ARC debuts live-streamed graduation

On Oct. 11, 2024, more than 100 graduates attended the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) graduation held in the gym at Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF).

ARC is an organization that empowers currently and formerly incarcerated people to thrive by providing a support network, services and opportunities to advocate for policy change, and to be of service in their communities.

Certificates were passed out to all the attendees who completed one or more of the three groups ARC provides. Space was held for the participants to enjoy each other’s company and listen to inspiration to keep putting in the work.

What made this ceremony particularly special is that, for the first time at CCWF, graduates’ loved ones were able to log into a live stream of the ceremony. Many graduates got up to greet their people on the screen.

Lynne Acosta and husband Christopher Acosta led the event. Both former lifers, the Acostas work for ARC and facilitate groups at CCWF named Avatar/Board Preparation, Criminal and Gangs Anonymous (CGA), and Emotional Intelligence (EI).

Lynne Acosta began the ceremony with energetic words, “WHO’S NEXT!?” then passed the mic around to other former lifers in attendance. Johnny Diaz, who works for ARC, asked the graduates, “How many in here feel worthy?” He followed the affirmation by saying, “Apply what you learn. Be limitless, fearless, and believe in yourself. I am extremely proud.”

Another guest in attendance was Jennifer Shaffer, CEO of the Board Parole Hearings, who gave advice for the individual who may not be eligible for a hearing right now, but encouraged individuals to “live as you are.” She spoke on how people who did prepare for the BPH are now out.

“What Board is looking for is how you are contributing to your community today,” Shaffer said. Shaffer shared that how individuals contribute is a reflection of who they are.

After graduates listened to the uplifting messages, gears shifted to a performance by Mesha Dean who is a triple ARC graduate. Dean started out by leading the audience in an invigorating chant of, “Who are we?”— “ARC!” Music then filled the entire gym and the whole crowd cheered while Dean rapped his original lyrics accompanied to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

Next, three graduates, who were handpicked to give their message of inspiration, spoke to the group. Kianna Morris, who graduated from the EI group, spoke first on where she once was, earlier in her prison term. One of the things she highlighted is that once you change, it’s not possible to keep up with the same lifestyle.

“I’ll try to drag you along with me,” Morris said, “but if you don’t want to come, I have to leave you behind.”

Taking these groups brings a shift within your life that entails making life choices that are not easy.

Keri Cache graduated from the Avatar/ Board Prep group. She was sentenced to 15 to life and struggled with the thought of what life even meant.

“Am I going to be here forever?” Cache shared with the crowd. “Changes a word that we often take for granted and is something we should strive for.” She spoke about how no one here is perfect, but she left the audience by saying, “I challenge you today: if you are not yet walking in your change, this is the perfect day to start.”

The last graduate speaker was Christina Francis, who took the CGA group. As a 17-year-old convicted felon, she mentioned how defeating prison was for her when she first arrived at CCWF more than 25 years ago. Francis reflected on a defining moment when an officer asked her, “How do you feel this is it for you?” That question set the tone for her life in prison.

“Fighting for respect and being involved in the prison politics stagnated my growth and smudged my reputation,” Francis said. She felt hopeless and stuck in the victim mentality of ‘why me?.’ But witnessing incarcerated individuals paroling and coming back in as volunteers, Francis mentioned how that was pivotal for her. “It took for our people to get out for me to see the change,” she said. Seeing people come back in and showing their success brings hope back inside the prison. No matter what, today Francis said, “I don’t stay down, I get back up.”

As the graduation came to a close, pizza and refreshments were passed out to each of the graduates. Happy faces and full stomachs were definitely hardearned with self-redemption.