July Greetings-The Partakers Summer Newsletter

"When no one thought we could accomplish the simplest goals, Partakers gave us the chance to succeed, to prove that we can become someone. Today we are someone.”

~Partakers Graduate

Dear Friends,

You hear it from everyone you meet, "How is it July??" Yet here we are! We hope this finds you and yours well and preparing for some well-deserved summer downtime.

As this nation recognizes its founding 250 years ago, we too ponder the words of the Declaration of Independence and what it means today, and for the work we do.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Despite the summer season, and our ceaseless and often disturbing newsfeeds, we at Partakers are staying focused on action and opportunities to build on our almost 30-year legacy of fostering relationships that change lives and respect the spirit and ideals of those words of the Declaration of Independence for women and men impacted by the carceral system.

As we move toward Partakers' 30th anniversary year, Partakers is working to expand our reach. It is our goal to forge new relationships with other colleges and universities to expand our PEP reentry program in coordination with our partners at the Brandeis University Educational Justice Initiative. Recognizing the aging population in Massachusetts prisons, we are piloting a new program focused on the unique needs and supports that older folks returning home require. Our Older Adult Reentry Program (OAR) is in the early planning and piloting stage in collaboration with the Billerica Middlesex House of Correction. I look forward to updating everyone as this unique reentry program gets underway. We are also awaiting the final approval from the Department of Corrections for the long-awaited launch of our Reading Circle Initiative. We know many of you have expressed interest in joining our Reading Circles, and we thank you for your patience as we work with the DOC to finalize the program's clearance with them. Please watch for information on this exciting new community opportunity connecting volunteer readers to share and read a book with women and men inside Shirley, Norfolk, and Framingham prisons.

In my over two decades of having the privilege of leading this organization, I have had the opportunity to see again and again the impact that mentoring has to transform perspective, attitude, confidence, lives, and communities. When we talk about our work, most folks automatically think about our students, both those inside and those returning. Our work at Partakers, however, is as significant an experience for our Mentors as for our Mentees.

What makes Partakers stand out from all other in-prison and reentry models? Simply- our Mentors! We know Relationships Matter! Mentors Matter!

We currently have wait-lists for Mentors for both our College Behind Bars and PEP Reentry Program. In this season of new beginnings, when so many of us are asking "What can we do to make a difference?", we hope you will consider joining us in our work, Transforming Lives and Building Futures.

Read our Full Newsletter and learn how you can become involved in our work Transforming Lives and Building Futures. We hope you will join us for one of our Mentor Info Sessions to learn more about the Power of Partakers Mentoring.

Thank you for always being here for us! Your friendship and generous support make our work possible.

With appreciation and heartfelt wishes,

Arthur Bembury, Executive Director