ---Trauma-informed spiritual care during crisis moments ---Support groups for mothers, survivors of violence, and women in segregation ---Continuity of care when women come home and begin rebuilding their lives “This was the first time in years someone listened to me without judgment. It helped me believe I still had a life worth returning to.” Spiritual care doesn’t make headlines. But it transforms outcomes. Women who receive chaplaincy support are more stable, more connected, and better prepared to navigate the impossible decisions that come with reentry. And that ultimately strengthens our entire community: safer families, safer workplaces, and safer neighborhoods. Now more than ever, your support can have a direct, immediate impact on women in and outside of prison, ensuring our chaplains can continue to support women with spirit, compassion, and dignity. Give today: https://arise-collective.org/woven-together

Before counseling, employment, classes, or reunifying with family, a woman coming home from prison needs one thing ... a way to get where she needs to go. Most women come home with no car, no bus pass, and no support system. Your gift ensures she can reach probation meetings, treatment, classes, job opportunities, and reunification visits with her children. Safe and reliable transportation to medical, mental health, and recovery appointments is essential. It’s mission-driven.rt appointments, to her child, you’re funding more than a ride. You’re fueling a mission-driven pathway to stability, dignity, and independence. Safe and reliable transportation to medical, mental health, and recovery appointments is more than necessary. It’s mission-driven. Will you help provide reliable transportation for women rebuilding their lives after prison? Transportation is one of the most significant barriers in reentry: --90% of women are unemployed and without transportation upon release. --In the first 90 days of reentry, women reintegrating are forced to juggle multiple in-person appointments each week, including medical and mental health care, treatment programs, court appointments, probation, benefit applications, and new employment paperwork- too often without access to transportation. --Missing even a few mandatory appointments can mean losing housing, losing a job offer, or violating release terms. This year, our team provided over 1,700 rides, ensuring women could safely access what they needed to stabilize. In addition, support from our community partnerships enables four to six women to purchase their own vehicles within the first year. One participant, Marissa*, put it plainly, “If your team hadn’t picked me up that first week, I would have gone right back. I had no way to get anywhere.” When women have reliable transportation, employers get dependable workers, children stay connected to their mothers, courts see higher compliance, and public safety improves. Here at Arise Collective, we provide safe transportation for the first 90 days for women like Marissa, but the impact is long-lasting. Give today: https://arise-collective.org/woven-together

It’s no surprise that the majority of women released from incarceration return home with almost nothing and are immediately hit with systemic barriers upon reentry. Maria* was one of those women. She only had a plastic tote and a $45 gate check. No ID. No phone. She was given a second chance, but no one was waiting to bring her home. From the beginning, her reentry seemed anything but hopeful. But because of supporters like you, Maria didn’t have to figure out her first night alone. She had safe and supportive housing to welcome her, and instead of feeling set up to fail, she began to feel hopeful. Nearly all women in the NC prison system will return to our community, women like Maria. Today, she’s employed, stable, reunited with her children, and planning her next steps — because she first had a helping hand. Will you help ensure the next woman has the same chance? Housing is one of the most significant predictors of whether a woman rebuilds her life or reenters crisis. Formerly incarcerated women are 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general population. Housing is the number one barrier, and women are at the highest risk of homelessness. Direct access to housing is tied to public safety, family stability, and long-term economic mobility, as well as for women reintegrating into our community. It is imperative. Your support makes it possible for women, like Maria, to receive the necessary support upon reentry: --Safe transitional housing through the Women’s Reentry Project --Daily case management, peer support, and trauma-informed services --Transportation to medical, mental health, and recovery appointments --A structured path toward employment, education, and family reunification And here’s what that means for our community: --70% of women in our program secured or maintained employment last year --Mothers reunited safely with their children --Workplaces gained dependable employees --Families began breaking cycles of incarceration Will you help welcome the next woman home? https://arise-collective.org/woven-together *Names and images are altered to protect the privacy of the women we serve.

Today is Giving Tuesday, a national day of generosity and care. At Arise Collective, we see every day how hard reentry is for women. Many return home without housing, medical care, transportation, or anyone to walk beside them as they navigate the most difficult transition of their lives. Your support changes that. And, today, your gift goes twice as far thanks to a $2,000 match from a generous donor. Here is what your giving has made possible this year: --37 women received safe, supportive transitional housing through our Women’s Reentry Project, along with wraparound case management, counseling, and stabilization support during the most critical months after release. --The Arise Center for Healing and Transformation opened its doors, providing women with counseling, peer support, job-readiness training, parenting classes, and a community space where they could rebuild a sense of belonging and trust. --More than 500 women received spiritual care, counseling, and crisis support through our prison chaplaincy programs. --60 children maintained connections with their mothers thanks to the merger of MATCH into Arise Collective. Women coming home are rebuilding with almost nothing. Many would be homeless without programs like the Women's Reentry Project. Others would have no path to medical care, employment, ID, or benefits that stabilize their first months home. Your giving provides a hand up and creates a real chance for stability. Our goal is to raise 40,000 dollars by December 31st to continue and expand this work across North Carolina. Will you make your Giving Tuesday gift today and stand with women who are working hard to build safe, stable, and healthy lives? https://arise-collective.org/woven-together P.S. Your gift is tax-deductible, and today it is matched. Help us ensure that women who would otherwise return home with nowhere to go have a place to land, a community to support them, and a real second chance. #GivingTuesday

Every year, hundreds of mothers across North Carolina navigate incarceration while trying to maintain the most important connection they have, their children, a task that becomes nearly impossible inside a system not built for family bonds. Arise Collective’s MATCH (Mothers and Their Children) was created to protect that bond. It is the only child-friendly visitation program in the state designed specifically for mothers in prison and their kids. And for many families, it changes the entire trajectory of a child’s life. The story below reflects what we see again and again through MATCH. When Danielle* was eight, her mother went to prison. The fear arrived fast. She and her younger brothers went from seeing their mom every day to suddenly wondering when they might see her again. Like so many children with an incarcerated parent, they faced the kinds of instability that research shows can increase the risk of academic struggles, emotional trauma, and even future justice involvement. But MATCH interrupted that story. For seven years, MATCH gave them a place to be together. They played board games, shared meals, laughed, danced, and celebrated holidays in a space designed to feel like home rather than prison. These visits didn’t erase the hardship, but they softened it. They reminded this family of who they were to one another. And as Danielle grew, that foundation mattered. Now a college psychology major, she stays closely connected to her mom. Their relationship didn’t just survive incarceration. It grew stronger, built on years of trust, consistency, and love. MATCH made that possible. It protects a bond that research shows can change a child’s entire trajectory. As Giving Tuesday approaches, a very generous donor is encouraging everyone who reads this email to match their $2,000 pledge. Your gift helps to ensure that more mothers and children maintain the relationships that strengthen families and communities. Our goal is to raise $40,000 by December 31 to support mothers coming home, children waiting for them, and the programs that keep families connected during the hardest seasons of their lives. https://arise-collective.org/woven-together

Arise Collective is grateful for our friends, supporters, and allies. Thank you for helping equip women with the tools and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive - both in prison and in the communities to which they return.

Friends, As we launch our year-end campaign, I want to begin with a truth: Here in North Carolina, women are the fastest-growing segment of the incarcerated population, and more than 95 percent will return home one day. Women returning from prison are coming home to overwhelming barriers: no housing, untreated medical and mental health conditions, limited employment options, no transportation, and trauma that has often gone unaddressed for years. Without support, nearly 30 percent will return to prison within three years. This is the landscape women are stepping into. And this is where your support changes outcomes. Arise Collective’s mission is to equip women with the tools and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive, both in prison and in the communities to which they return. Your investment in this work ensures that justice-involved women can access safe housing, trauma-informed counseling, medical and behavioral health care, chaplaincy support, transportation, treatment, job readiness assistance, and the tools they need to move forward with dignity. One participant shared: “I arrived with nothing and no hope. I have never felt so cared for. I honestly feel like I am in Heaven.” – Sarah*, WRP participant This is what your support makes possible: real care, real stability, and real safety for women who would otherwise be navigating reentry alone. We have much more work ahead. Too many women are still returning home without support and without the resources they need to be safe, find stability, and reunite with their families. That is why our goal is to raise 40,000 dollars by December 31. We can’t do this without you. Thank you for helping to build safer, more compassionate communities in North Carolina. Give today at https://arise-collective.org/woven-together.

Friends, When a woman is released from prison, she often steps into freedom alone. No home to return to. No income to sustain her. No support system to catch her. Too often, she ends up unhoused, in crisis, or back in the system. Not because she alone failed, but because the world failed to hold her when she was most vulnerable. You can help rewrite that story. Because of you, women are welcomed into safe homes instead of shelters. They have access to therapy, healthcare, transportation, and job opportunities. They begin to heal from trauma and rebuild their lives—on their terms. These are women who are just one missed bus ride, one denied job, one closed door away from returning to prison. But with consistent care and our community walking alongside them, that cycle can break. And here’s the deeper truth: when you support women on the margins, you uplift entire communities. Empowering women transforms economies, children, and families, and your investment in justice-involved women makes the whole system more just, more human, and more whole. This is more than reentry. It’s restoration. And it starts with you. Please watch the short video we shared at our 45th anniversary event to see what your care makes possible -freedom, community, and the power of being woven back in: https://rb.gy/w2wfqn Thank you for being part of this collective. Every thread you add helps hold someone up.

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