Redemption + Restoration is an insightful mini-documentary that features the voices and stories of justice impacted Black community members from the Inland Empire area of Southern California. Redemption + Restoration highlights their transformative journey along the pathway to gainful employment, impactful community involvement, redemption and restoration.
We want to honor and acknowledge the justice impacted community members who were courageous and shared their stories. Also, we give a heartfelt thank you to all of the community-based organizations who participated in this project. By sharing your experiences, you’re bringing awareness to the opportunities to make our communities safe for everyone.
Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE) is a 501(c)3 faith-based organization, established in 2000 by a core group of pastors. COPE is a faith rooted, faith based community organization located in the Inland Empire area of Southern California with home offices in San Bernardino. COPE’s mission is to build the capacity of small to midsize African American congregations and community based organizations, parents and youth to revitalize the communities in which they live, work and worship. COPE emerged as the leading organization to address the concerns of Black community members within San Bernardino and Riverside counties who expressed the need for change in order to build stronger communities.
With offices in LA and Riverside County, Starting Over, Inc. proudly exists as a Black-led non-profit organization created and run by formerly incarcerated and system impacted people. Starting Over, Inc., provides supportive services for people who are system impacted and all other people in need of shelter or housing. Their efforts blend civic engagement, public policy, and advocacy work to help Southern California’s most vulnerable populations by addressing homelessness, recidivism, and reentry. Starting Over, Inc.,prides themselves on the successes that their efforts help develop for these individuals. Beyond providing employment, Starting Over, Inc., provides a support system and guidance through the reentry process for recently released people getting reestablished into society. Through education, empowerment, peer support, and civic engagement, Starting Over, Inc.,has helped over 1,400 men, women, and families.
Inland Empire Rebound is an organization with a mission centered around providing services that prevent crime, facilitate reentry, and reduce recidivism for Black and Brown men in and around their community. Inland Empire Rebound works to ensure that system impacted people who desire a second chance have the opportunity for successful reintegration and are "reentry ready" and prepared to meet their goals of employment, housing, education, family reunification, and financial stability. IE Rebound’s programs and services equip people in reentry together with the resources and tools they need to achieve successful reintegration.
Chrysalis is a workforce development program operating within the Orange County and Greater Los Angeles County regions of California. Through Individualized supportive services and paid transitional employment, Chrysalis aims to empower system impacted individuals on their pathway to stability, security, and fulfillment in both their work and lives. Chrysalis’ core employment services are designed and developed to meet clients where they are while supporting them during every phase of their job search. Chrysalis provides their clients access to on-site mental health support, housing referrals, and legal assistance as well as scholarship opportunities that provide access to external training, certifications, and other tools for success.. Since 1984, Chrysalis has served more than 77,000 individuals experiencing housing and financial instability. Chrysalis continues to uphold their vision of changing lives through jobs with a total of five active service centers.
Special thanks to all participants, organizers, artists, and organizations who contributed their unique stories and expertise. An extra special thanks to Esha Hickson and Anthony Blackshear for your artivism and moving performance.